Our Neighborhood Earth - Governmental Agencies

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(There's No Planet B)

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Page Updated:
Seot. 20, 2023

• Government. Agencies • Environmental Action
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Governmental News (Latest Stories First) - In the Last Six Months
• California Sues Giant Oil Companies Citing Decades of Deception Sep. 17, 2023 -The state of California sued several of the world’s biggest oil companies on Friday, claiming their actions have caused tens of billions of dollars in damage and that they deceived the public by downplaying the risks posed by fossil fuels. Click now for the whole story. • Biden’s Climate Law Plusses It's Reshaping Private Investment in the US Sep. 13, 2023 -Private investment in clean energy projects like solar panels, hydrogen power and electric vehicles surged after President Biden signed an expansive climate bill into law last year, a development that shows how tax incentives and federal subsidies have helped reshape some consumer and corporate spending in the United States. New data being released on Wednesday suggest the climate law and other parts of Mr. Biden’s economic agenda have helped speed the development of automotive supply chains in the American Southwest, buttressing traditional auto manufacturing centers in the industrial Midwest and the Southeast. • Australia's Act on Climate Has it Been Cleaned Up? Sep. 10, 2023 - Long considered a laggard, Australia would now cut emissions, become a renewable energy powerhouse and force the biggest polluters to clean up their act, the new leader declared. "I want to join the global effort," Mr Albanese told the BBC, minutes after his victory speech. It is now a year since he legislated Australia's first ever emissions reduction target - so, has he delivered? • Improving Grid-Resitance in Washington State $23M From the DOE Will Help Aug. 31, 2023 -The Department of Energy will provide more than $23 million in grant funding to Washington state to improve its resilience against wildfires, extreme weather, and natural disasters, Senator Patty Murray’s office announced. The DOE’s Energy’s Grid Deployment Office issued the grants to the Washington State Department of Commerce through the Grid Resilience State, Tribal Formula Grants Program and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. • Washington State Grid Resilience It Will Receive $23M From the DOE Aug. 31, 2023 -The Department of Energy will provide more than $23 million in grant funding to Washington state to improve its resilience against wildfires, extreme weather, and natural disasters, Senator Patty Murray’s office announced. The DOE’s Energy’s Grid Deployment Office issued the grants to the Washington State Department of Commerce through the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. • Carbon Taxes Need to Be Based on Emissions This Would Replace the Rule Now Based on Consumption Aug. 29, 2023 -Income generated from investments is responsible for more than half of the very hefty carbon footprints of the wealthiest Americans, according to a new analysis. The finding in turn suggests a way to redesign carbon taxes to make them fairer and more effective at spurring decarbonization of the economy. The U.S. has dramatic and increasing levels of economic inequality, with a growing fraction of national income flowing to those at the top, and especially the tippy top, of the income distribution. Past studies have also shown that the super-rich have absolutely massive carbon footprints compared to regular folks. • New Top Cop at the E.P.A. Aims to Get Enforcement Back on Track Aug. 17, 2023 - Under President Biden, the Environmental Protection Agency has closed fewer civil cases against polluters than any administration in the last two decades and has overseen a drop in criminal investigations of environmental crimes. David M. Uhlmann hopes to change that. • PA. Participation in RGGI Has Been Held up for More than a Year What has the State Lost? Aug. 11, 2023 - Former Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature climate program has been on hold for more than a year. By some estimates, the state has lost close to $1 billion in the delay. That money could have been put toward addressing climate change by boosting clean energy programs. If the legislature and Gov. Josh Shapiro had agreed on a plan, it also could have offered relief to fossil-fuel industry workers who lost jobs when power plants closed. • Big US Investment in Carbon Removal It's to the Tune of 1$ Billion Aug. 11, 2023 -The US Department of Energy announced today that it’s providing $1.2 billion to develop regional hubs that can draw down and store away at least 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year as a means of combating climate change. The move represents a major step forward in the effort to establish a market for removing the planet-warming greenhouse gas from the atmosphere, using what are known as direct air capture (DAC) machines. • Baltimore Won’t Help Residents Clean up After Sewage Backups Environmental activists and advocates slammed the decision July 25, 2023 -Baltimore City has refused to comply with a directive from state and federal environmental regulators that it expand the scope of a program that helps residents clean up after sewage backs up into their homes. Efforts to help residents cope with sewage backups go back to a consent decree the city signed in 2002 with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Maryland Department of the Environment after Baltimore was found to have violated the Clean Water Act by discharging sewage into rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. • Charge Oil Companies Drastically Higher Fees for Drilling on Federal Land? It's a Goal of the Biden