White House moves to keep costly, dirty, unneeded Michigan coal plants open

Tommy MalettaSustainability News, Resource Efficiency, Latest Headlines

By Tom Perkins, The Guardian One plant produces more arsenic pollution than any other in US, and the other has been slated for closure since 2021. The Monroe power plant on the shore of Lake Erie, in Michigan. Photograph: UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images The Trump administration is moving to keep open two Michigan coal plants …

Trump plans to end Energy Star. It saves Americans $40 billion on energy bills annually

Tommy MalettaSustainability News, Resource Efficiency, Latest Headlines

By Kristin Toussaint, Fast Company Energy Star, which has been around since 1992, certifies appliances that meet certain energy-efficiency standards. [Source Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images] If you’ve gone shopping for a home appliance sometime in the last 30 years, you’ve probably noticed a blue “Energy Star” label on certain water …

From Blight to Bright: Michigan Explores Solar Power on Brownfield Sites

Tommy MalettaCommunity Development Solutions, Resource Efficiency, Latest Headlines

By Douglas J. Guth, Inside Climate News Renewable energy supporters see massive untapped potential for solar technology at former industrial locations. The coal-fired River Rouge power plant in Michigan was retired in 2021. Credit: Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Michigan has 24,000 known contaminated sites, a legacy of …

Can the US Produce Its Own Electronics? Not Without Circularity

Tommy MalettaSustainability News, Resource Efficiency, Latest Headlines

By Dr. Kelly Scanlon, Sustainable Brands A side effect of tariffs could be an increase in industry circularity and the associated recycling of materials and components to enable domestic electronics manufacturing. The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of “will they or won’t they” speculation about the application of US …

Why Recycled Plastic Won’t Solve the Packaging Pollution Problem

Tommy MalettaSustainability News, Resource Efficiency, Latest Headlines

By Scarlett Buckley, Sustainable Brands As brands roll back packaging pledges, recycled plastic is taking center stage — but at what cost? Here’s why integrating alternative materials into supply chains makes the most business sense. A few years ago, companies were excited about the potential of sustainable materials. With oceans filling up …