Featured Stories
'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
FAIRFAX, Virginia, Aug. 30 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- Americans for Limited Government posted the following news release:
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'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
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July 15, 2026, Fairfax, Va.-Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement praising the House for passing the Sunshine Protection Act and urged the Senate to do the same:
"The House has finally passed legislation that will end standard time once and for all. No more sunsets in the middle of the
... Show Full Article
FAIRFAX, Virginia, Aug. 30 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- Americans for Limited Government posted the following news release:
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'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
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July 15, 2026, Fairfax, Va.-Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement praising the House for passing the Sunshine Protection Act and urged the Senate to do the same:
"The House has finally passed legislation that will end standard time once and for all. No more sunsets in the middle of theafternoon. It's about time. Nobody likes the constant clock changes. The fact is that under current law, there was never a way to opt out of standard time whereas states were permitted to opt out of daylight savings time if they really wanted to, as Arizona and Hawaii do. School districts can always have starting bells later to compensate if there is concern about later sunrises during the winter months, although it's worth noting almost all districts are already on Christmas vacation during the shortest days. Clearly, based on the House vote, and unanimous passage of practically identical legislation by the Senate in 2022, and the President's support, daylight savings time is far more popular. But really, it's just let's pick a time and stick with it. Compromise if needs be: shave a half hour off standard time. Anything's better than the clock changes, and the early sunsets in the winter are frankly depressing. But the bill's fine the way it is. It is time for the Senate to immediately take up this common sense, bipartisan legislation, stop switching the clocks and let the sun shine into the evening for good."
For media availability contact Americans for Limited Government at media@limitgov.org.
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Original text here: https://getliberty.org/2026/07/its-about-time-alg-praises-house-passage-of-sunshine-protection-act-urges-senate-passage/
WMC Announces Department Updates and New Roles
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 28 -- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce issued the following news release:
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WMC Announces Department Updates and New Roles
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) has announced two staff moves that will strengthen the organization's events and membership teams.
Emma Boicken has been named Events Coordinator, joining WMC's new Events Department and reporting to Stephanie Stevens. In her new role, Boicken will focus on planning and executing WMC events across the state.
"Emma has already played an important role in supporting our events and has consistently
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 28 -- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce issued the following news release:
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WMC Announces Department Updates and New Roles
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) has announced two staff moves that will strengthen the organization's events and membership teams.
Emma Boicken has been named Events Coordinator, joining WMC's new Events Department and reporting to Stephanie Stevens. In her new role, Boicken will focus on planning and executing WMC events across the state.
"Emma has already played an important role in supporting our events and has consistentlydemonstrated her ability to help deliver successful programs," said Director of Programming & Events Stephanie Stevens. "Her experience working closely with our members makes her the perfect fit for this role, and I'm confident in her ability to offer the excellent experiences WMC members have come to expect."
WMC is continuing its search for an additional Events Coordinator to round out the team.
Additionally, John Laux has been named Membership Development and Database Manager, officially joining WMC's Membership Department. In this position, Laux will oversee membership development efforts and database management while supporting member engagement initiatives.
"Through his experience on the marketing team, John brings a deep understanding of WMC, our members, and our internal systems to this department," Senior Director of Membership Nick Burger said. "The time he has already invested in WMC's programming and members makes him an excellent fit for this role, and I look forward to working more closely with him as we continue providing value and advocating for our members."
WMC is also recruiting a Marketing Coordinator to fill Laux's past position.
"These staff moves reflect the talent and expertise within our organization," WMC President/CEO Kurt R. Bauer added. "Emma and John have both made significant contributions to WMC, and we are excited to see them take on these new responsibilities."
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Original text here: https://www.wmc.org/press-releases/wmc-announces-department-updates-and-new-roles/
[Category: Business]
International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute Issues Commentary: Why IMMP Is Going to Court to Save Gray Whales?
BERKELEY, California, Aug. 28 -- The International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute issued the following commentary on Aug. 26, 2026, by intern Abigail Wadkins-Daub:
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Why IMMP Is Going to Court to Save Gray Whales?
