L.A. Times columnist Sammy Roth has attributed the recent Palisades Fire and other devastating wildfires in Los Angeles to climate change, framing the issue as a result of fossil fuel dependence and global warming. In his column titled “Los Angeles is a climate disaster. The fires will change nothing,” Roth called for systemic changes, such as reducing fossil fuel use, supporting green businesses, and prioritizing climate action in public policy and personal decisions.
Actor and outspoken climate activist Leonardo DiCaprio faced backlash after fleeing Los Angeles wildfires on a private jet. The fires, which began on January 7, have devastated California, destroying 10,000 buildings, killing at least 24 people, and forcing 150,000 residents to evacuate.
PJM, the largest power grid operator in the U.S., faces increasing scrutiny as it struggles to balance growing energy demands with the transition to renewable resources. The organization manages the flow of power across 13 states and Washington D.C., but critics argue that outdated systems and slow project approvals are driving up costs for consumers.
New York will fine fossil fuel companies $74 billion over the next 25 years for environmental damage. The bill creates a "Climate Superfund" that supports state projects bolstering its environmental agenda.
The Federal Reserve made its third consecutive interest rate cut on Wednesday, reducing its benchmark rate by a quarter of a percentage point. The move, widely anticipated by investors and financial markets, brings the federal funds rate to a target range of 4.25 percent to 4.50 percent. Since beginning its rate cuts in September, the Fed has now lowered rates by a total of 100 basis points, or one percentage point.
The Biden administration has halted new coal mining in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, a region that produces approximately 40% of the nation’s coal. The decision, made through an amendment to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Management Plan, prohibits new federal coal leases until 2041, citing the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of the administration’s climate change agenda.
