air pollution
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Why most Americans still choose sprawl over walkable neighborhoods
While walkable neighborhoods promise cleaner air, vibrant communities, and less driving, a new study finds that most Americans still prefer the space and affordability of suburban sprawl.
In short:
- A study of U.S. metro areas highlights the benefits of "15-minute neighborhoods," where daily needs are within a short walk, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Despite these perks, suburban sprawl remains more popular due to lower costs, larger homes and perceptions of natural beauty—though sprawl harms the environment and public health.
- Experts point out that high housing costs in walkable areas reflect demand outpacing supply, calling for zoning reform and investment in transit-oriented development.
Key quote:
"Sprawl helps explain why North America has lost an estimated 3 billion birds in the past half-century."
— Reid Ewing, professor of urban planning at the University of Utah
Why this matters:
It’s easy to see the draw. Suburbs promise privacy and, for many, a slice of what feels like nature. But sprawl isn’t just tough on the planet—it’s a public health crisis in disguise. The solution? Zoning reforms and smarter investments in transit. Read more: Diesel trucks are causing environmental injustice across US cities.
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Court likely to uphold EPA’s tougher soot standards
Federal judges appear ready to back the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to tighten soot pollution limits, reversing a Trump-era policy and prioritizing public health.
In short:
- The EPA cut the annual soot exposure limit from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter in February, citing new health data.
- Business groups and 24 states argue the Clean Air Act requires a full review before changing standards.
- Judges questioned whether stricter rules would impede the agency’s ability to address emerging health threats.
Why this matters:
Soot pollution, linked to strokes, lung cancer and respiratory diseases, causes thousands of premature deaths annually. Strengthening air quality standards can save lives, but opponents worry about economic impacts and regulatory burdens.
Related EHN coverage: Health advocates push the EPA to go farther on soot standards
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Supreme Court allows Biden's coal waste rule to remain in effect
The Supreme Court refused to block a Biden administration rule aimed at preventing toxic coal ash from contaminating groundwater near shuttered power plants.
In short:
- The rule targets coal plants closed before October 2015, requiring measures to stop coal ash leaks.
- East Kentucky Power Cooperative sought to pause the rule, citing high compliance costs.
- The Supreme Court denied the request without explanation or dissent, allowing the rule to stay while lower courts review the case.
Why this matters:
Coal ash contains harmful substances like mercury and arsenic that can contaminate drinking water and harm public health. This ruling supports efforts to reduce pollution risks tied to older coal plant waste.
Related: Biden's aggressive new climate policy targets coal pollution
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California boosts EV charging network
California is investing $1.4 billion to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, signaling its commitment to EV adoption amid political uncertainty at the federal level.
In short:
- California’s Energy Commission approved a plan to install 17,000 new EV chargers over four years.
- At least 50% of the funds will support low-income and disadvantaged communities affected by pollution.
- The state’s move counters potential rollbacks in EV support if Trump returns to the presidency.
Key quote:
“The plan prioritizes clean air benefits in low-income and disadvantaged communities that need it the most.”
— Patty Monahan, lead transportation commissioner
Why this matters:
Expanding EV infrastructure is critical for reducing air pollution and promoting equitable access to cleaner transportation. Without sufficient chargers, EV adoption could stall, particularly in underserved communities, worsening environmental and health disparities.
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Newsletter
Credit: Ralf Vetterle/Pixabay
Shell’s Pennsylvania plastics plant: Pollution and broken promises
Residents near Shell's ethane cracker plant in Pennsylvania say pollution and economic letdowns have overshadowed the promised benefits of the facility.
In short:
- The Shell plastics plant, which processes fracked gas into plastic, has faced 33 violations for air and water pollution since 2017.
- Locals report respiratory issues, foul odors and water concerns while promised economic benefits have fallen short, with the plant employing only 500 full-time workers.
- Critics accuse Shell of overstating benefits and using community donations to downplay the plant's environmental impact.
Key quote:
“I have to live in a cocoon year-round.”
— Nadine Luci, local resident
Why this matters:
The facility's emissions threaten both public health and the Ohio River watershed, affecting millions. Despite promises of economic growth, the project delivers limited jobs and raises concerns about pollution’s long-term effects on local communities.
Related EHN coverage:
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NY communities clash over controversial biochar plant
In Moreau, New York, a proposed biochar facility promised to turn sewage sludge into climate-friendly carbon storage, but local residents, haunted by industrial pollution, pushed back hard.
Abby Rabinowitz and Amanda Simson report for Grist and the Times-Union.
In short:
- A proposed biochar plant in Moreau aimed to process 75,000 tons of sewage sludge annually, addressing waste disposal and carbon sequestration.
- Residents, citing concerns over toxic PFAS chemicals, air pollution and the area's history of industrial contamination, rallied against the project.
- Following fierce community activism and over 500 public comments, New York state denied the plant’s permits, citing untested technology and environmental risks.
Key quote:
“Residents were told, ‘This is a done deal.’ We responded, ‘This is not done until we say it’s done.’”