On Tuesday, August 25th, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute joined forces with the Center for Biodiversity (CBD) and Oasis Earth in a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Why? Exactly one year ago, Rick Steiner of Oasis Earth submitted a petition to relist gray whales under the Endangered Species Act,
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BERKELEY, California, Aug. 28 -- The International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute issued the following commentary on Aug. 26, 2026, by intern Abigail Wadkins-Daub:
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Why IMMP Is Going to Court to Save Gray Whales?
On Tuesday, August 25th, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute joined forces with the Center for Biodiversity (CBD) and Oasis Earth in a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Why? Exactly one year ago, Rick Steiner of Oasis Earth submitted a petition to relist gray whales under the Endangered Species Act,which the Fisheries Service has failed to respond to.
"The Trump administration has once again broken one of the nation's bedrock environmental laws -- the ESA -- by failing to respond to our August 2025 petition to list gray whales under the Act. NOAA's own science shows the gray whale population to be in grave danger due to Arctic climate change and other threats, and the government is now required to afford the whales all additional protections provided by the ESA." - Professor Rick Steiner, founder of Oasis Earth
A Conservation Success Story in Reverse
Gray whales were once celebrated as one of conservation's greatest success stories. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Eastern Pacific gray whales were hunted to the brink of extinction due to intense demand for lamp oil and other products produced from whale blubber. In response, gray whales received protection from the International Whaling Commission in 1947. The United States responded by adding gray whales to both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, while Mexico transformed some of Baja's major breeding and nursing lagoons into protected refuges.
These recovery efforts proved remarkably successful, and by the 1990s, Eastern Pacific gray whale populations had rebounded to an estimated 26,960 individuals. In 1994, they were delisted from the U.S. Endangered Species List.
Today, however, that recovery is unraveling, with population estimates falling as low as 12,000 individuals in 2024. More severely emaciated whales are being observed, many of which have washed ashore. These strandings, which have increased to 187 this year, represent only a fraction of all mortalities, as roughly 10 whales die offshore for every one found stranded. In the past decade, the gray whale population has declined by as much as an estimated 50%.
That's why the International Marine Mammal Project is joining legal action to seek Endangered Species Act protections for Eastern North Pacific gray whales once again.
What's Causing This Decline?
This troubling trend in gray whale populations can largely be attributed to rapidly changing climate conditions. For one, the Arctic is warming rapidly, where gray whales spend half the summer feeding in nutrient-rich waters. This warming has changed the abundance and distribution of their prey, which may explain why so many emaciated gray whales are being observed.
Additional human-caused ocean disturbances contribute to population declines. As sea ice melts, the Arctic has become increasingly accessible to human activity, including shipping, offshore oil and gas development, undersea mining, commercial fishing, tourism, and coastal development. As these industries continue to grow, they introduce additional pressures on an already stressed ecosystem. Along the migration route of gray whales, increased vessel traffic raises the risk of ship strikes and underwater noise pollution, while expanding industrial activity can contribute to habitat degradation, pollution, and other disturbances that threaten marine mammals. Gray whales can also become entangled in plastic fishing gear during migration.
What Would Endangered Species Act Protection Actually Do?
The Endangered Species Act protects threatened and endangered species by prohibiting harm, safeguarding critical habitat, and requiring science-based recovery plans. An ESA listing would also bring greater public recognition to the plight of gray whales and create stronger incentives for industries, including fishing and shipping, to avoid killing or harming them.
Listing could also bring additional funding and resources for gray whale conservation, improve enforcement of existing protections, and alert other federal agencies whose activities impact gray whales, such as the U.S. Navy, that the species is in need of protection. While an ESA listing would not solve every problem gray whales face, it would provide important tools and resources to support their recovery.
IMMP's Decades-Long Fight to Protect Gray Whales
For IMMP, this lawsuit is the culmination of decades of efforts to protect gray whales.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, IMMP joined the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Mexican environmental groups, and Homero Aridjis, Mexico's poet laureate and leader of El Grupo de los Cien, to protect the last pristine calving ground of the Eastern Pacific gray whale. The campaign was launched in response to a proposal by the Mitsubishi Corporation and the Mexican government to build a massive, $120 million industrial salt-processing facility at Laguna San Ignacio in Baja California Sur. After years of public advocacy and organizing, the project was officially canceled on March 2, 2000.
