Latest news with #GreenhouseGasReportingProgram
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paper plants can emit as much CO2 as oil refineries. They're flying under the radar.
For more than a century, Covington, Virginia has had one dominating feature: its paper mill. Smokestacks tower over the community of 5,500, many of whom work there. But according to a new report, the mill spews more nitrogen oxide, methane, and greenhouse gases than is generally known. 'The snow is not white here. It's ash, it's nasty, and it's all over the place all of the time,' Robin Brown, a 65-year-old resident who lives near the mill, told the researchers. 'And there's that funky odor, like rotten eggs. It's all you can smell.' The Covington mill is among the industry's worst polluters, according to a report the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project, or EIP, released today. It detailed similar issues at 185 such facilities nationwide. And, because of Environmental Protection Agency reporting rules, the report found that climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from those mills are being undercounted by some 350 percent. The EPA houses the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, where facilities report their emissions of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. But EPA facility totals don't include what are called biogenic CO2 emissions, or those that come from 'natural sources' such as wood, which is a primary fuel for the paper industry. According to the EIP investigation, the 10 pulp and paper mills that reported the most greenhouse gases in 2023 were able to lower their reported 'total' emissions by between 61 and 90 percent each because they burned wood products. Biogenic emission data is buried deeper within EPA data and, when those emissions are included, the largest paper mills can emit as much as a large oil refinery, the report noted. 'It masks the true impact of the industry,' said Courtney Bernhardt, director of research for EIP and an author of the report. 'It hides the fact that there is an urgent need to address.' The American Forest & Paper Association, which represents the industry, did not respond to a request for an interview. The EPA told Grist it would review the report. Smurfit West Rock, which owns the mill in Covington, did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. EIP also used data from the National Emissions Inventory, an annual estimate of the output of gases like sulfur dioxide, methane, carbon dioxide, and dozens of others. One of the major reasons that pollution levels are so high, Bernhardt explained, is that many paper plants continue using outdated equipment that is far less efficient than modern machinery. The boiler at the Covington mill, for example, is 85 years old. The average age across the 185 facilities that the report found data for was 41 years. The Clean Air Act effectively grandfathers in the equipment until it comes time to replace it, and the emissions reductions can be stark when that happens. Bernhardt cited the Ahlstrom's Thilmany Mill in Wisconsin as an example. The plant, built in 1883, replaced its boiler in 2020 and emissions of sulfur dioxide, a health-harming air pollutant, fell from 4,800 tons to 410 tons. A facility in Washington saw an 87 percent drop and one in Georgia plummeted 96 percent. 'There's going to be a large number of these plants that are going to need to install new boilers [in the next decade],' said Bernhardt. She would like them to move toward more efficient options, especially those that run on electricity derived from clean energy instead of natural gas. But it's unclear exactly how, or how quickly, any transition will unfold. 'Developing a technology that can both be financially attractive and reduce carbon dioxide emissions is not easy,' said Sunkyu Park, a professor at North Carolina State University who specializes in pulp and paper processing. His research focuses on trying to develop a more efficient 'recover boiler,' which accounts for the majority of CO2 emissions during production. He is studying electric options, as well as those that use less natural gas. His work remains at very early stages, but the goal is that 'eventually industry can implement that technology.' In the meantime, Bernhardt hopes the EIP's report can focus attention on cleaning up an industry that is often seen as an alternative to plastics, but carries its own baggage. 'We need paper. We need cardboard,' she said. '[But] there's a lot of greenwashing that makes paper seem cleaner than it really is.' This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Paper plants can emit as much CO2 as oil refineries. They're flying under the radar. on May 29, 2025.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration cutting Energy Star and climate reporting program
The Trump administration is cutting the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star program, which highlights energy efficient home appliances, according to sources and images of slides viewed by The Hill. According to one source, at a meeting Monday, staffers were told that Energy Star was being eliminated, as is the Climate Protection Partnerships division that houses it. Staffers were also told that the EPA was cutting its Climate Change division, which includes the agency's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. This program requires major polluters to report their planet-warming emissions. The Hill also viewed images of slides from a meeting with staffers that listed both the Climate Protection Partnership division and the Climate Change division as 'organization and programs eliminated.' The slides noted that staff 'may be reassigned to other positions.' 'In the briefing we heard that climate work will come to a standstill at EPA,' said Nicole Cantello, president of the AFGE Local 704 , a union representing EPA employees in the Midwest, in an email to The Hill. 'EPA's action is short sighted and disastrous for our people and our planet. With everything the nation is facing in confronting climate change, from dangerous wildfires to uncontrolled flooding, this is the time to ramp up the climate resiliency of our communities,' Cantello added. The plans were first reported by CNN. In a statement to The Hill, the EPA noted that it had announced a broad reorganization on Friday. 'With this action, EPA is delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure that will directly benefit the American people and better advance the agency's core mission, while Powering the Great American Comeback,' said an agency spokesperson in an email. The news comes after the Trump administration indicated in its skinny budget that it wanted to cut funding from the Office of Atmospheric Protection, which includes Energy Star and the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. The White House has sought to cut staff across the board — but has taken particular aim at climate change, which President Trump has repeatedly downplayed. The president has also lamented pushes toward more energy efficient appliances. Much of his criticism, however, has focused on regulations rather than programs such as Energy Star, which is a voluntary partnership. Under the program, companies that meet energy efficiency specifications can display the Energy Star logo to inform consumers that the government considers their product to be efficient. The move to cut the program is getting significant pushback. 'If you wanted to raise families' energy bills, getting rid of the ENERGY STAR label would be a pretty good way,' said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, in a written statement. 'This would take away basic information from consumers who want to choose cost-saving products easily.' Industry players have also expressed support for Energy Star, with various appliance companies and trade groups writing to the administration in March that it 'reduces burden and aligns with the laudable goal of freedom to choose from a wide variety of appliances.' Updated at 9:48 p.m. ET. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Hill
