Michael Copley

Trump's EPA wants to eliminate regulation for greenhouse gases The Trump administration proposes eliminating a 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger people. That would undermine the EPA's climate change regulations for power plants and cars.

The Trump administration announced its plan today to overturn a key 2009 Environmental Protection Agency finding that underpins much of the federal government's actions to rein in climate change. My @npr story: www.npr.org/2025/07/29/n...

"It's not a question of whether or not the country is going to install solar if these provisions are removed or phased out too quickly. It's just a matter of where [project developers] are going to get the product from."

Solar manufacturing is booming. Advocates say it could go bust without incentives Abruptly ending tax incentives that encourage solar developers to buy American could upend a booming manufacturing sector.

Abruptly ending tax incentives that encourage solar developers to buy American could upend a booming manufacturing sector.

Protecting your home from disaster might not help you get insurance Insurance costs are soaring, and coverage is hard to find in some parts of the United States. Communities say insurers are ignoring their efforts to confront the problem.

Investments that help communities endure more extreme weather are "a path to keep insurance available," says Dave Jones, director of the Climate Risk Initiative at UC Berkeley Law. “But the insurers need to account for it in their modeling. They're not."

Exclusive from my NPR Climate Desk colleague @rhersher.bsky.social:

You count on the NPR Network. Today, supporters like you are donating and sharing what #PublicMediaGives to their communities that no other news service can.

Your support connects small towns, big cities and the millions who call them home. Every dollar makes a difference. Donate now: n.pr/4lFTPPD

Rural communities were promised millions in disaster funds. Trump is ending it Rural communities are scrambling after the Trump administration canceled billions in disaster grants. Many were counting on the funds for infrastructure fixes meant to withstand future disasters.

“In DePue, Ill., sewage will keep backing up into people's basements when there's heavy rain. In Rising Sun, Md., a mobile home park that has already flooded six times will remain in harm's way. And in Kamiah, Idaho, houses won't get upgrades that would protect them from wildfires.”

Federal judge orders release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi A federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University who was arrested at his US citizenship interview and ordered deported.

JUST IN: A federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University who was arrested at his US citizenship interview and ordered deported.

For an @npr.org story I'm researching: have you cooked with an electric grill before? What do you think of the experience, compared to a gas or charcoal grill? Any suggestions if someone is thinking about switching to an electric grill this summer?

Private eye accused of hacking American climate activists loses U.K. extradition fight The Justice Department has charged Amit Forlit with conspiracy to commit computer hacking, among other crimes.

The attacks on climate activists represent a broad assault on US civil society, says Lee Wasserman, director of the Rockefeller Family Fund and a target of the hacking.

“It’s a very big issue that transcends, really, the most basic aspects of freedom,” Wasserman told NPR

EPA cancels $900K to address asthma in western Mass., includes city once dubbed U.S. 'asthma capital' Most of a multi-year, $1 million federal grant to address asthma in western Massachusetts was terminated on Friday, effective immediately, according to the Healey administration.

EPA cancels $900K to address asthma in western Mass., includes city once dubbed U.S. 'asthma capital' www.nhpr.org/2025-04-28/e...

Some Los Angeles fires victims are rebuilding their homes without gas appliances As Los Angeles rebuilds from the Eaton and Palisades fires, climate activists want to retire the gas utility pipelines and and hope to persuade people to rebuild homes as all-electric.

Some Los Angeles fires victims are rebuilding their homes without gas appliances. Climate advocates want all homeowners to choose electric, but it's hard to require that of people who've had their lives upended. My @npr.org story with Ryan Kellman's photos: www.npr.org/2025/04/23/n...

Pope Francis focused on climate change as the planet continued to get hotter Pope Francis called on the world and 1.4 billion Catholics to confront climate change. He brought attention to the issue but it's not clear he changed many minds.

Pope Francis pushed for action on climate change -- not surprising for a pontiff who was the first to take the name of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology. My @npr.org story: www.npr.org/2025/04/21/n...

Exclusive reporting from my @npr.org Climate Desk colleague @michaelcopley1.bsky.social:

Major budget cuts proposed for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The agency forecasts weather, manages fisheries, and researches the world's oceans, atmosphere, and climate. The proposed budget cuts would slash the climate work entirely.

The agency forecasts weather, manages fisheries, and researches the world's oceans, atmosphere, and climate. The proposed budget cuts would slash the climate work entirely.

"The developer of Maine’s first offshore wind array has paused the project amid the Trump administration’s backlash against the industry."

West Virginia Coal Association just issued an action alert... It says a policy issued by USTR under the Trump administration, "would cripple American coal exports and threaten thousands of jobs."

Alert attached, see my story below for details.

