Jan 29, 2026 | Community Engagement News, Dr. Beverly Wright News, Dr. Wright Blog, DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, Research and Policy News, Take Action Alert
NEW ORLEANS, LA — The New Orleans City Council’s decision to pass a one-year moratorium on data centers represents a small victory for New Orleans East and residential communities across the city. This action proves that when communities organize and speak truth to power, decision-makers must respond. DSCEJ commends the City Council for listening to residents and recognizing the serious threats data centers pose to community health, energy infrastructure, and environmental stability when sited too close to residential areas. This moratorium creates essential time to assess the full impact these facilities would have on our neighborhoods and establish appropriate nonresidential zoning.
However, a moratorium does not equate to a solution. Over the next year, DSCEJ will work alongside community members and continue to call on local leadership to ensure this temporary protection is solidified into permanent policy. We will monitor any attempts to weaken these protections and hold decision-makers accountable to the health and safety of the people they serve. Data centers consume extraordinary amounts of energy and water while generating heat and noise pollution, posing serious risks when sited near homes where families live, children play, and communities thrive. New Orleans East has long been treated as a sacrifice zone for industrial projects that benefit corporations while burdening Black residents with health risks and environmental harm. That pattern must end.
During this moratorium period, we call on city leadership to:
- Conduct comprehensive environmental and health impact assessments
- Engage in genuine community consultation, centering the voices of those most affected
- Develop zoning policies that prohibit industrial facilities in residential areas
- Prioritize investments that strengthen community infrastructure and economic opportunity without compromising health
“This moment belongs to the residents of New Orleans East who refused to accept yet another threat to their quality of life. And to everyone who spoke out, showed up, and demanded better we say: The work continues. We can’t rest until our communities are treated as precious assets to our city and our neighbors can rest peacefully and breathe easily knowing they are protected from environmental harm.” — Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder & Executive Director
About DSCEJ
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ), founded in 1992, is the nation’s longest-serving environmental justice resource center, committed to advancing the health, safety, and livelihoods of communities impacted by pollution and climate change. Through research, education, and workforce training, DSCEJ collaborates with communities, scientists, and policymakers to address systemic environmental inequities. DSCEJ is dedicated to ensuring every person’s right to live free from environmental harm impacting health, housing, jobs, and overall quality of life.
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Jan 26, 2026 | Dr. Beverly Wright News, Dr. Wright Blog, DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, The Latest News
UPDATE: On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the New Orleans City Council voted unanimously to pass a one-year moratorium on data centers.
Following the response from our community in firm opposition to this project, this decisive action represents a critical first step in protecting residential neighborhoods from industrial encroachment. We commend Mayor Helena Moreno for speaking out against this proposal and Councilmember Jason Hughes for standing with the community in this unanimous vote. DSCEJ will continue monitoring and advocating for permanent protections. Read our full response here.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) stands in firm opposition to the proposed data center development in New Orleans East. This project at the intersection of residential I-10 and Read Blvd represents yet another environmental burden placed on a community already bearing a disproportionate load of unwanted industrial expansion.
For decades, New Orleans East has been targeted for facilities that other parts of the city would never accept. This highly educated, economically viable Black community has shouldered the impacts of industrial development for far too long. Families in the East are constantly fighting to preserve generational wealth tied to their land, their homes, and most importantly their health and safety, and enough is enough.
“This is another assault when New Orleans East communities deserve protection against businesses looking to line their pockets at the expense of human life,” says Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder & Executive Director of DSCEJ. “These communities are already experiencing the impacts of pollution; a data center threatens our electrical infrastructure, water contamination and overconsumption. Data shows that with a new data center, families who live here can expect higher water bills, higher electrical bills and greater health risks. My family established itself in New Orleans East with faith in the promise of continued economic advancement and quality of life for generations. Sixty-five years later, that reality is crumbling at the prospect of unchecked industrial siting that will destroy our health, wealth, and our environment.”
DSCEJ calls on Councilmember Jason Hughes and Mayor Helena Moreno to follow through on their election promises to New Orleans East and commit to sustainable, equitable development that centers the needs and voices of New Orleans East residents. Corporate interests threaten the quality of life we have worked to build and will assure the degradation of residential character in a thriving community that deserves investment over extraction.