Administration July 21, 2023 -The Biden administration is working on modernizing the country’s oil and gas leasing program. Companies that want to drill on public lands will have to pay higher fees and will have to meet stricter requirements on where they can operate, according to a rule proposed by Department of the Interior on Thursday. • California Regulator Halts New Oil, Gas Wells Following Lawsuit Permits Revoked After Suit Alleges Faulty Environmental Review July 17, 2023 -A judge approved an agreement today to end litigation over approvals for 17 new oil and gas wells, some near homes and schools, in Los Angeles and Kern counties. The agreement comes after the state oil and gas regulator cancelled and rescinded approvals for the new wells. • The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act It's Bigger and More Far- Reaching than You Think July 11, 2023 -Landmark climate legislation passed in the United States in 2022 could nearly halve the U.S. economy’s overall emissions compared to 2005 levels by 2035, according to a new analysis. But on its own, it still won’t be sufficient to meet the country’s pledges under the Paris Agreement. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is possibly the most significant piece of U.S. climate legislation yet. Its provisions include tax credits for clean energy, energy storage, and carbon capture; measures to promote energy efficiency, reduce methane emissions, develop domestic supply chains, and ensure environmental justice; and many others. • Canada’s Clean Energy Policies and Initiatives Advancements and Obstacles July 3, 2023 -Canada is dedicated to making the switch to clean energy sources to fight climate change and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Boasting a wealth of renewable energy potential and a favorable policy environment, Canada has made impressive strides in advocating for clean energy. This article offers a snapshot of the country’s clean energy policies and initiatives, emphasizing the advancements made and the obstacles encountered in reaching a sustainable, low-carbon energy future. • Treasury Issues IRA Guidance On Direct Pay The Inflation Reduction Act Makes that Happen June 15, 2023 - The federal government is in the midst of implementing the historic legislation, which devotes nearly $400 billion to clean energy and climate change mitigation. The arduous process has left project developers and manufacturers anxiously waiting before making investments. Treasury has already shared guidance on electric vehicle tax credits, energy communities, and domestic content. • What Could Speed Up the Clean Energy Shift? The Case for Faster Federal Reviews June 8, 2023 -The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), enacted in 1970, is widely viewed as a keystone U.S. environmental law. For any major federal action that affects the environment, such as building an interstate highway or licensing a nuclear power plant, NEPA requires relevant agencies to analyze environmental impacts, consider reasonable alternatives and accept public input. It also allows citizens to sue if they believe government has not complied. Critics argue that NEPA reviews delay projects and drive up costs. In negotiations over raising the federal debt ceiling, President Biden agreed to certain changes to NEPA reviews, which both the White House and congressional Republicans said would streamline permitting for infrastructure projects. • Speeding Up and Incentivizing New Electric Transmission Two Bills Aim rio Do Just That June 6, 2023 - Two bills introduced in Congress aim to speed up the process to site, plan and permit electric transmission projects, and provide a 30% tax credit for projects that support clean energy technology expansion. The Facilitating America’s Siting of Transmission and Electric Reliability (FASTER) Act would build on processes set up by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to expedite transmission siting and permitting practices.	• Supreme Court Shrivels Federal Protection For Wetlands Leaving Many of these Valuable Ecosystems at Risk May 26, 2023 -The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Sackett v. EPA that federal protection of wetlands encompasses only those wetlands that directly adjoin rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. This is an extremely narrow interpretation of the Clean Water Act that could expose many wetlands across the U.S. to filling and development. • Regulations on Dumps of Toxic Waste From Burning Coal EPA Proposes to Expand Them May 21, 2023 -The Biden administration is taking steps to address a regulatory loophole that public interest groups said allowed at least a half-billion tons of toxic coal ash to go unregulated. The Environmental Protection Agency published a new draft rule Wednesday that the groups said would extend federal oversight to much of the coal ash disposed at both operating and retired power plants. • E.P.A.'s Crackdown on Toxic Coal Ash From Landfills Another Environmental Threat is Handled May 17, 2023 - The Biden administration is moving to close a loophole that had exempted hundreds of inactive coal ash landfills from rules designed to prevent heavy metals like mercury and arsenic from seeping into groundwater, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday. Coal ash, a byproduct from burning coal in power plants, contains lead, lithium and mercury. Those metals can pollute waterways and drinking water supplies and have been linked to health effects, including cancer, birth defects and developmental delays in children. They are also toxic to fish. • Grid Upgrades Win Funding Through Canadian Carbon Pollution Fund The Future Electricity Fund May 15, 2023 - The Government of Canada is returning some C$174 million ($128.8 million) of carbon pollution pricing proceeds through the