America's clean-energy industry is growing despite Trump's attacks. At least for now Clean energy is crucial to meet rising U.S. electricity demand, according to industry analysts and executives. But the Trump administration's actions could slow development.

"America's clean-energy industry is growing despite Trump's attacks. At least for now" www.npr.org/2025/03/12/n... via @michaelcopley1.bsky.social @npr.org

DOGE’s Millions: As Musk and Trump Gut Government, Their Ax-Cutting Agency Gets Cash Infusion The Department of Government Efficiency is funded — and acts — like a federal agency. But the White House has shielded DOGE from the rules that govern such agencies, ProPublica found as it examines th...

“If DOGE is a federal agency, it can’t shield its records from the public. If it’s not an agency, then DOGE’s tens of millions of dollars in funding weren’t legally allocated and should be returned, some [legal experts] contend.” www.propublica.org/article/doge...

The Big Government Money Pipe Freeze : Planet Money There has been chaotic uncertainty around billions of dollars allocated by Congress. The Trump administration ordered a pause on — and review of — certain types of federal assistance. A judge blocked ...

Did you know? Right now you can look at every single payment coming out of the federal government, like a Venmo feed for federal loans, subsidies, and grants. Why does the government make this available, and how can it illuminate some questions everyone seems to be asking right now.
buff.ly/4jX8t4i

Trump Executive Order Takes Back Funds to Help Low-Income Alabama Residents Pay Electric Bills - Inside Climate News Many of the 2,000 Alabama households impacted had already seen the funds credited to their accounts and will have to pay the money back on their next bill.

insideclimatenews.org/news/1402202...

Trump officials signal potential changes at NOAA, the weather and climate agency Federal workers at the home agency for the National Weather Service are concerned about a potential overhaul by Trump officials focused on cutting government costs.

A list of terms NOAA received that could run afoul of Trump orders: "climate change," "pollution" "natural resources" and terms associated with diversity, equity and inclusion - @npr.org's @alejandrabee.bsky.social @michaelcopley1.bsky.social @hansilowang.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/02/15/n...

Trump officials signal potential changes at NOAA, the weather and climate agency Federal workers at the home agency for the National Weather Service are concerned about a potential overhaul by Trump officials focused on cutting government costs.

My latest @npr.org story with @alejandrabee.bsky.social & @michaelcopley1.bsky.social: Federal workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are on high alert as they monitor signs of a potential Trump administration overhaul of one of the government's main scientific agencies

Layoffs accelerate at federal agencies with more cuts to come Federal agencies continued to lay off workers Friday. The cuts come after President Trump signed an executive order this week directing agencies to prepare for "large-scale" reductions in force.

- Layoffs hit employees at USDA, EPA, and CDC on Friday
- Pentagon and HUD are gearing up for budget cuts and staff reductions

www.npr.org/2025/02/14/n...

Here's how Trump's pause on wind projects could threaten jobs and climate goals A Trump executive order temporarily pauses leases and permits for offshore and onshore wind projects. Wind advocates say an offshore wind freeze could threaten states' climate goals and jobs.

A Trump executive order temporarily pauses leases and permits for offshore and onshore wind projects. Wind advocates say an offshore wind freeze could threaten states' climate goals and jobs.

The U.S. is trying to unravel a hacking plot that targeted climate activists The U.S. claims the hacking was commissioned by a lobbying firm working on behalf of one of the world's biggest oil companies.

Hackers targeted climate activists and there's an allegation that a lobbying firm working for ExxonMobil ordered the attack. This week, there was a new turn in the yearslong case. From @michaelcopley1.bsky.social on @npr.org's climate desk. www.npr.org/2025/01/24/n...

Sums it up well. Happy to have been included in this NPR story yesterday (print) on US load growth: #energysky www.npr.org/2025/01/16/n...

Montana top court says youth have right to stable climate Montana's top court ruled on Wednesday the state's constitution guarantees a right to a stable climate and invalidates laws barring regulators from considering the effects of greenhouse-gas emissions when permitting fossil-fuel projects.

"Montana's right to a clean and healthful environment and environmental life support system includes a stable climate system," Chief Justice Mike McGrath wrote for the majority.

Montana top court says youth have right to stable climate - www.reuters.com/legal/montan...

House GOP says “climate cartel” used hedge fund Engine No. 1 to push a climate agenda at the Exxon. @javierblas.bsky.social said earlier this week that kind of framing is “nonsense.” “It was hard capitalism, and Engine No. 1 was all about shareholder returns.”

“Carrboro alleges Duke knew about climate change for over 50 years but continued to operate coal and gas power plants that spewed greenhouse gases. The lawsuit also says Duke participated in campaigns to confuse the public about whether climate change was real to avoid stricter regulations.”