National & World News | StateImpact Pennsylvania

$FILE - Work continues at a shale gas well drilling site in St. Mary's, Pa., March 12, 2020. Facing the need to win Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris has sworn off any prior assertion that she opposed fracking. But that hasn't stopped Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump from wielding her now-abandoned position as to win over working-class voters in the key battleground state where the industry means jobs. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)$

August 5, 2024 | 9:52 AM

Harris once wanted to ban fracking. Trump wants voters in energy-rich Pennsylvania to remember

By Marc Levy/The Associated Press

File photo: The Environmental Protection Agency.

January 10, 2024 | 9:40 AM

EPA finalizes new rules for companies producing toxic PFAS chemicals

Companies must now notify the EPA if they want to resume the production of certain PFAS chemicals.

By Zoë Read/WHYY

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks during a roundtable with Jewish community leaders in the Indian Treaty Room on the White House complex in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. The White House has selected the Philadelphia area and West Virginia for two regional hubs to produce and deliver hydrogen fuel, an important part of the Biden administration's clean energy plan, according to a person familiar with the plan.

October 13, 2023 | 4:04 PM

Biden awards $7 billion for clean hydrogen hubs across the country to help replace fossil fuels

By Matthew Daly and Marc Levy/ The Associated Press

Eva Stebel, water researcher, pours a water sample into a smaller glass container for experimentation as part of drinking water and PFAS research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Center For Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose restrictions on harmful "forever chemicals" in drinking water after finding they are dangerous in amounts so small as to be undetectable, but experts say removing them will cost billions.

March 15, 2023 | 11:55 AM

EPA proposes first limits on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ for public drinking water

While states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey have already set PFAS limits for public water systems, the EPA proposal is more restrictive and would apply nationwide.

By Zoë Read/WHYY

Community members attend a meeting at East Palestine High School on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. Norfolk Southern did not attend the meeting, citing concerns of a growing physical threat to employees. Now, residents are turning to lawyers to get answers they say they can't get from the company.

February 23, 2023 | 12:01 PM

East Palestine residents seek legal advice after train derailment

By Abigail Bottar and Taylor Wizner/ Ideastream Public Media

January 10, 2023 | 10:03 AM

Climate change makes heat waves, storms and droughts worse, climate report confirms

By NPR

People embark a ferry during an evacuation from Kochyli beach as wildfire approaches near Limni village on the island of Evia, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) north of Athens, Greece, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Thousands of people fled wildfires burning out of control in Greece and Turkey on Friday, including a major blaze just north of the Greek capital of Athens that claimed one life, as a protracted heat wave left forests tinder-dry and flames threatened populated areas and electricity installations.

Updated: August 19, 2021 | 10:56 am

A major report warns climate change is accelerating and humans must cut emissions now

The U.N. has released the most comprehensive global climate science report ever. It is unequivocal: Humans must stop burning fossil fuels or suffer catastrophic impacts.

By Rebecca Hersher/NPR

Updated: 2021-04-22 15:51:55

Biden makes new pledge for U.S. greenhouse gas emissions: A 50% cut

That aggressive 2030 goal will be formalized in a document called a "nationally determined contribution," or NDC.

By NPR

In this Nov. 9, 2020, file photo President-elect Joe Biden speaks at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. Biden says he wants to “restore the soul of America.”

November 23, 2020 | 1:11 PM

Why the oil industry doesn’t fear Biden

The oil industry sees the president-elect as open to compromise — and likely constrained by a Republican Senate.

By Staff

Bruce Mansfield coal-fired power plant in Shippingport, Pa., which was retired early in November 2019.

April 14, 2020 | 3:51 PM

Carbon emissions are falling, but still not enough, scientists say

By Lauren Sommer, NPR

Energy. Environment. Economy.

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