IMMP also helped establish a low-interest loan program that allowed San Ignacio fishermen and tour boat operators to purchase more efficient, less-polluting 4-stroke outboard motors.
IMMP has also worked for decades to reduce the threat of fishing gear to gray whales. In 1990, IMMP endorsed a successful initiative to ban set and drift gill nets in California state waters. In 2014, IMMP joined other conservation groups in advocating for legislation to phase out large-mesh drift gillnets, which were entangling gray whales and other marine life. In December 2022, working with the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, IMMP helped support Congressional legislation to phase out California's offshore drift gillnet fishery.
IMMP has further led efforts to stop offshore oil drilling in sensitive ocean habitats along the Pacific Coast and in Alaska, helping block new leasing in critical areas used by gray whales.
For IMMP, seeking Endangered Species Act protection is the next step in a decades-long effort to protect gray whales.
Why is IMMP Going to Court?
The ESA allows organizations and individuals to petition the federal government to list species that are in danger of extinction or likely to become so.
IMMP and its partners are seeking federal action because the available evidence shows that Eastern North Pacific gray whales are experiencing a serious decline. They need the protections the ESA provides to prevent further decline, avoid extinction, and support meaningful population recovery.
On August 25, 2026, plaintiffs IMMP, CBD, and Oasis Earth submitted a notice of intent to sue the Secretary of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) if they do not remedy violations of the Endangered Species Act within 60 days.
Specifically, NMFS must issue both a 90-day finding and a 12-month finding on Professor Rick Steiner's 2025 petition to relist Eastern Pacific gray whales under the Endangered Species Act. NMFS received the petition on August 24, 2025. The agency should have issued its 90-day finding by November 24, 2025, and its 12-month finding by August 24, 2026.
However, to date, the Trump administration has been unwilling to take any action on the petition, filed a year ago, by Professor Steiner. IMMP is working with Steiner, whose organization Oasis Earth is also a plaintiff in our lawsuit, to move the listing forward.
A lawsuit is our last best hope for the gray whales at this time. We have issued notice that we will sue the National Marine Fisheries Service in 60 days unless they take action on the petition.
Gray whales have recovered from the brink of extinction before. With meaningful protections and continued conservation efforts, we can help ensure they have a future in our oceans.
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The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
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Oasis Earth is a marine conservation organization located in Anchorage, Alaska. (www.oasis-earth.com)
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The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute is dedicated to protecting whales and dolphins globally.
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Oasis Earth, the International Marine Mammal Project, and Earth Island Institute are represented by Greenfire Law, PC, a public interest environmental law firm located in Berkeley, California.
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Original text here: https://savedolphins.eii.org/news/why-immp-is-going-to-court-to-save-gray-whales
[Category: Science]
Groups Back Lawsuit to Stop Border Destruction at Big Bend National Park
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Aug. 28 -- Earthjustice posted the following news release on Aug. 27, 2026:
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Groups Back Lawsuit to Stop Border Destruction at Big Bend National Park
Environmental organizations challenge the Trump administration's use of sweeping waivers to sidestep protections for wildlife, habitat, and public lands
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El Paso, TX -- Today, the National Parks Conservation Association and Sierra Club along with its Lone Star Chapter filed an amicus brief supporting the Center for Biological Diversity's lawsuit to stop construction of a border barrier and related infrastructure
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SAN FRANCISCO, California, Aug. 28 -- Earthjustice posted the following news release on Aug. 27, 2026:
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Groups Back Lawsuit to Stop Border Destruction at Big Bend National Park
Environmental organizations challenge the Trump administration's use of sweeping waivers to sidestep protections for wildlife, habitat, and public lands
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El Paso, TX -- Today, the National Parks Conservation Association and Sierra Club along with its Lone Star Chapter filed an amicus brief supporting the Center for Biological Diversity's lawsuit to stop construction of a border barrier and related infrastructurein and around Big Bend National Park.
Both organizations are represented by Earthjustice.
Big Bend National Park protects one of the world's most biologically rich and diverse desert ecosystems, where the Rio Grande serves as a lifeline for fish, wildlife, and riverside habitat while supporting recreation, tourism, and the health and well-being of nearby communities. The protections that Congress gave the Rio Grande have been in place for nearly half a century. According to UNESCO, the park is home to more "types of birds, bats, butterflies, ants, and scorpions than any other national park in the United States."