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
EPA targets Energy Star program
According to a source, staffers were told at a meeting Monday that Energy Star was being eliminated, as is the Climate Protection Partnerships division that houses it. Staffers were also told that the EPA was cutting its Climate Change division, which includes the agency's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. This program requires major polluters to report their planet-warming emissions. The Hill also viewed images of slides from a meeting with staffers that listed both the Climate Protection Partnership division and the Climate Change division as 'organization and programs eliminated.' The slides noted that staff 'may be reassigned to other positions.' The plans were first reported by CNN. In a statement to The Hill, the EPA noted that it had announced a broad reorganization Friday. 'With this action, EPA is delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure that will directly benefit the American people and better advance the agency's core mission, while Powering the Great American Comeback,' said an agency spokesperson in an email.
The Hill
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Trump administration cutting Energy Star and climate reporting program: Source
The Trump administration is cutting the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star program, which highlights energy efficient home appliances, an agency source told The Hill on Tuesday. According to the source, at a meeting Monday, staffers were told that Energy Star was being eliminated, as is the Climate Protection Partnerships division that houses it. Staffers were also told that the EPA was cutting its Climate Change division, which includes the agency's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. This program requires major polluters to report their planet-warming emissions. The plans were first reported by CNN. In a statement to The Hill, the EPA noted that it had announced a broad reorganization on Friday. 'With this action, EPA is delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure that will directly benefit the American people and better advance the agency's core mission, while Powering the Great American Comeback,' said an agency spokesperson in an email. The news comes after the Trump administration indicated in its skinny budget that it wanted to cut funding from the Office of Atmospheric Protection, which includes Energy Star and the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. The White House has sought to cut staff across the board — but has taken particular aim at climate change, which President Trump has repeatedly downplayed. The president has also lamented pushes toward more energy efficient appliances. Much of his criticism, however, has focused on regulations rather than programs such as Energy Star, which is a voluntary partnership. Under the program, companies that meet energy efficiency specifications can display the Energy Star logo to inform consumers that the government considers their product to be efficient. The move to cut the program is getting significant pushback. 'If you wanted to raise families' energy bills, getting rid of the ENERGY STAR label would be a pretty good way,' said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, in a written statement. 'This would take away basic information from consumers who want to choose cost-saving products easily.' Industry players have also expressed support for Energy Star, with various appliance companies and trade groups writing to the administration in March that it 'reduces burden and aligns with the laudable goal of freedom to choose from a wide variety of appliances.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Officials push forward on controversial plan that could have widespread health impact: 'The public has a right to know'
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate a 15-year-old program that requires businesses to report the amount of harmful carbon pollution they emit each year, according to The New York Times. The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program became effective in 2010. The program requires more than 8,000 U.S. companies and vendors to report how much heat-trapping pollution they produce annually, allowing the EPA to track this data over time. In March, the EPA announced it was considering stopping the program. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the program costs businesses "millions of dollars" and makes it more difficult for small businesses to operate. ProPublica recently reported that the agency may be even closer to getting rid of — or at least downsizing — the GHGRP after an EPA meeting in April. At the meeting, officials instructed staff to rescind reporting requirements for 40 of the 41 industries currently required to submit data. The GHGRP was created to shed light on pollution from major industries so that the public could understand the risks. This is especially important for communities close to power plants, refineries, and manufacturing hubs. Scaling back these requirements makes it more difficult to track air pollution and for families to know what they breathe. Without this data, local leaders won't have the information they need to advocate for cleaner air or hold polluters accountable. "The public has a right to know how much climate pollution is being emitted," said Vickie Patton, general counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund, per the Times. Patton also called it an "irresponsible" move. Despite the potential rollback of the GHGRP, many companies are still committed to reducing pollution and their carbon footprint. Major corporations like Microsoft and Unilever have pledged to invest in carbon offset projects while lowering their harmful pollution. LanzaTech is also working on technology to turn carbon pollution into usable products. There are also numerous other policies in place around the country to make the planet cleaner. New York's Climate Superfund will collect $75 billion from oil companies over two decades to address climate-related damages. Wisconsin lawmakers proposed the Climate Accountability Act, aiming to cut heat-trapping pollution in half by 2030. These efforts show that states and companies are stepping up to push for a cleaner future, even as federal oversight shifts. Explore critical climate issues and become part of the solution. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