Future Electricity Fund to advance a handful of clean electricity projects being undertaken by SaskPower. The province of Saskatchewan is expected to use the money to implement new smart-meter technologies and support upgrades to electricity infrastructure through the Distribution Rural Rebuild and Improvement Program. Funding will also contribute to refurbishing the E.B. Campbell Hydroelectric Station. • Treasury Offers Guidance on IRA’s Clean Energy Domestic Content Bonus Clean Energy Projects and Facilities that Meet Manufacturing and Sourcing Requirements May 12, 2023 -The guidance was developed in partnership with the Department of Energy and Department of Transportation. Under the Production Tax Credit (PTC), facilities that meet domestic content requirements receive a 10% bonus. Under the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), projects that meet the domestic content requirement receive up to a 10-percentage point bonus. • Ambitious Climate Proposition Faces Fossil Fuel Backlash in El Paso Sunrise El Paso Put Forward a Charter Amendment to Transition The City Off Fossil Fuels - But... Apr. 30, 2023 -For the first time, Texas voters have the chance to write climate action into a city charter. Activists from Sunrise El Paso and Ground Game Texas have written their own climate charter with aggressive renewable energy targets and collected enough signatures to have it placed before voters as a ballot proposition in the May 6 election. • E.P.A. to Propose First Controls on Greenhouse Gases From Power Plants It's the First Time the Federal Government Has Limited CO2 Emissions From Existing Plants Apr. 22, 2023 -The Biden administration is poised to announce limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that could compel them to capture the pollution from their smokestacks, technology now used by fewer than 20 of the nation’s 3,400 coal and gas-fired plants, according to three people who were briefed on the rule. • Texas Proposes Fining Residents For Reporting Environmental Violations The Bill Would Have a “Chilling Effect” On Citizen Reports of Air and Water Pollution Apr. 17, 2023 - From the big glass windows in her dining room, Linda Hunter has seen her view transformed from grand, green pastures to a row of side-by-side concrete batch plants. Under a bill filed in the Texas Senate, residents like Hunter could face fines if they make three or more complaints to environmental regulators in a calendar year and their complaints don’t result in an enforcement action. Senate Bill 471, filed by Republican Sen. Drew Springer of Muenster, doesn’t specify the amount of the fine but says it would be “less than or equal to the cost” of investigating the complaint. • Logging Plan on Yellowstone’s Border It Shows Limits of Biden Greenhouse Gas Policy Apr. 7, 2023 -U.S. government agencies are expected to quantify the climate impact of their actions under new guidance issued by President Biden’s administration at the start of this year. But last month, the U.S. Forest Service decided to move forward with a 16,000-acre logging project on the border of Yellowstone National Park without applying the new White House guidance, which would have involved a detailed projection of the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. • Rules For ‘Energy Community’ Bonus Credit Under IRA It Has Just Been Defined by the Biden Administration Apr. 4, 2023 -The Biden administration has released highly-anticipated eligibility requirements for a bonus credit in the Inflation Reduction Act that incentivizes clean energy development in so-called energy communities. The credit of up to 10% is an adder to the Investment Tax Credit or Production Tax Credit for clean energy or energy storage project development. • Trudeau’s a Clean Tech Strategy We Won't Be Left Behind, Said the Caadian PM Mar. 30, 2023 -Saying that the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act poses a major challenge to Canada’s ability to compete in industries that will drive a clean economy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government unveiled C$80 billion ($59 billion) in proposed tax credits for clean technology over the next decade, including C$25 billion ($18.46 billion) for investments in clean electricity. • The UK’s Long-Awaited Climate Strategy Critics Call It 'Half-Baked' Mar. 30, 2023 -The UK’s new energy plan unveiled on Thursday is a missed opportunity full of “half-baked, half-hearted” policies that do not go far enough to power Britain’s climate goals, according to green business groups and academics. The 1,000-page strategy has been criticized by many within Britain’s green sectors who fear the country could surrender its leading role in climate action because of the government’s “business as usual” approach to delivering green investments. • Newsom Signs Watered-Down Oil Profit Penalty into Law Fewer Vehicles Expected to Qualify Mar. 28, 2023, (CAL MATTERS) -For six months, Gov. Gavin Newsom waged a highly public battle against the oil industry, accusing companies of fleecing Californians as gasoline prices soared to record levels last year and urging lawmakers to claw back the excess profits to return to taxpayers. He finally got to take a victory lap as he signed a first-in-the-nation law that could lead to a cap on earnings for oil refiners. • NC Regulators Weaken Solar Net Metering Rule Who Does the NC Utilities Commission Represent? Mar. 28, 2023 -The North Carolina Utilities Commission approved Duke Energy’s plan to revise net metering compensation for rooftop solar and added a new $10 monthly fee for residential customers who install solar panels. The Commission approved a three-year transition for solar customers to move from receiving monthly credits to a time-of-use rate structure that is intended to incentivize the use of solar when it is most valuable.