The groups' filing urges the court to halt border project construction before bulldozing, roads, barriers, and related infrastructure cause irreversible harm to this nationally treasured landscape.
"We're backing this legal fight to stop further destruction and ensure the damage already done is repaired," said Dave Cortez, director of the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter. "Big Bend is one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the country, and Trump's border construction project has already scarred the land, damaged wildlife habitat, and disrupted the experience of visiting this national park. Big Bend deserves lasting protection from a project that never should have broken ground in the first place."
The Center for Biological Diversity filed for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction on August 17, 2026, to halt border infrastructure construction that would cause immediate and irreversible damage to Big Bend National Park.
"Big Bend National Park, the gift that Texas gave the nation, is a wild desert landscape that belongs to us all. As a national park, Big Bend is meant to be protected under the highest standard of the law, not bulldozed for harmful border infrastructure," said Cary Dupuy, National Parks Conservation Association Texas Regional Director. "What message are we sending to future generations if we do not stop this destructive project for good? We are filing this brief because it's time to stand up for Big Bend."
The underlying lawsuit challenges the Secretary of Homeland Security's waivers under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 ("IIRIRA") for the Big Bend Sector along the U.S. southern border in Texas. These waivers suspend a half dozen environmental statutes to allow construction of the border wall and other infrastructure without review -- effectively amounting to the Trump administration repealing the laws without Congressional approval.
"The Trump administration cannot bulldoze through a National Park and rewrite the laws that protect Big Bend and the wild and scenic Rio Grande," says Meghan Riley, senior attorney at Earthjustice. "Big Bend National Park was protected for a reason: it is regionally, nationally, and globally important for many species, and we are going to fight to protect it."
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About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
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Original text here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/groups-back-lawsuit-to-stop-border-destruction-at-big-bend-national-park
[Category: Environment]
Food and Water Watch: Local Activists Highlight East Fishkill Data Center Fight, Call on Gov. Hochul to Sign Responsible Data Center Development Act
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Food and Water Watch posted the following news release:
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Local Activists Highlight East Fishkill Data Center Fight, Call on Gov. Hochul to Sign Responsible Data Center Development Act
Part of Statewide 'Stop Data Centers' Tour Led by State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Enviro Group Food & Water Watch
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East Fishkill, NY - On August 26th at 2pm, local activists and community leaders gathered at Lime Kiln Recreation Park to highlight overwhelming local resistance to unfettered data center development and call on Gov. Hochul to sign a strong data center moratorium
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Food and Water Watch posted the following news release:
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Local Activists Highlight East Fishkill Data Center Fight, Call on Gov. Hochul to Sign Responsible Data Center Development Act
Part of Statewide 'Stop Data Centers' Tour Led by State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Enviro Group Food & Water Watch
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East Fishkill, NY - On August 26th at 2pm, local activists and community leaders gathered at Lime Kiln Recreation Park to highlight overwhelming local resistance to unfettered data center development and call on Gov. Hochul to sign a strong data center moratoriumbill, the Responsible Data Center Development Act. The event is part of the statewide 'Stop Data Centers' tour being led by bill sponsor State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and the environmental group Food & Water Watch.
Food & Water Watch, For The Many, Mid-Hudson Valley DSA, and Dutchess County Environmental Committee Chair Lisa Kaul along with Senator Gonzalez held a press conference and a community discussion to highlight the moratorium win and continue building strong protections against data center development in the town. The event is one of 14 sites with hyperscale data centers or pending proposals being highlighted on the 'Stop Data Centers' tour happening throughout the month.
Residents of East Fishkill and nearby areas fought back against a proposal for a whopping 800,000 square foot data center with a capacity of 1000MW to be built off of I-84 and Lime Kiln Road. Before an application was submitted to the town, residents mobilized by starting a petition, sending letters, rallying, and giving public comments at town board meetings to stop the data center before any application even comes to the town. Pressure from local residents resulted in the town passing a 3 year moratorium on new data center applications and setting up a task force to study data center impacts in the town. Residents are hoping that no data center development happens at all in East Fishkill.
