Wed.Jun 11, 2025

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The man quietly spending $1 billion on climate action

New Scientist

From geoengineering to anti-methane cow vaccines and green aviation fuel, meet the former nuclear physicist deciding which climate change technologies hold the most promise

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Deconstructing Buildings: The Quest for New Life for Old Wood

Yale E360

A growing number of cities have launched initiatives to reuse the wood waste from construction and demolition that now ends up in landfills. The challenge, proponents say, is to deploy new techniques for disassembling old buildings and markets for repurposing the salvaged wood.

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DEP Reviewing Permits For Drinking Water Treatment System To Provide Water For 21 Homes In Dimock, Susquehanna County Whose Wells Were Contaminated By Shale Gas Drilling 20 Years Ago

PA Environment Daily

On June 10, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it is reviewing additional permits for the drinking water treatment facility that will provide clean, safe drinking water to 21 homes in Dimock, Susquehanna County that have had their water wells impacted by natural gas drilling. Pennsylvania American Water Company has started construction on a new public water line for Dimock residents – the result of a settlement of criminal charges secured by then-Attorney General Shapiro after

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To Build True Resilience, Grid Planners Must Seek Community Wisdom  

Union of Concerned Scientists

When tornadoes and severe storms fueled by a changing climate swept through Chicago last summer , I was panicking—not for me, but for my parents. They live 45 minutes northwest of me, and the power had gone out. My dad, who needs to regulate his blood sugar closely and depends on medication, was locked out of the house. The keys were inside their car, which was inaccessible in the garage without power.

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Precision in Motion: Why Process Optimization Is the Future of Manufacturing

Speaker: Jason Chester, Director, Product Management

In today’s manufacturing landscape, staying competitive means moving beyond reactive quality checks and toward real-time, data-driven process control. But what does true manufacturing process optimization look like—and why is it more urgent now than ever? Join Jason Chester in this new, thought-provoking session on how modern manufacturers are rethinking quality operations from the ground up.

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DCNR Celebrates Naturalistic Fish Passage On The Susquehanna River At Shikellamy State Park In Northumberland County

PA Environment Daily

On June 11, as part of the watershed-wide Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week , the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources celebrated the new naturalistic fish passage at Shikellamy State Park in Northumberland County for its upstream benefit to native species such as American shad and eels, and its downstream benefit to the Chesapeake Bay. “Stewardship and conservation of our environment is the core of what DCNR does every day.

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‘The Trump uncertainty principle’ is destroying the position and momentum of US science

Physics World

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle holds things together. Articulated by the German physicist Werner Heisenberg almost a century ago, it remains the foundation of the physical world. Its name suggests the rule of the vague and temporary. But the principle is quantitative. A high uncertainty about the position of, say, an electron is compensated by a low uncertainty in its momentum.

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Stanford engineers reinvent wastewater purification to unlock valuable resources

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from Stanford University. Wastewater isn’t just waste – it’s packed with hidden value. Stanford researchers are developing cutting-edge resins – porous beads that together act like a coffee filter – not only to remove contaminants but also to recover valuable products, like ammonia for fertilizer.

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ACC Files TSCA Section 21 Petition Seeking Reconsideration of TCE Risk Management Rule

Nanotech

On May 27, 2025, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to reconsider the final risk management rule for trichloroethylene (TCE). ACC requests that EPA reconsider and amend two provisions of the rule: To give EPA adequate time to consider the issues raised in the petition, ACC also hereby requests that EPA take immediate action to revise the TCE rule The post ACC Files TSCA Section

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New York bitcoin miners are buying up power plants—and communities are fighting back

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Inside Climate News. New York is home to four of the largest bitcoin mines in the country, which consume huge quantities of electric power and water to cool their server farms, emit loud humming noises around the clock and flood the atmosphere with copious greenhouse gases and pollutants.

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Deconstructing Buildings: The Quest for New Life for Old Wood

Yale E360

A growing number of cities have launched initiatives to reuse the wood waste from construction and demolition that now ends up in landfills. The challenge, proponents say, is to deploy new techniques for disassembling old buildings and markets for repurposing the salvaged wood.