About DSCEJ
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ), founded in 1992, is the nation’s longest-serving environmental justice resource center, committed to advancing the health, safety, and livelihoods of communities impacted by pollution and climate change. Through research, education, and workforce training, DSCEJ collaborates with communities, scientists, and policymakers to address systemic environmental inequities. DSCEJ is dedicated to ensuring every person’s right to live free from environmental harm impacting health, housing, jobs, and overall quality of life.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES
media@dscej.org
Jan 23, 2026 | DSCEJ General News, LGCGP News, Press Releases, The Latest News
NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) is proud to announce the selection of twenty-one community-based organizations as grant awardees for the Louisiana Gulf Coast Grantmaking Project (LGCGP). This initiative, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Division, empowers local leaders to address critical environmental and climate-related challenges in their communities.
Through a competitive selection process, these organizations have been awarded funding ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 for their projects designed to strengthen community resilience, improve water quality, and mitigate the impacts of severe weather across coastal Louisiana. Prioritizing community-led solutions, climate preparedness, and water quality protection for historically underserved frontline populations, the funded projects represent a significant investment in the state’s environmental future. We are honored to support the following organizations in their vital work:
Answering the Call for Resilience
As environmental challenges intensify, the need for community-driven action has never been more urgent. The LGCGP provides direct funding to coastal communities to implement critical projects. These projects are designed to address and lessen environmental and climate-related threats affecting residents, while simultaneously establishing immediate capacity to manage significant initiatives. This approach ensures a safer and more sustainable coast for all residents.
About DSCEJ
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ), founded in 1992, is the nation’s longest-serving environmental justice resource center, committed to advancing the health, safety, and livelihoods of communities impacted by pollution and climate change. Through research, education, and workforce training, DSCEJ collaborates with communities, scientists, and policymakers to address systemic environmental inequities. DSCEJ is dedicated to ensuring every person’s right to live free from environmental harm impacting health, housing, jobs, and overall quality of life.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES
media@dscej.org
Jun 25, 2025 | CIRC News, Dr. Beverly Wright News, DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, The Latest News
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) joined a coalition of nonprofits and community groups to sue the Trump administration for unlawfully terminating the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) Grant programs – despite a Congressional directive to fund them.
Alongside plaintiffs across the country, DSCEJ is seeking class action certification so all grant recipients who have been harmed by the wholesale termination of the EPA program, may continue their projects.
“All communities deserve to live in clean, healthy and safe environments free from toxic pollutants and resilient to the harmful impacts of extreme weather. This is not a partisan position and our work across multiple administrations has supported communities across the south and nation,” said Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder and Executive Director of DSCEJ. “The Trump administration’s efforts to cut off funding, leaves communities vulnerable and families unhealthy, all while polluters are never held accountable. In terminating the Environmental and Climate Justice Program, our agreement to help communities secure needed resources to improve polluted environmental conditions and reduce climate risks was eliminated. The system is rigged against those who need it most. We joined the lawsuit to hold the administration accountable for its misguided actions and to spur the further creation of healthier, cleaner and more resilient communities.”
In November 2023, DSCEJ launched the Community Investment Recovery Center (CIRC) to provide direct services to community-based organizations (CBOs) and Tribal communities through capacity building, technical assistance, and training. The service area spans 13 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas – and 73 Tribes. CIRC leveled the playing field by building the capacity of organizations, most of whom had never applied for a federal grant, to identify potential funding opportunities for their community and navigate the application process.
The cancelled EPA grants supported community-based initiatives that include improving natural disaster preparedness, expanding workforce development opportunities, improving and monitoring air quality, mitigating stormwater and flood damage, combating high energy costs, and improving community members’ ability to participate in decision-making and permitting processes that impact their health and environment.
Earthjustice, Southern Environmental Law Center, Public Rights Project, and Lawyers for Good Government filed the challenge on behalf of ECJ grant recipients to seek the nationwide restoration of the program and to require the administration to reinstate awarded grant agreements.
The Environmental and Climate Justice Program was created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) under Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 138 to award $3 billion in grants to community-based non-profits, Tribes, local governments, and higher education institutions in every state to tackle the climate crisis and environmental harms at the local level.
The grant-funded initiatives in rural, small town and urban communities across the country include air quality monitoring, community pollution notification systems, tree planting in urban heat zones, lead pipes replacement in community drinking water systems, resilience projects to strengthen communities against more frequent and intensifying extreme weather events, and more.
“Since his first days in office, the Trump administration has unlawfully withheld congressionally-mandated funds,” said Hana Vizcarra, senior attorney at Earthjustice. “Terminating these grant programs caused widespread harm and disruption to on-the-ground projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience and build community capacity to tackle environmental harms. We won’t let this stand.”