On July 14, Gov. Hochul signed Executive Order No. 62, establishing a temporary moratorium on large-scale data centers over 50 megawatts. While the governor's executive order is a positive step in New York's effort to address energy demand and community concerns, there are still significant gaps in policy compared to Senator Gonzalez's Responsible Data Center Development Act. The Responsible Data Center Development Act, which passed both chambers of the legislature with bipartisan support in June, addresses the environmental, economic, labor, and community impacts of large-scale data center development by imposing a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers over 20 megawatts. The Responsible Data Center Development Act also requires any future data center developments to meet energy efficiency standards, include a host communities public benefit program, have project labor agreements, and hold public hearings prior to permit approvals.
Governor Hochul must sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act to protect New Yorkers after the data center moratorium has expired.
"I'm deeply concerned about the enormous amount of water these facilities can consume, as well as their likely use of toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" -- chemicals that have already contaminated drinking water in communities across the Hudson Valley. That's why I want to thank the East Fishkill Town Board for listening to residents and showing real leadership by adopting a three-year moratorium on data centers. Governor Hochul now has an opportunity to build on her leadership and make New York a national leader on responsible development. We're calling on her to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act and put our communities, our water, and New York ratepayers first," said Mike Schade, a resident of Fishkill
"East Fishkill families, and families across the Hudson Valley, are already having to choose between keeping the lights on or putting food on the table thanks to Central Hudson's obscene rate increases. Now Big Tech companies, driven by the same profit motive, expect us to pay higher utility bills for their 1000-megawatt data center, which is fueling layoffs and firings. Residents across the state fought back and won a moratorium because we're not willing to find out how much worse our utility bills--or the climate crisis--can get. We call on Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act to keep our water, our farmers, and our communities safe from an energy-sucking, climate-destroying industry that isn't even based in New York." said Brooklyn Darling, Political Coordinator at For the Many.
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Original text here: https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2026/08/27/local-activists-community-leaders-and-concerned-residents-highlight-east-fishkill-data-center-fight-call-on-gov-hochul-to-sign-responsible-data-center-development-act/
[Category: Science]
Environmental Working Group: California Bill to Require Full Disclosure of Diaper Chemicals Heads to Gov. Newsom for Signature
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Environmental Working Group issued the following news release on Aug. 27, 2026:
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California bill to require full disclosure of diaper chemicals heads to Gov. Newsom for signature
SACRAMENTO - California's Legislature today passed a bill that would, if enacted, require manufacturers of children's diapers sold, distributed or manufactured in the state to fully disclose their ingredients on the product's packaging and online.
Assembly Bill 1901, by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature. The Environmental Working
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Environmental Working Group issued the following news release on Aug. 27, 2026:
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California bill to require full disclosure of diaper chemicals heads to Gov. Newsom for signature
SACRAMENTO - California's Legislature today passed a bill that would, if enacted, require manufacturers of children's diapers sold, distributed or manufactured in the state to fully disclose their ingredients on the product's packaging and online.
Assembly Bill 1901, by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature. The Environmental WorkingGroup, Consumer Reports, Children Now and the Center for Environmental Health are co-sponsoring the bill.
"As a new dad, I have a new appreciation for how important it is for parents to make informed decisions when it comes to the health and wellness of their children," said Berman.
"We all want the best for our children, but the lack of transparency around diaper ingredients prevents us from knowing what 'the best' is when buying the one thing that is touching our baby's skin every minute of their lives for years," he said.
"I'm proud to author AB 1901 to give parents greater transparency about the chemicals in their children's diapers so that they can make the right choice for their family," Berman added.
Newborns and toddlers especially vulnerable
Babies spend much of their first two to three years of life in diapers. Yet the federal government does not require disposable diapers to carry ingredient labels of any kind.
Manufacturers are not required to inform regulators about the chemicals used to make them. Instead, they can hide dozens of chemicals behind umbrella terms like "fragrance" or "colors" - potentially toxic mystery cocktails. This situation leaves parents with no way of knowing what chemicals sit against their baby's skin day after day.