Noteworthy
• History of the Clean Water Act History of the Clean Water Act Sep. 12, 2019 (EPA)- The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 was the first major U.S. law to address water pollution. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping amendments in 1972. As amended in 1972, the law became commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). The 1972 amendments: Established basic structure for regulating discharges into the waters of the U.S. Gave EPA the authority including setting wastewater standards for industry Maintained requirements for water quality standards Illegalized discharge any pollutant into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained under its provisions Funded the construction of sewage treatment plants Recognized the need for planning to address the critical source pollution problems • Is Ethanol Really a Good Idea? Food Vs. Fuel: What Trump's Ethanol Policy Means For The Food System Forbes Magazine -The EPA moved forward with President Trump’s directive to lift a federal ban on high ethanol blended gas during the summer months, though not quickly enough for Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who Reuters reports is urging the EPA to lift the ban on a much quicker timeline. Lifting the ban is a policy shift that’s being celebrated by large-scale corn growers and decried by biofuel opponents. But the policy has implications for the food system too, as many food system reformers say the last thing U.S. farmers should be growing is more corn. • EPA to Halt Fuel Economy Standards California Getting Ready to Fight Back Mar. 29, 2018 - The Trump administration is poised to abandon America's pioneering fuel economy targets for cars and SUVs, a move that would undermine one of the world's most aggressive programs to confront climate change and invite another major confrontation with California. The EPA is expected to announce in the coming days that it will scrap mileage targets the Obama administration drafted in tandem with California that aim to boost average fuel economy for passenger cars and SUVs to 55 miles per gallon by 2025, according to people familiar with the plans. • The E.P.A is a Sinking Ship E.P.A. Officials, Disheartened by Agency’s Direction, Are Leaving in Droves Dec. 22, 2018 - More than 700 people have left the Environmental Protection Agency since President Trump took office, a wave of departures that puts the administration nearly a quarter of the way toward its goal of shrinking the agency to levels last seen during the Reagan administration. • How Low Can the EPA Go? EPA Reverses Policy on 'Major Sources' of Pollution Jan. 25, 2018 - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday it was withdrawing a provision of the Clean Air Act that requires a major source of pollution like a power plant to always be treated as a major source, even if it makes changes to reduce emissions. The decision to withdraw the "once-in always-in" policy is part of President Donald Trump's effort to roll back federal regulations and was sought by utilities, the petroleum industry and others. Never mind about the health of the American people. • Trump Imposed Tariffs on PV Imports 30% Tariff Disappoints Trade Industry Jan. 22, 2018 - Trump has agreed to a recommendation by the International Trade Commission (ITC) to grant U.S. solar manufacturers relief from unfair trade practices in the form of tariffs on solar cells and modules imported to the U.S. This will hurt the solar industry which currently employs over 250,000 workers. • Fed. Compromise on Anti-PACE Law Industry, Lawmakers Compromise on Anti-Property Assessed Clean Energy Legislation Dec. 27, 2017 - A financing program that’s let more than 180,000 homeowners pay for solar panels and clean-energy appliances through their local tax bills is poised to survive an effort by Republicans to add regulations that would have effectively shut it down.	• The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Summary of the National Environmental Policy Act Originally Passed in 1968 (EPA) — NEPA was one of the first laws ever written that establishes the broad national framework for protecting our environment. NEPA's basic policy is to assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment. NEPA requirements are invoked when airports, buildings, military complexes, highways, parkland purchases, and other federal activities are proposed. Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), which are assessments of the likelihood of impacts from alternative courses of action, are required from all Federal agencies and are the most visible NEPA requirements. Click now for more, including a history of this act. • Shouldn’t We Abolish Fossil Fuel Subsidies? America Spends Over $20Bn Per Year On Fossil Fuel Subsidies. July 30, 2018 (The Guardian) -Imagine that instead of taxing cigarettes, America subsidized the tobacco industry in order to make each pack of smokes cheaper. A report from Oil Change International (OCI) investigated American energy industry subsidies and found that in 2015–2016, the federal government provided $14.7bn per year to the oil, gas, and coal industries, on top of $5.8bn of state-level incentives (globally, the figure is around $500bn). And the report only accounted for production subsidies, excluding consumption subsidies (support to consumers to lower the cost of fossil fuel use – another $14.5bn