Tag: NEPA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 5, 2025

CONTACT: Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Manager, [email protected]

Washington, D.C. – In his joint address to Congress, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his policies that will roll back environmental protections, raise costs for working-class families, and reverse progress toward a clean renewable energy economy, while taking pride in the actions his administration has already taken to weaken climate and public health safeguards. His remarks reinforced concerns that his administration will continue to prioritize the interests of corporate polluters over public health, environmental justice, and the community well-being of those on the frontlines of the climate crisis. 

Since Trump’s inauguration, more than 42,000 clean energy jobs have been stopped or stalled, that’s over 1,000 jobs every day, representing a loss of $57 billion in investments across 64 projects. His proposed tariffs threaten to raise gas prices by at least 15 cents per gallon, while electricity prices are projected to reach their highest level since the 1990s. These consequences, combined with potential rollbacks of environmental safeguards, would further burden working-class Americans. 

Mark Magaña, Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, issued the following statement: 

“Last night’s address reaffirmed that Trump’s agenda prioritizes polluters over the well-being of working-class communities. His actions have stalled the clean energy transition, increased costs for working families, and undermined our nation’s progress. Frontline communities, which disproportionately suffer from air pollution, extreme weather, and rising costs, will bear the brunt of these policies. 

But despite these setbacks, we remain steadfast in our commitment to progress. Across the country, states and local leaders continue to lead the way in protecting our public health. GreenLatinos and our partners will continue to advocate for climate action at all levels, ensuring that no administration can halt the momentum towards a just and sustainable future.” 

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About GreenLatinos

GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.

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GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/a/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación, climáticas e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 27, 2025

CONTACT: Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Manager, [email protected]

Washington, D.C. – In a move that undermines public health, economic stability, and energy security, both the House and Senate have voted to repeal the Methane Emissions Reduction Program’s waste emissions charge. This fee was designed to hold the largest oil and gas polluters accountable while incentivizing companies to reduce waste and invest in cost-effective methane reduction technologies. With this repeal, Congress has chosen to protect corporate polluters at the expense of communities, taxpayers, and the climate. 

Methane, which is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, is responsible for over a quarter of current global warming. Oil and gas operations emit roughly 16 metric tons of methane each year. Without the methane fee, companies have little financial incentive to address leaks, venting, and flaring, which worsen air quality and impact public health, particularly for those living near active oil and gas sites. About 17.3 million people live within a half mile of an active oil and gas well, including 1.6 million Hispanic people.

Additionally, the methane mitigation industry has nearly doubled since 2017 and provides high-quality American jobs that cannot be offshored. The repeal of this fee harms our environment and weakens economic stability by discouraging investment in cleaner, more efficient energy production. 

GreenLatinos Leaders Condemn the Repeal of the Methane Polluter Fee 

“This rollback is a failure of leadership that directly harms Latino/a/e and frontline communities. Many Latino/a/e families and communities live in frontline areas where they already suffer from high levels of air pollution. The methane polluter fee ensured that the worst polluters were held accountable, reducing the toxic air pollution that disproportionately affects our comunidades. The majority in Congress had the opportunity to prioritize clean air and economic savings, but instead they chose to protect corporate polluters at the expense of our health and safety.” – Irene Burga, Climate justice & Clean Air Program Director, GreenLatinos 

“Latino communities all across Colorado are harmed by methane pollution, yet many of their representatives sided with polluters by sponsoring the repeal of the Methane Polluter Fee and undermining the progress that has been made in Colorado.” – Patricia Garcia-Nelson, Colorado Fossil Fuel Just Transition Advocate, GreenLatinos Colorado. 
“The Senate’s repeal of the EPA’s methane fee is a setback for Texas communities, particularly for Latino families in regions like the Permian Basin, the Barnett Shale, and along the Gulf Coast, where oil and gas extraction is pervasive. In Texas, where over 5 million people live within a half-mile of oil and gas sites, this repeal only prolongs the exposure to toxic pollutants. While we are deeply disappointed by this decision, our commitment to protecting Texas families is stronger than ever. We will continue to stand up against powerful polluters, advocate for stronger regulations, and fight for a future where clean air and water are not a privilege but a right for every community in our state.” – Rogelio Meixueiro, Texas Community Advocate, GreenLatinos Texas.

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About GreenLatinos

GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.

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GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/a/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación, climáticas e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 21, 2025

CONTACT: Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Manager, [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced the repeal of key regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This foundational law has long protected communities for over 50 years from harmful environmental and health impacts by ensuring a mechanism for public participation in major federal projects. This move prioritizes industry interests over public health and safety, stripping away vital protections that ensure communities—especially Latino/a/e, Black, Indigenous, and low-income communities—can have a voice and can push back against polluting projects that threaten their air, water, and overall well-being.

“The weakening of NEPA protections will hurt communities and their right to a safe and healthy environment,” said Irene Burga, Climate Justice & Clean Air Program Director at GreenLatinos. “Latine, communities of color, and low-income communities already bear the brunt of pollution and climate change. Weakening NEPA removes one of the only tools communities have to hold the government and corporations accountable for environmental and public health harm.”

Without NEPA’s safeguards, industrial projects could move forward unchecked, leading to increased air pollution, water contamination, and worsening climate impacts on our families. This decision disproportionately affects Latino/a/e, Black, Indigenous, and low-income communities, which are often located near toxic industries and infrastructure projects that contribute to health disparities and environmental destruction.

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About GreenLatinos

GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.

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GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/a/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación, climáticas e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.