Latest news with #environmental safety
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
EPA's Lee Zeldin makes battery safety pitch as New York environmentalists criticize his record
Lee Zeldin, President Trump's Environmental Protection Agency administrator, returned to New York's Long Island on Monday to focus on the safety of battery storage plants. The EPA leader's appearance in his home state came just weeks after the agency dealt another major blow to the fight against global warming. Back home on Long Island, Zeldin announced the EPA's first national guidance on controversial battery energy storage systems. The agency takes no stance on BESS plants, but he called for local control over their approvals. "There are toxic emissions. There are water quality impacts. It's the people in this room who are going to have to answer that call to put it out," the former New York congressman and Republican nominee for governor said. After two recent destructive fires in California, firefighters and residents are alarmed in Hauppauge and Holtsville, where battery storage facilities are proposed. "It's unreasonable to expect our volunteer firefighters who have families and jobs to handle a disaster of this magnitude," Hauppauge Fire Department Commissioner Scott Monroe said. "We cannot have these battery storage facilities in our neighborhoods," New York State Sen. Mario Mattera said. Zeldin suggested government can "railroad" or "steamroll" over local opposition, but a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul said that's categorically false and battery storage is already a local decision. Environmental leaders said it's disingenuous for Zeldin to talk about safety as he dismantles climate regulations. "We have seen major environmental initiatives get rolled back under this administration, in a way we never dreamed would happen," Adrienne Esposito, with Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said. According to Hochul's energy advisor, New York currently has among "the most stringent battery energy storage regulations in the country," which are praised by New York City fire safety experts. But Zeldin blasted the state's green energy policies, which he says are costing the state federal funding. "We have chosen to protect the environment and grow the economy. We do not accept that it's a binary choice," Zeldin said. Most Long Island towns already have moratoriums on battery storage facilities while safety is under review. But the concern of many residents in these communities is that the state will try to supersede local rule. Around three dozen additional proposals for battery storage facilities on Long Island are currently under review in a state list of potential sites.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelusports Secures Investment from Centennial Investors to Advance Heat Illness Prevention and Environmental Safety
Columbia, MO, Aug. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zelusports, Inc. (Zelus) announced today that it has secured an investment from Centennial Investors, a leading angel investment group based in Missouri. The funding will support Zelus's rapid growth and expansion as the company scales its environmental safety SaaS platform to serve more enterprises, schools, and government organizations Logo: Zelus is the leading heat injury prevention system Zelus is redefining how organizations monitor and respond to environmental risks such as heat illness, lightning, and air quality. By combining government weather station data, radar, satellites, and advanced modeling, Zelus delivers hyperlocal Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) readings without requiring on-site hardware. This unique approach reduces cost, increases accuracy, and ensures compliance with evolving safety regulations, including OSHA's upcoming Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Program (HIIPP). A major driver of this expansion is the Zelus Enterprise System, designed specifically for organizations that employ outdoor workers in industries such as construction, utilities, energy, and logistics. The system moves beyond single-operator tools by providing enterprise dashboards, compliance tracking, and large-scale risk management capabilities. With these features, safety officers and supervisors can protect entire workforces with one scalable platform. Learn more at 'This investment marks a major milestone for Zelus,' said Scott Schultz, MD, CEO of Zelus. 'Centennial Investors' support validates the strength of our model and the growing demand for accurate, scalable environmental safety solutions. With their backing, we can accelerate product development, expand into enterprise markets, and continue advancing our mission of preventing heat illness and protecting lives.' Zelus has already achieved rapid adoption globally, with users in more than 125 countries and customers across multiple sectors. The company is well-positioned to scale as demand increases for effective solutions that safeguard outdoor workers and ensure compliance with safety standards. About Zelusports, Inc. (Zelus) is the industry leader in hyperlocal environmental safety monitoring. Its SaaS platform provides instant WBGT, lightning detection, and air quality index monitoring without requiring on-site hardware. Zelus empowers organizations to reduce risk, ensure compliance, and protect lives in workplaces, schools, athletic programs, and military environments. More information is available at or Zelus Logo: Zelus is the leading heat injury prevention system About Centennial InvestorsCentennial Investors is a network of accredited angel investors dedicated to supporting high-potential startups and early-stage ventures. Based in Columbia, Missouri, Centennial Investors provides capital, mentorship, and strategic resources to help innovative companies scale and succeed. Media Contact Scott SchultzCEOZelusports, in to access your portfolio