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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. ♻️ Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets. 📊 Join us for a practical webinar hosted by Kevin Kai Wong of Emergent Ene

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Plastic pyrolysis − chemists explain a technique attempting to tackle plastic waste by bringing the heat

Environmental News Bits

by Kevin A. Schug, University of Texas at Arlington and Alexander Kaplitz, University of Texas at Arlington In 1950, global plastic production was about 2 million tons. It’s now about 400 million tons – an increase of nearly 20,000%. As a material, it has seemingly limitless potential.

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Pittsburgh Business Leaders Deliver Letter Urging PA's US Senators To Preserve Federal Energy Tax Credits And 100,000 Jobs In Pennsylvania

PA Environment Daily

On June 11, Pittsburgh business leaders gathered at the Pittsburgh City-County Portico to herald the importance of federal energy tax credits to Pennsylvania’s job market and economy, and then hand-delivered a letter to Senator Dave McCormick and Senator John Fetterman’s Pittsburgh district offices in the name of securing American energy independence.

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Urban parks can support people and biodiversity—if they are designed with both in mind

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Inside Climate News. Research shows that parks are crucial for supporting city dwellers—people or the surprising abundance of animals that inhabit urban wildlands. However, designing parks with both in mind can be a tall task. Bright lights are good for human safety, but can be disruptive to insect populations.

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PUC Releases Electric Utility, PJM Summer Readiness Reports: Sufficient Generation Capacity, But Extreme Demand May Result In Energy Shortfall

PA Environment Daily

On June 11, the Public Utility Commission released the 2025 Summer Readiness Overviews submitted by the Commonwealth’s major electric distribution companies and the regional electric grid operator, PJM Interconnection, LLC. The reports show that utilities and PJM have made extensive preparations to meet expected summer electricity demands, including system upgrades, emergency response planning, and coordination with regional partners.

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How to Modernize Manufacturing Without Losing Control

Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives

Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri

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New method promises to upend accounting for short-lived pollutants

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Trellis. Conventional carbon accounting measures impact over 100 years, lessening the focus on short-lived drivers of global warming. The Global Heat Reduction Initiative is offering an alternative accounting methodology that emphasizes near-term impacts.

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Wednesday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips - 6.11.25

PA Environment Daily

PA Environment Digest Will Be CLOSED June 14 to 19. "The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.” - - Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution [It’s Not A S

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A father of environmental justice rebukes Sierra Club, Ben Jealous over treatment of Black Alabamians

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Inside Climate News. Dr. Robert Bullard has long spoken out about Shiloh, a historically Black community regularly flooded by an elevated highway. Now, he says the president of the nation’s largest environmental group should own up to the promises he’s made.

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The arid air of Death Valley may actually be a valuable water source

New Scientist

Close Advertisement Skip to content Sign in Search the website Events Tours Shop Jobs Subscribe now Explore by section News Features Newsletters Podcasts Video Comment Culture Crosswords | This weeks magazine Explore by subject Health Space Physics Technology Environment Mind Humans Life Mathematics Chemistry Earth Society Explore our products and services Events Tours Shop Jobs Subscribe now Subscribe now Technology The arid air of Death Valley may actually be a valuable water source An innovat

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Implementing D.E.J.I. Strategies in Energy, Environment, and Transportation

Speaker: Antoine M. Thompson, Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion (DEJI) policies, programs, and initiatives are critically important as we move forward with public and private sector climate and sustainability goals and plans. Underserved and socially, economically, and racially disadvantaged communities bear the burden of pollution, higher energy costs, limited resources, and limited investments in the clean energy and transportation sectors.

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Decoding harmful algal blooms: Unraveling the mystery

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at USGS. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a significant environmental concern due to their potential effects on health, ecosystems, and economies. Algal toxins, which are toxic compounds produced by certain species of cyanobacteria and algae, are commonly linked to these blooms.

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Sound waves control droplet movement in microfluidic processor

Physics World

Thanks to a new sound-based control system, a microfluidic processor can precisely manipulate droplets with an exceptionally broad range of volumes. The minimalist device is compatible with many substrates, including metals, polymers and glass. It is also biocompatible, and its developers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University say it could be a transformative tool for applications in biology, chemistry and lab-on-a-chip systems.