“We are proud to stand alongside our partners and these plaintiffs to fight for the communities who have been unlawfully denied the resources Congress promised them. This is a blatant, illegal attempt to sidestep federal law and strip critical funding away from the communities who need it most,” said Jillian Blanchard, Vice President of the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program at Lawyers for Good Government. “These grants were lawfully awarded, binding agreements, backed by clear Congressional authorization under the Inflation Reduction Act. The administration’s unconstitutional termination of these grants are not only destabilizing local projects addressing pollution, public health, and climate resilience, they violate core principles of administrative law and the separation of powers.”
MEDIA CONTACTS:
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Nov 25, 2024 | Dr. Beverly Wright News, DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, The Latest News
(NEW ORLEANS, LA) – In response to numerous requests for interviews, Dr. Beverly Wright releases a statement to address questions on the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice’s work going forward.
“As the first and longest-serving environmental justice resource center in the nation, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice was founded more than 30 years ago to improve the lives of communities harmed by pollution and vulnerable to climate change.
DSCEJ’s commitment to environmental justice has remained constant during five presidential administrations and countless environmental statutes and policy shifts. We have known the hope of promises made, the joy of promises kept and the bitterness of promises broken.
As we prepare to usher in a new presidential administration, the mission of DSCEJ remains constant and our commitment to overburdened environmental justice communities is unwavering.”
Nov 8, 2024 | Community Engagement News, Dr. Beverly Wright News, DSCEJ General News, Funding News, Press Releases, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
Portal Advances Democratization of Data
NEW ORLEANS, LA) – Today, the Environmental Justice Data Action Portal (EJ DAP) was officially launched at a press conference where attendees received a live demonstration of the portal’s features and capabilities. Designed to empower communities and policymakers alike, the EJ DAP is an innovative tool providing access to critical environmental and social justice data through an intuitive, interactive platform.
The EJ DAP, developed in partnership with Intellectual Concepts, LLC, combines extensive datasets on pollution, toxic chemicals, health outcomes, and demographic information, creating a user-friendly and accessible hub of vital information for communities impacted by environmental burdens. With a few clicks, users can access insights into pollution types, sources, and toxicity data for over 150 chemicals. Additionally, the portal’s integration of demographic and socioeconomic indicators enables users to see where environmental impacts intersect with social vulnerabilities.
Empowering Communities through Data and Transparency
The portal is designed to help users identify and address specific environmental challenges within their communities. With the ability to run localized queries based on ZIP codes, users can easily locate pollution sources, understand chemical compositions, and view community-specific environmental and health data. Through this data, community members, policymakers, and industry leaders are better positioned to communicate and collaborate on meaningful action toward environmental justice.
Key Features of the EJ Data Action Portal:
- Localized Pollution and Health Data: Users can explore data on pollution levels, sources, toxic chemicals, and health impacts specific to their local areas.
- ZIP Code Search and Interactive Dashboards: Users can enter their ZIP code to access data tailored to their location, including environmental burden rankings and socioeconomic indicators.
- Regular Data Updates: With ongoing data updates, the EJ DAP ensures users have access to the most current information available.
During today’s press conference, EJ DAP developers provided a live demonstration of the portal’s functionality, showcasing how users can navigate its features and apply its data in real-world contexts. The live demo highlighted how the portal’s data can aid in identifying environmental disparities and informing policy decisions that promote environmental justice.
“The democratization of data is crucial for the success of EJ communities as it will empower them to tell their stories, show injustices, and to convince administrators and other stakeholders that what they are experiencing is real. The DSCEJ’s goal with the EJ DAP is to provide the tools and resources that will allow communities to become confident, competent data champions.” said Dr. Beverly Wright, DSCEJ Founder and Executive Director.
The EJ DAP is a collaboration among experts and stakeholders in the environmental justice field, integrating insights from the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), and Environmental Justice Index (EJI). This central resource aligns with the national commitment to promoting equity, health, and environmental justice, offering data transparency and empowering communities across the nation.
The Environmental Justice Data Action Portal is accessible at https://www.ejdap.org/.
About EJ DAP
The Environmental Justice Data Action Portal (EJ DAP) is committed to providing reliable, accessible environmental data to strengthen community-driven efforts toward achieving health equity and environmental justice. Through the portal, EJ DAP supports informed advocacy and policy, contributing to a more equitable future for all. This project was made possible by a grant from the Windward Fund.
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