"A newborn's skin is thinner, more permeable and still developing, which means it absorbs chemicals more readily than an adult's does, and diapers are in constant contact with that skin, around the clock, for years," said Sydney Swanson, a senior science analyst at EWG.
"Right now, parents have no way of knowing what their baby is being exposed to. Every hour of every day, an infant's skin is absorbing whatever industry decided not to tell us about. Parents can read a nutrition label or a shampoo label but not this," she added.
"AB 1901 isn't asking for anything radical. It's asking for diapers to contain ingredient labels that are similar to labels required of other baby products," Swanson said.
Chemicals found in diapers
Recent tests have found diapers may contain volatile organic compounds and phthalates, linked to hormone disruption and reproductive and developmental harm.
Tests have also found diapers containing quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats, used in wetness indicators and linked to reproductive effects, skin irritation and asthma, as well as dyes and bleaching agents that can cause allergic reactions or skin and respiratory irritation.
Because babies' skin is thinner, more permeable and still developing, they are especially vulnerable to potential harms from these chemical exposures.
Many children with special needs rely on diapers for years, prolonging the exposure risk. When manufacturers hide their ingredients, caregivers may feel fearful and sidelined.
"Transparency isn't about causing fear but about replacing uncertainty with the facts parents need to protect their children," said Susan Little, California legislative director.
"And because an infant's thin skin absorbs chemicals more easily, hidden ingredients like phthalates can trigger a lifetime of health challenges."
"California parents shouldn't need a chemistry degree to buy a diaper. They deserve to know exactly what is touching their child's skin. Caregivers want this information," said Little.
Making baby products safer
California has already shown that more transparency about what's in baby products can help spur changes that reduce hazardous ingredients and their health threats. After the state required public disclosure of results of heavy metal tests of baby food, in January 2025, manufacturers responded by reducing heavy metal contamination levels in many product categories.
AB 1901 applies that same principle to diapers while giving parents and caregivers more informed choices. If enacted, it would be a first-in-the-nation law requiring such full diaper ingredient transparency. The bill would require online disclosure to begin on January 1, 2029, and disclosure on the package to begin July 1, 2029.
"Stronger regulation and full disclosure are needed, and that's why this bill is so important to protect children's health," said Little.
And AB 1901 is something manufacturers can comply with - a 2023 New York law that requires on-label disclosure of diaper ingredients shows that greater transparency is achievable.
EWG has created a Guide to Safer Diapers to help parents navigate the market in the meantime, and diapers earning the EWG Verified(R) mark meet our strict standards for ingredient transparency and health.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
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Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has a mission to create a fair and just marketplace for all. Widely known for our rigorous research and testing of products and services, we also survey millions of consumers each year, report extensively on marketplace issues, and advocate for consumer rights and protections around safety as well as digital rights, financial fairness, and sustainability. CR is independent and nonprofit.
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The Center for Environmental Health believes everything people consume, from the water they drink to the toys their children handle, should put health first. We insist on laws and policies that protect the public from harm, work to make communities more aware of risks, and push to transform corporate behavior. CEH advances environmental health and justice for the greater good, from the courtroom to the boardroom.
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Children Now harnesses collective power to achieve transformational and systemic results for California's kids as one of the country's most impactful kids' nonprofits. Led by experienced policy and government relations teams spanning health, education, early childhood, child welfare, and a range of other areas, Children Now learns from kids and families where they need support and lift up solutions to policymakers with the power to act.
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Original text here: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2026/08/california-bill-require-full-disclosure-diaper-chemicals-heads
[Category: Environment]
Clean Energy Advocates and Public Interest Groups Call on Arizona Corporation Commission to Protect Ratepayers and Ensure Transparency in Billion-dollar Utility Market Decision
NEW YORK, Aug. 28 -- The Environmental Defense Fund posted the following news release on Aug. 27, 2026:
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Clean energy advocates and public interest groups call on Arizona Corporation Commission to protect ratepayers and ensure transparency in billion-dollar utility market decision
Advocacy groups and energy experts urge regulators to use their statutory authority to require data-driven analysis before utilities commit to regional electricity markets
Summary
* Joint letter: Clean energy advocacy and public interest groups urge the Arizona Corporation Commission to mandate transparency
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Aug. 28 -- The Environmental Defense Fund posted the following news release on Aug. 27, 2026:
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Clean energy advocates and public interest groups call on Arizona Corporation Commission to protect ratepayers and ensure transparency in billion-dollar utility market decision
Advocacy groups and energy experts urge regulators to use their statutory authority to require data-driven analysis before utilities commit to regional electricity markets
Summary
* Joint letter: Clean energy advocacy and public interest groups urge the Arizona Corporation Commission to mandate transparencyin regional electricity market decisions.