annually) as well as the costs of carbon and other fossil fuel pollutants. • The D.O.E. Solar Decathlon How To Shine In The Solar Village October 6, 2017 - At noon Eastern Standard Time today — the second day of competition for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon in Denver — the Northwestern University team was sitting in first place, according to scores released on the competition website. The Solar Village, where all 13 teams’ houses are standing for the competition, is now open to the public. With scoring under way on three of the 10 competition categories — Heath & Comfort, Appliances, and Home Life — Northwestern was tied with Swiss Team and UC Berkeley/U of Denver on the three segments in Health & Comfort — temperature, humidity and indoor air quality. • Budget Slashed for Clean Energy Trump’s Budget Expected to Massively Slash Research On Renewable Energy — And ‘Clean Coal’ May 18, 2017 -The Trump administration is expected to propose massive cuts to federal government research on wind and solar energy next week, according to current and former Energy Department officials familiar with budget discussions. The department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), which funds research on advanced vehicles as well as other aspects of clean energy, would face a roughly 70 percent cut in 2018, carving about $ 1.45 billion from its $2.09 billion 2017 budget. • The SunShot Initiative What is the SunShot Initiative? The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office focuses on achieving the goals of the SunShot Initiative, which seeks to make solar energy cost-competitive with other forms of electricity by the end of the decade. • The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act Notes from the Solar Underground: US Solar’s Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act The global solar industry relies on mandate. Let's hope it doesn't go away. • Carbon Tax Center What is the Carbon Tax Center? Why revenue-neutral carbon taxes are essential,what’s happening now, and how you can help. In a carbon-constrained world, a permanent U.S. carbon tax is essential to reduce emissions that drive global warming.

Federal, state and local agencies that can assist
with your questions about renewable energy, environmental
protection, tax credits, rebate incentives and more.

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Governmental Agencies
Federal Agencies The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management BOEM offshore leasing and operations are governed by a wide variety of laws, regulations, and other communications with the offshore industry. The Bureau enforces compliance with these regulations and periodically updates rules to reflect advancements in technology and new information. This section provides access to BOEM rules, regulations, and guidance to the offshore industry. Combined Heat and Power Partnership The CHP Partnership is a voluntary program seeking to reduce the environmental impact of power generation by promoting the use of CHP. The Partnership works closely with energy users, the CHP industry, state and local governments, and other clean energy stakeholders to facilitate the development of new projects and to promote their environmental and economic benefits. Energy Resources Program Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy is a significant source of renewable electric power in the western United States and, with advances in exploration and development technologies, a potential source of a large fraction of baseload electric power for the entire country. The USGS Geothermal Resource Investigations Project is focused on advancing geothermal research through a better understanding of geothermal resources and the impacts of geothermal development. This is achieved by applying a wide range of research methods to characterize resource occurrences, perform monitoring, and develop resource assessments. The project team works closely with a number of external collaborators from federal and state agencies, academia and industry on projects throughout the US and internationally (provide link to map of field study areas). The Solar Energy Technologies Program (Dept. of Energy) The Solar Energy Technologies Program focuses on developing cost-effective solar energy technologies that have the greatest potential to benefit the nation and the world. A growing solar industry also stimulates our economy by creating jobs in solar manufacturing and installation. See also the SunShot Initiative which strives to make solar competitive with fossil fuels by 2020. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas and skies, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve understanding and stewardship of the environment. National Renewable Energy Laboratory Focusing on creative answers to today's energy challenges. From fundamental science and energy analysis to validating new products for the commercial market, NREL researchers are dedicated to transforming the way the world uses energy. With more than 35 years of successful innovation in energy efficiency and renewable energy, today our discoveries provide sustainable alternatives for powering our homes, businesses, and our transportation system. U.S. Dept. of Environmental Protection EPA had employed 17,000 people across the country, including headquarters offices in Washington, DC, 10 regional offices, and more than a dozen labs. Staff were technically trained; more than half were engineers, scientists, and policy analysts. In addition, a large number of employees are legal, public affairs,financial, information management and computer specialists. Michael S. Regan was sworn in as the 16th Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency on March 11, 2021, becoming the first Black man and second person of color to lead the U.S. EPA. