Energy + Environment
Running dry on data: Missouri drought hard to measure
After a spring and summer of wet conditions throughout almost the entire state, drought is returning to Missouri. About 10% of Missouri is now classified as abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a map that tracks drought and updates weekly. “We hadn’t had a week in July or August with a map that […]
States scramble to complete renewable energy projects before tax credits expire
The abrupt termination of tax credits for clean energy projects is perhaps the most drastic blow that President Donald Trump has struck in his campaign against wind and solar electricity. As states brace for the uncertainty ahead, they are scrambling to get pending projects off the ground before the tax credits expire. “The real opportunities […]
Trump’s EPA proposes rollback of basis for climate change rules, sparking Dem outrage
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency submitted a proposal Tuesday to rescind a 2009 finding that has provided the foundation for the agency’s regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, drawing strong opposition from Democrats and climate groups. Administrator Lee Zeldin said the EPA would scrap what is known as its endangerment finding, established […]
‘Water is our most valuable resource’: New law will limit water exports from Missouri
By limiting large-scale water exports from the state, experts and farmers said Missouri has taken forward-thinking measures to protect one of its most vital resources. According to them, it will benefit agriculture, industry and municipal services in the coming years. Governor Mike Kehoe signed new legislation into law on July 14 that limits large-scale water […]
Former EPA officials say Trump proposal will gut agency’s power to curb emissions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has submitted a proposal to scrap a years-old finding that greenhouse gas emissions threaten the environment and public health, a move that former agency officials say would gut the EPA’s authority to reduce emissions and is sure to end up in the courts. The EPA sent a draft proposal to […]
Feds cancel $4.9 billion loan for Grain Belt Express transmission line project
The U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday it was cancelling a conditional $4.9 billion loan for the Grain Belt Express, a planned transmission line designed to transport electricity generated by wind farms in Kansas across four states, including Missouri. The loan, which was issued by the Biden administration in November 2024, is being cancelled because […]
Ameren Missouri gas rates set to rise in September
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved new rates for Ameren’s gas customers, adding around 12%, or $13, to the average customer’s monthly bills. John Coffman, a lawyer for the Consumers Council of Missouri, said rate increases are outpacing both inflation and wage growth. “We believe that these increases are fueling inflation generally in the […]
Ag fertilizer runoff likely will force more drinking water restrictions
For nearly a month, hundreds of thousands of Iowans have not been allowed to water their lawns — even though there’s no drought. Local authorities previously asked the public to refrain from washing cars and filling pools. And some cities turned off splash pads in the height of summer heat. While such measures are common […]
Smaller nuclear reactors spark renewed interest in a once-shunned energy source
ABILENE, Texas — Bolstered by $3.2 million from a former Midland oilman, this West Texas city of 130,000 people is helping the Lone Star State lead a national nuclear energy resurgence. Doug Robison’s 2021 donation to Abilene Christian University helped the institution win federal approval to house an advanced small modular nuclear reactor, which might […]
Congress plans to scrap USDA Climate Hubs, following Trump guidance
Not all farmers and ranchers will agree in a discussion about climate change, but it would be difficult to find a Midwest producer who did not value climate-related data addressing drought, precipitation, temperature and frost outlooks. These are all pieces of data gathered and distributed by the Ames-based Midwest Climate Hub, which along with the […]
Trump-backed pesticide report led by RFK Jr. draws fire from agrichemical industry
A new report linking pesticide overuse to children’s health issues has ignited a battle within President Donald Trump’s circle of support, pitting powerful agrichemical giants against some organic food advocates. Last month, the Make America Healthy Again commission, chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., published a report on declining childhood […]
US Senate vote to nix California tailpipe emissions standard blocks 17 other states
The U.S. Senate voted early Thursday to prevent California from enforcing regulations on tailpipe emission from new cars and trucks, upending state regulations for the nearly 40% of Americans whose states follow California standards. The House has already passed an identical measure, meaning the Senate vote sends the resolution to President Donald Trump’s desk. The […]