Data centers are driving a surge in fossil fuel plants
Burning fossil fuels for electricity harms our air and water and disrupts the climate. But data centers are fueling an explosion of new natural gas plants.
Explainer
America’s wildlife crossings
Across America, wildlife crossings are saving our wild heritage
False emergencies, real pollution
Data centers use backup generators powered by dirty diesel fuel to ensure near perfect reliability. They are only supposed to be used in emergencies, but pressures to expand their use are mounting.
Fossil fuel power plants are staying online longer
The data center boom is keeping some old, dirty power plants that were set to retire online for years longer than planned. The resulting air pollution threatens our health.
Energy transition at risk
In 2022, America was on track to eliminate dirty coal-fired power from the grid by 2040. But coal plant retirements have slowed, even amid a solar energy boom.
How energy efficiency benefits Americans
The typical American home uses about a third less energy than in 1980. The benefits of that shift - in cleaner air and consumer savings - are overwhelming.
Did my state receive wildlife crossing money?
The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program provides $350 million to build and plan wildlife crossings. Which states applied and received funding? See below.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is still wreaking havoc on the Gulf of Mexico
Fourteen years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the wildlife and ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico have still not recovered. As scientists continue to uncover new and disturbing things about the long-term impacts of the spill, proposals currently on the table to increase offshore drilling show that the lessons of Deepwater Horizon have not been learned.
Accidents Waiting to Happen: Factory Farms
Waste lagoons used by industrial-scale livestock operations threaten spills that can cause catastrophic damage to America’s rivers, lakes and streams.
Who are the top climate polluters in the country?
America’s most polluting power plants emit more greenhouse gas pollution than some entire states. New standards addressing pollution from those plants and the growth of wind and solar energy could make a big difference for the climate.