— Gina LeClair, founder of Not Moreau
Why this matters:
The biochar plan sounded noble on paper: process 75,000 tons of sludge a year and sequester carbon in the fight against climate change. But residents worried about the devil in the details, especially untested technology and the potential release of PFAS. As more than 500 public comments poured in, community activism ultimately turned the tide. Read more: “Organic” fertilizers have an inorganic problem.
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Credit: Cami Ferrell for Environmental Health News
Study shows $1 billion in lost tax revenue in Houston area from industry tax breaks
Top polluters are benefiting the most from tax breaks.
HOUSTON — Harris County, which encompasses Houston, is projected to lose nearly $1 billion in revenue over the lifespan of current tax breaks, many of which are given to top polluters, according to a new report from the environmental advocacy group Texas Campaign for the Environment.
The group commissioned a study with economists from the economic analytics company Autocase to analyze industrial companies for three types of tax code agreements given by cities or school districts in Harris County that would provide tax breaks. The study revealed active tax break agreements with 83 companies in the county in which the company receives things like long term property valuations. In return, companies promise economic growth, job opportunities and adherence to state and federal law, though many of the corporations receiving the tax benefits routinely break environmental laws.
The largest source of tax breaks are Chapter 313 agreements, which limit property value increases for 10 years on businesses that promise economic development and investments in the local school districts, resulting in lower taxes paid. For such agreements the report estimated nearly $788 million in revenue lost over the agreements’ lifespan — some of which are 10-15 years — even after investments from the corporations were paid. Autocase economist Stefan Dindayal said this trend differed from previous county studies where a majority of agreements are with the cities or counties themselves, not the school districts.
Although this type of tax break was replaced by a similar program in June 2023, all current agreements are honored until their expiration.
“It is primarily the state that reimburses the majority of losses (from the tax breaks) through providing state aid,” the report authors wrote. “The loss felt by the state is the foregone school property tax revenue that would otherwise have reduced the need for state aid. As a result, state taxpayers are the prime stakeholders affected.”
The school districts Channelview, Clear Lake, Goose Creek, La Porte, Deer Park and Sheldon are participating in agreements in the county.. Many of these districts are in eastern portions of Houston near heavy industry, and they experience 95% to 100% higher air toxic releases than the rest of the state according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice screening tool.
“The loss felt by the state is the foregone school property tax revenue that would otherwise have reduced the need for state aid. As a result, state taxpayers are the prime stakeholders affected.” - Stefan Dindayal, Autocase
The largest recipient of tax breaks was ExxonMobil, approaching $198.2 million, representing nearly 20% of all tax revenue lost in the county. The ExxonMobil complex in Baytown, TX, is the third largest petrochemical complex in the U.S. and spans 3,400 acres, or about 2,576 American football fields pieced together. With three individual sites within the complex – the olefins unit, the chemical plant and the refinery – the plant and refinery have several quarters of violations or noncompliance for the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act from the EPA. Yet, the fines from these violations total $2.46 million, less than 1.25% of the money they save in tax breaks according to this report.
ExxonMobil was followed by Lyondell Chemical, which represents 13% of Harris County’s lost revenue; and Chevron Phillips, which represents 8% of Harris County’s lost revenue. Both of these companies also have histories of environmental noncompliance and illegal emissions events, leaving community members, like Jen Hadayia, the executive director of Air Alliance, to question why “top polluters are being met with top economic incentives.”
“The study …shows that these same industries are preventing economic benefits from returning to the communities they are polluting,” Hadayia said.
At the time of publishing, Lyondell Chemical and Chevron Phillips have not responded to EHN’s requests for comment. Exxon Mobil responded, but did not comment.
The study revealed that, on average, each job created by the industries receiving these tax breaks cost $1.2 million in lost revenue. The costs ranged from $31,000 to $38.7 million per job promised. The highest tax break per job was Occidental Petroleum promising two jobs in their agreement and receiving $38.7 million per job.
“Countless times we hear these industries say that these companies are important to our region because they bring economic prosperity and they bring jobs,” the Houston regional coordinator for TCE, Dominic Chacón, said. “This (study) directly undermines that message as well. We know none of these workers are receiving millions of dollars per job like these companies are receiving.”
Houston residents, however, have seen their property taxes climb. For South Houston resident Erandi Treviño, that tax amounts to nearly one-third of the average income of her neighborhood.
“We can see here that home taxes are extremely high and truly, really onerous,” Treviño, founder of the environmental advocacy organization the Raíces Collaborative, said. “And when you have…billion dollar entities that are getting these tax breaks, clearly something here is off.”
The study projected that if revenue had been retained by Harris County city budgets could have increased funding across all budget items, including public safety and public works, from 0.2% in Houston to as much as 25% in Morgan’s Point, a city about 30 miles East of Houston.
“We can compare how many dollars are being lost for each service,” Dindayal said. “And this is kind of a neat way to get the community to actually understand what they're losing. They're not just losing a dollar amount. What they're losing is dollar amounts in these potential services that could have benefited the city and the community at large.”
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