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System addresses water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States. Created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act, the NPDES permit program is authorized to state governments by EPA to perform many permitting, administrative, and enforcement aspects of the program. State Agencies The California Solar Initiative - CSI The California Solar Initiative offers cash back for installing solar on your home or business. The state strives to create megawatts of new solar-generated electricity, moving it towards a clean energy future. And you can help! Join the thousands of home and business owners who have earned cash back rebates by installing solar energy systems through the California Solar Initiative. Customers earn cash rebates for every watt of solar energy installed on homes, businesses, farms, schools, and government and non-profit organizations. Connecticut Energy and Environmental Protection dd> In charge of conserving, improving and protecting the state's natural resources and environment. Promotes the supply of clean, affordable and reliable energy.	State Agencies (continued) Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency Overview of Florida's state rebate program. Applies to Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Multi-Family Residential, Institutional. Also covers other states' similar incentive programs. Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection The lead agency for environmental management and stewardship and is one of the more diverse agencies in state government, protecting air, water, and land. It is divided into three primary areas: Regulatory Programs, Land and Recreation and Planning and Management. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency This site covers all aspects of the environment in the state. Use the link to report violations of air and water quality rules and regulations. Maine Department of Environmental Protection The DEP is responsible for protecting and restoring Maine's natural resources and enforcing the state's environmental laws. The agency can trace its roots back to the Sanitary Water Board that was created in 1941. The purpose of that Board was to study, investigate, recommend means of eliminating and preventing pollution in waters used for recreational purposes. The Board was renamed the Water Improvement Commission in 1951. In 1969, the Commission's title was abbreviated to the Environmental Improvement Commission. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection The Department of Environmental Protection is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air and water, the safe management of toxins and hazards, the recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, the timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources. NJ Board of Public Utilities A regulatory authority with a statutory mandate to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey. NJ Department of Environmental Protection On America's first official "Earth Day" — April 22, 1970, the NJ DEP was born. It became the third state to consolidate its past programs into a unified major agency to administer aggressive environmental protection and conservation efforts. Since then it began a role to manage natural resources and solve pollution problems. In what started with about 1,400 employees in five divisions, NJDEP now has a staff of approximately 2,900 and is a leader in the country for its pollution prevention efforts and innovative environmental management strategies. NY: NYSERDA NYSERDA’s earliest efforts focused solely on research and development with the goal of reducing the State’s petroleum consumption. Subsequent research and development projects focused on topics including environmental effects of energy consumption, development of renewable resources, and advancement of innovative technologies. Check the website for funding opportunities and other incentives to go green. Ohio EPA Their mission is to protect the environment and public health by ensuring compliance with environmental laws and demonstrating leadership in environmental stewardship. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is a regulatory agency whose job is to protect the quality of Oregon's environment. Well, YEAH! PA Department of Environmental Protection Responsible for administering Pennsylvania's environmental laws and regulations. They work to reduce air pollution, insure water quality, and more. Sarasota County (Fla.) Government Roadmap to Sustainability. Sarasota County government is committed to environmental, cultural and economic sustainability. This means: Replenish the resources we use or consume. Ensuring our values guide us into the future. Investing in our community to ensure future prosperity. To achieve the balance necessary for a sustainable community, our programs and services must be economically viable, environmentally sound and socially equitable.