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Microsoft is mining hard drives for rare earths. Why it matters

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Trellis. Technology giants are “mining” rare earth elements and precious metals from old computer hardware and recovered electronics to meet waste reduction goals. Apple and Google are also recovering precious metals and rare earth elements. The company recycled or reused almost 91 percent of its decommissioned servers and other data … Continue reading Microsoft is mining hard drives for rare earths.

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Inside Europe's largest jellyfish farm

New Scientist

Images from a jellyfish-breeding facility in Germany showcase the luminous invertebrates' environmental challenges and medical promise

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Climate anxiety as a call to global justice

Environmental News Bits

Hanife, B., Cianconi, P., Grillo, F., Paulinich, A., & Janiri, L. (2025). Climate anxiety as a call to global justice. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1547678. [link] Abstract Climate anxiety (or eco-anxiety) is a growing psychological phenomenon linked to the increasing awareness of the environmental crisis caused by climate change.

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EPA To Repeal All Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards, 2024 Mercury & Air Toxics Standards For Fossil Fuel Power Plants

PA Environment Daily

On June 11, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will repeal all greenhouse gas emissions standards for the power sector under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act and repeal 2024 amendments to the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) that directly result in coal-fired power plants having to shut down.

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Report highlights community pushback stalling $64 billion in data center development nationwide

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Inside Climate News. As data center development explodes, the industry has faced particular challenges in Virginia, its global epicenter. Some $900 million in projects in the state have been blocked, and $45.8 billion in projects have been delayed. Yet, environmental advocates say few protections have been put in place.

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Delaware River Frack Ban Coalition Launch Initiative To Defend The Delaware River Watershed From Oil & Gas Fracking

PA Environment Daily

The Pledge to Defend the Delaware River Watershed from fracking was launched June 11 before the start of the Delaware River Basin Commission public meeting, held in person in Easton, Northampton County. A permanent ban prohibiting high volume hydraulic fracturing in the Delaware River Watershed was adopted by the DRBC in February 2021 following a moratorium on gas drilling instituted in 2010 and after more than ten years of comprehensive research and public deliberation.

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Shaping a Resilient Future: Climate Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Speaker: Laurie Schoeman Director, Climate & Sustainability, Capital

As households and communities across the nation face challenges such as hurricanes, wildfires, drought, extreme heat and cold, and thawing permafrost and flooding, we are increasingly searching for ways to mitigate and prevent climate impacts. During this event, national climate and housing expert Laurie Schoeman will discuss topics including: The two paths for climate action: decarbonization and adaptation.

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Major US climate website likely to be shut down after almost all staff fired

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story in The Guardian. A major US government website supporting public education on climate science looks likely to be shuttered after almost all of its staff were fired, the Guardian has learned. Climate.

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Animals Expend 76,000 Gigajoules of Energy Sculpting Our Planet Every Year

Scientific American

Skip to main content Scientific American June 11, 2025 2 min read See How Animals Sculpt the Planet This tally of animals’ effect on Earth’s geology, equivalent to that of thousands of extreme floods, most likely is an underestimate By Cody Cottier edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Kenyan termite mound. Vicki Jauron/Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images Earth’s surface is a work forever in progress.

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Trump says he plans to phase out FEMA after 2025 hurricane season

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at CNN. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he plans to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this year’s hurricane season, offering the clearest timeline yet for his administration’s long-term plans to dismantle the disaster relief agency and shift responsibility for response and recovery onto states.

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PA Sea Grant: Virginia Friedman From Abington Friends School In Montgomery County Will Be Part Of A Shipboard Science Program On Lake Michigan This Summer

PA Environment Daily

On June 11, Pennsylvania Sea Grant announced Virginia Friedman, a 7th grade science teacher at Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, will join Sea Grant’s Center for Great Lakes Literacy staff and Great Lakes researchers to work aboard an EPA research vessel July 7-13, 2025. Through a partnership with the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, NOAA, and with funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative , educators will spend a full week alongside researchers aboard t

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Sustainability at Retail

Sustainability impacts every nation, company, and person around the world. So much so that, in 2015, the United Nations (UN) issued a call for action by all countries to work toward sustainable development. In response to this and as part of a global Sustainability at Retail initiative, Shop! worked collaboratively with its global affiliates to address these critical issues in this white paper.