* Electricity demand: Over the next 15 years, electricity demand in Arizona is estimated to see a 40% increase, largely due to data centers and double-digit rate hikes.
* Transparency: Arizona utilities are moving toward long-term commitments without providing the public with insight into their choices that will affect electricity costs, access to reliable power and clean energy development.
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PHOENIX -- As record-breaking summer heat pushes power demand to new highs, clean energy advocacy and public interest groups delivered a letter to the Arizona Corporation Commission today, urging the regulatory body to mandate transparency before Arizona's utilities make long-term, multi-billion-dollar commitments to regional electricity markets -- a coordinating platform for utilities. Currently, the Western U.S. is transforming the way it shares electric power, with two competing markets taking shape that will allow utilities to buy and sell power across the wider region.
The groups are calling on the Arizona Corporation Commission to use its statutory authority to require that Arizona's utilities use transparent, data-driven analysis when deciding which energy market to join. Currently, Arizona utilities are moving toward long-term market commitments without providing the public or the Arizona Corporation Commission with comprehensive, side-by-side analyses to justify their choices that will affect electricity costs, access to reliable power and clean energy development.
With Arizona estimating a 40% increase in peak electricity demand over the next 15 years, largely due to data center construction, and utilities proposing double-digit rate hikes, such as a nearly 15% residential increase proposed by Arizona Public Service, advocates argue that massive operational decisions cannot be made behind closed doors.
"The choice of which regional energy market Arizona utilities join is a generational decision that will impact affordability and reliability of the state's electric system, and its overall economy, for decades," said Alex DeGolia, Senior Director of Clean Electricity at the Environmental Defense Fund. "The ACC must step in to ensure these large decisions are made in the public interest, rather than allowing utilities to move forward without proving they are making the best choices for Arizonans."
The coalition's letter highlights that the ACC possesses clear, well-established ratemaking and permissive regulatory authority to oversee these consequential decisions. The Commission is legally obligated to ensure costs passed to consumers are "prudent."
"The greater the number of participating utilities and broader the geography of a market the more opportunities are created for energy trading. Trading is crucial to keep costs low as Arizona faces unprecedented demand growth and extreme weather," said Amanda Ormond, Director of Western Grid Group. "A broad, integrated regional market allows utilities to pull in low-cost power during times of grid stress and reduces the risk of outages during heat waves. We need the ACC to ensure our utilities are relying on transparent, data-driven analysis to make these massive decisions that will dictate reliability of and costs for electricity into the future."
Independent modeling for APS, SRP and TEP shows that participating in a larger, highly integrated West-wide market could save Arizona ratepayers nearly $115 million per year.
"Arizonans are already struggling to keep up with drastic utility rate hikes that far outpace national inflation," said Madison Rock, Deputy Executive Director of Arizonans for a Clean Economy. "Families and local businesses cannot afford to absorb the hidden costs of a suboptimal market choice made behind closed doors. We are calling on the Commission to protect our wallets, and require utilities to transparently prove with data that their decisions will deliver the most affordable, stable rates to Arizona ratepayers."
The coalition strongly urges the ACC to fulfill its public interest mandate, and subject utility plans to meaningful stakeholder review before any binding commitments are made and irrevocable actions are taken. Specifically, they request the Commission immediately revive Docket No. E-00000A-21-0271 to evaluate the profound economic and operational impacts of utilities joining the Extended Day-Ahead Market versus the Southwest Power Pool's Markets+.
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With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org
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INFODOC: https://dam-cdn.edf.orangelogic.com/AssetLink/wh3a5x08m6os8uf47e042s06f362w5w8.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.edf.org/media/clean-energy-advocates-and-public-interest-groups-call-arizona-corporation-commission-protect
[Category: Environment]
