What Is The Environmental Defense Fund?

Background

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is a nonprofit environmental advocacy group that first organized in 1967 after the pesticide DDT was discovered to be threatening wildlife on Long Island, New York. The group is known for its work on issues such as global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans and human health. It is a nonpartisan organization, emphasizing market-based solutions to solving environmental problems. It works in California, New York, North Carolina, the Rockies and Texas. The Environmental Defense Fund advocates for nonpartisan environmental policy change based in scientific research and does not accept money from corporate clients.

EDF’s research has been used to protect oceans, enact climate legislation and outlaw hazardous chemicals from children’s clothing. The organization has worked with large corporations to encourage them to voluntarily curb pollution and waste, such as in 1991 when EDF convinced McDonald’s to redesign its packaging to be more environmentally friendly. EDF has also partnered with FedEx to create more energy-efficient trucks.

Currently in Texas, EDF is monitoring the environmental consequences of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. In addition to studying the environmental effects of fracking, EDF is campaigning to make fracking techniques more transparent.

EDF is also hard at work in the Texas capital. The Pecan Street Project is a pilot project in Austin that explores how a smarter electrical grid will work. The initiative was developed by the City of Austin in collaboration with EDF, Austin Energy and The University of Texas to reinvent the way electricity is generated and used in Texas.

Latest Posts

Follow this topic

April 15, 2013

Report Shows Texas Counties Where Fracking and Water Needs Collide

The Texas legislature is currently considering plans to fund water projects for the state. Meanwhile, the oil and gas industry is using billions of gallons of freshwater for fracking, which is getting the attention of lawmakers. Virginia Palacios, a research associate at the Environmental Defense Fund, has a new analysis showing that many of the Texas counties […]

March 21, 2013

Legislation Would Have Fracking Fluid Recipes Sent to Landowners Nearby

Under legislation considered at the Capitol this week, hydraulic fracturing companies in Texas could soon be mailing a list of “fracking” fluid ingredients to residents near oil and gas wells. House Bill 448, authored by Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, would require drilling companies to mail a list of the ingredients they plan to use in […]

February 15, 2013

Texas Renewable Energy Faces Hurdles in Legislature

From the Texas Tribune: During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Obama doubled down on his vision for renewable energy, calling for more wind and solar power. In Texas, the Legislature is less enthusiastic. As the session progresses, renewable energy advocates are bracing to defend critical policies that have helped Texas become […]

January 14, 2013

Lesser Prairie Chicken Has Energy Industry Worried

From the Texas Tribune: In a few months, a grouse known as the lesser prairie chicken will emerge from its West Texas winter hideaway. Males will do a loud and elaborate mating dance, delighting females — and birdwatchers. But there is less dancing now because the chickens’ numbers have declined. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife […]

December 14, 2012

The Number of Fracking Trade Secrets in Texas Will Likely Surprise You

Drilling companies may be exempting as secret far more information on fracking chemicals than they agreed to.

November 27, 2012

As Tax Credit Hangs in the Balance, Texas Sets Another Wind Record

Many Texans woke up to a breezy, cool morning today, and when they turn their lights on and start doing their laundry or nuke a breakfast taco, many of them will be doing so with the help of that breeze: wind power. Texas leads the country for installed wind power, and is one of the […]

November 15, 2012

Why a Truly ‘Green’ Car Race Might Not Be Possible for Formula One

Three model cars sit side-by-side on the windowsill of Zach Baumer’s office in East Austin, memories of a childhood spent with his family at Indy 500 races. “Growing up in Indianapolis, I just have sort of a thing for cars,” he says. “Not that I think we should be driving single occupancy vehicles! But … […]

August 21, 2012

Reax Roundup: Texas Crows Over Victory on EPA Air Pollution Rule

Earlier today, a federal appeals court overturned a new EPA rule, the Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), that would have affected coal power plants in several states, including Texas. The rule was defended in a suit from the American Lung Association, several cities and states, and several environmental groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, […]

August 13, 2012

Here’s One Solution to Texas’ Power Woes, And it Could Cost You Nothing

As we’ve been chronicling over the past few months, Texas is in a bit of a bind when it comes to power. There are more and more people, and fewer and fewer power plants. While natural gas prices stay low, that means power companies in Texas have to charge less (here’s a good explainer on […]

July 2, 2012

At House Hearing, Water Issues Dominate

When water became scarce in Texas last year, scrutiny quickly fell on the state’s burgeoning energy industry. Proposed new coal plants had trouble getting water permits. And hydraulic fracturing drillers faced accusations of groundwater contamination and excessive water use. But at the House joint hearing on energy and natural resources held last Wednesday, industry leaders gave representatives […]