Pollution

Arkansas coalition receives $99.9 million EPA grant for environmental projects

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

A coalition of groups representing Northwest Arkansas, the Fort Smith metro and central Arkansas will receive $99.999 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support climate change reduction efforts in the three areas.

According to Monday’s (July 22) EPA announcement, the grant funds will pay for technologies and programs that reduce harmful emissions, and pay for infrastructure, housing, and other “competitive economy” developments “needed for a clean energy future.”

“When estimates provided by all selected applicants are combined, the proposed projects would reduce greenhouse gas pollution by as much as 971 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050, roughly the emissions from 5 million average homes’ energy use each year for over 25 years,” noted the EPA press release announcing the funds.

Arkansas coalition receives $99.9 million EPA grant for environmental projects

Report says electric vehicles could save Arkansas billions in health costs

KUAR | By David Monteith

A new report from the American Lung Association says transitioning completely to electric vehicles over the next 20 years could save Arkansans over $9 billion in medical costs by 2050.

Laura Turner with the group says there are many lung-related issues linked vehicle emissions.

“Factoring in all of the issues that we know are connected to pollution and figuring out, based on that, if we [could] reduce those health issues proportionately, such as asthma attacks,” Turner said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-03-30/report-says-electric-vehicles-could-save-arkansas-billions-in-healthcare

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

An electric vehicle charging station along Interstate 30 in Texarkana, Texas near the Arkansas border on June 20, 2021.

EPA pursues cross-state emissions cuts; Sierra Club seeks retirement of Northwest Arkansas coal plant

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced plans to reduce ozone-forming emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) to protect downwind states from air pollution from upwind states. Following the announcement, environmental group Sierra Club named the coal-fired plant in western Benton County a contributor to cross-state air pollution and called for its retirement.

The EPA’s proposed action would ensure the 26 states, including Arkansas, that are covered in the proposal would meet the Good Neighbor requirements in the Clean Air Act by reducing pollution that contributes to problems attaining and maintaining the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards in downwind states.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/03/epa-pursues-cross-state-emissions-cuts-sierra-club-seeks-retirement-of-northwest-arkansas-coal-plant/