Here Are Some Recommended Reads During This Winter Storm

Are you sitting at home for a day or two waiting for the roads to be cleared of the weekend’s snow and ice? We have a couple of good short reading selections to recommend to you.

The Cost of Trump’s Obsession with Coal 

First up, there’s the national League of Conservation Voters’ (LCV) memo on the cost that Donald Trump’s obsession with protecting coal is adding to our electric bills. His administration’s campaign to keep dirty, expensive coal plants running is already costing taxpayers a minimum of $1.6 million a day. Now his Energy Department has announced plans to spend over a half-billion dollars more to prop up old and shuttered coal plants, using money originally set aside by Congress to improve energy resiliency, environmental protection in rural areas, and carbon capture.

Communities Stand Up To Data Centers

Next, take a read about how local communities can stand up to the enormous costs of massive new data centers. “Getting It Right; Local Approaches to Data Center Development” is available now from the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). The SELC report takes 16 pages to provide a primer on zoning tools, data-center-specific standards, and public engagement suggestions, with references. 

Tell Your Legislators Enough is Enough

Finally, read about how lawmakers in DC and Raleigh have passed laws that raise our energy bills while rewarding billionaires and big-monied polluters. Then, send an email to your legislators and tell them to prioritize cleaner, cheaper energy!

Stay warm and happy reading!