Environment America

Environment America is a federation of state-based, citizen-funded environmental advocacy organizations.^[5] The public interest group^[6] researches environmental issues in the United States and advocates for strong environmental policy ^[7] through lobbying^[8] and the mobilization of public support.^[7]

History

On November 5, 2007, Environment America separated from the state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) and announced its intent to take control of the organization's national environmental advocacy program.^[1] The federation combined several small, state-based advocacy groups that had separated from the U.S. PIRGs earlier in the year.^[1] As a result of the separation of the organizations, the PIRGs’ scope of work was précised to consumer and social justice issues while Environment America became responsible for the group’s previous environmental work.^[1]

National work

Environment America works to publicize and ameliorate controversial environmental challenges in the United States. Their areas of interest include the use of renewable energy sources,^[9] climate change,^[10] water pollution,^[11] air pollution,^[12] fossil fuel dependency,^[13] environmental conservation,^[14] and offshore drilling.^[15] The organization's Research and Policy Center educates the public on the country's environmental conditions by releasing reports on topics such as wind energy policy,^[16] the presence of mercury in contaminated fish,^[6] companies’ compliance to the Clean Water Act,^[17] the benefits of energy efficient buildings,^[18] the increasing frequency of extreme weather in the U.S.,^[19] high precipitation rates,^[20] the importance of fuel efficient cars,^[21] and high levels of carcinogens in waterways.^[22]

Furthermore, the public interest group has sought to influence the nation's environmental stance through politics. Environment America publishes an annual scorecard of U.S. Congress members based on how they voted on environmental issues in that year's session^[23] and, in 2009, reviewed more than 100 environmental policies adopted by states in previous years.^[24] Also, the organization has endorsed pro-environment candidates during national elections.^[25] In 2008 and 2012, they joined the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters and Clean Water Action in endorsing Barack Obama’s reelection to office.^[26]

Aside from supporting political candidates, Environment America and the Sierra Club have worked together on various environmental efforts in order to further their similar missions. These joint efforts include moving the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act forward in 2007,^[27] opposing amendments to the Climate Security Act in 2008,^[10] opposing the H.R. 850 bill in 2011,^[28] supporting the proposal of the EPA's proposed fuel economy label,^[29] supporting the National Ocean Policy in 2010,^[11] and opposing the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011.^[30]

State work

Environment California

Environment California has supported several environmental campaigns within California including statewide bans on plastic bags,^[31] the reduction of energy inefficient appliances,^[32] and the expansion of the state's solar metering program^[33] and solar energy production.^[34] The advocacy group has also worked to reform California’s renewable energy policies.^[9] Through the organization of rallies and the signing of petitions across the state,^[35] the state affiliate raised public support for a law that Governor Jerry Brown signed in 2011 which mandates that 33% of the state's energy will come from renewable sources by 2020, an increase from the previous requirement of 20%.^[36]

In light of California's recent transition to solar energy, the environmental group released reports on public school's energy consumption,^[37] solar projects on school campuses,^[38] Californian cities' solar power production,^[39][40] "green job" training programs within the state,^[41] and the high costs of fossil fuels.^[13] In 2010, Environment California also helped sponsor a cash rebate program that encouraged residents to install solar water heaters in their homes.^[42]

Environment Texas

In 2009, Environment Texas and the Sierra Club filed similar lawsuits against Chevron Phillips for violating pollution limits^[43] and the Shell Oil Company for illegal air pollution emissions.^[44] Shell Oil Company agreed to pay a $5.8 million settlement, reduce emissions from its Deer Park refinery by 80 percent, upgrade chemical units, and reduce gas flaring.^[45] The following year, the environmental groups sued the largest oil refinery in the United States, Exxon Mobil, for violating the Clean Air Act through the release of illegal emissions from refineries and chemical plants in the Texas Gulf coast.^[46]

PennEnvironment

PennEnvironment has released several reports that analyze environmental concerns in Pennsylvania including counties' recycling fees,^[47] the dumping of toxic chemicals by industrial facilities into the state’s waterways,^[48] and the building of roads and logging in the Allegheny National Forrest.^[14] Another report release by the state affiliate found that power plants fueled by coal in the state release large amounts of pollution that contribute to unhealthy smog and put susceptible populations at risk.^[12] In 2011, PennEnvironment condemned the government's decision to reject stricter air pollution regulations that would diminish ground-level ozone, the main component of harmful smog.^[49]

In 2012, PennEnvironment, along with the Sierra Club, sued PPG Industries for the contamination of lagoons and a solid waste landfill at the company's Ford City site near the Allegheny River which resulted from the disposal of glass polishing waste .^[50] When tested, high levels of arsenic, lead, antimony, iron and chromium were found at the site.^[50] The environmental groups claimed that the company violated the Clean Water Act and Resources Conservation and Recovery Act and failed to follow an administrative order issued by the DEP under the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law to clean up the site in 2009.^[50]

State affiliates

As of February 2010, Environment America consisted of 29 state affiliates:^[51]

References

External links

• Official webpage