"The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released bipartisan legislation Monday that seeks to address major water infrastructure priorities and bar the Trump administration from canceling congressionally authorized projects." "The legislation addresses a broader suite of issues compared to the House version."
"For half a century, millions of workers have repeated a task across the deserts in northern China: inserting forearm-length sticks into shifting sand, ... The technique, known as “straw checkerboards,” is a simple yet widely used method to stabilize sand dunes against the wind and help plants take root by using water supplied through an irrigation system."
"The Trump administration has signed off on a company’s plan to convert an oil and gas pipeline to pump groundwater from the Mojave Desert to thirsty California cities for the first time, a lucrative venture that critics say threatens natural springs and wildlife."
"Tech companies face a fundamental choice with no winning answer for keeping data centers cool."
"Fears over farmland loss have fueled arguments against renewables in Ohio — but golf courses and suburban sprawl take up far more acreage than solar does."
"As the data center buildout escalates, rural Pennsylvanians urge lawmakers not to repeat past mistakes."
"The House Energy and Commerce Committee will vote on bipartisan legislation this week to shield utility customers from the costs associated with data centers, while also advancing legislation aimed at bolstering the nation’s transmission system to meet surging demand."
"The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee proposed bipartisan legislation Friday that would authorize infrastructure and studies addressing flood risk and other water challenges, but the package is slimmer on new projects than past versions."
An explosion of new artificial intelligence data centers means potential trouble, as they hoover up power and water, and spew global warming gases. It’s a story with national and global ramifications, certainly. But it’s also one that can be reported locally. Reporter’s Toolbox offers up some handy databases for environmental journalists to find data center stories in their communities.
"Residents of West Oakland, which suffers from toxic waste and high pollution rates, rally against a coal export facility"
