Jul 20, 2022 | DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, in response to President Biden announcing upcoming executive actions aimed at combating the climate crisis and extreme heat while creating clean energy jobs in offshore wind, Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ), released the following statement:
“While DSCEJ is dismayed at Congress’ inaction to fight the climate crisis, we applaud President Biden for taking action through the executive orders announced today. In particular, President Biden announced that FEMA will double the funding to the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program as part of Justice40, marking an important step in ensuring communities that need funding for climate and clean energy the most are the ones receiving investments. As we engage grassroots communities as part of our Justice40 commitment, we are looking forward to the opportunity to continue working with the Biden administration to ensure a just Justice40 implementation.
“In addition, the expanded investment in HHS’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), combined with clean energy job creation in expanded offshore wind opportunities in the Gulf Coast, will help provide much-needed short-and-long-term relief for communities of color along the Gulf Coast that have suffered the brunt of environmental injustice for far too long.
“Still, as the Gulf Coast and the rest of the country face intense heat waves this week and throughout the summer, we urge the administration to go a step further and fully declare a climate emergency in order to provide the full resources needed to make sure all climate action is in line with environmental justice goals.”
Jun 20, 2022 | DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
NEW ORLEANS, LA – New Orleans, LA – In response to today’s Supreme Court’s decision in the West Virginia v. EPA case, Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, released the following statement:
“Today’s US Supreme Court decision is the latest in a series of egregious rulings that put millions of people at risk. By ruling that the EPA does not have the authority to regulate carbon pollution from power plants, the Supreme Court jeopardizes our health and blocks environmental justice. Black and other communities of color are disproportionately exposed to power plant pollution which causes premature deaths and worsens the climate crisis. Power plant companies have targeted communities where, on average, 52 percent of residents are Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian American. This preemptive strike on the EPA’s ability to reduce power plant pollution denies our right to clean air and climate action. We will continue our fight for environmental justice and equitable climate solutions.”
Jun 9, 2022 | DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
NEW ORLEANS – Today, the New Orleans City Council passed Resolution NO. R-22-219 after passing through the committee unanimously. Brought forward by Councilmember Helena Moreno, this resolution urges the prohibition of underground storage of carbon dioxide and facilities for this purpose.
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) commends the city’s leaders for taking action to protect Louisiana and New Orleans from the risks of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and related technology.
The DSCEJ has been pushing local and federal leaders to consider the potential consequences of CCS on Black communities around the Gulf Coast who have dealt with the consequences of the oil and gas industry’s careless pollution on their health and livelihood for decades.
“I am proud of New Orleans for being a trailblazer in policies that protect local communities from CCS technologies,” said Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice.
“As I said when Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited recently, supporting CCS will encourage the growth of fossil fuel industries and continue the injustice of putting profits over communities of color. Instead, we need to develop and implement an energy plan for Louisiana that cleans our air and powers our homes and vehicles while prioritizing equitable investments in communities and investing in people to get the necessary training for clean energy jobs of the future. We encourage other local municipalities around the country to follow New Orleans’ lead to prohibit CCS technology.”
There is evidence that shows that carbon capture could lead to significant environmental, health, and safety risks, including:
- Unregulated collection of carbon dioxide at industrial facilities, which can mix in other toxic chemicals;
- New pipelines to transport corrosive carbon streams that will cause leaks over time; and
- Underground disposal, can break down wells, move through abandoned wells, contaminate groundwater, and potentially cause earthquakes.
As the federal government considers a massive investment into carbon capture and storage, DSCEJ calls on Congress to fund an impact analysis on carbon capture and storage to be conducted by EPA, DOE, and other relevant agencies.
Contact:
Ginger LeBlanc
Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
gingerl@dscej.org
(504) 298-9878
