Environment America Research & Policy Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public and decision-makers, and help the public make their voices heard in local, state and national debates over the quality of our environment and our lives.

Recent Results for the Environment

Repower America

• Low Carbon Fuels: In December of 2009, we convinced eleven Northeast and mid-Atlantic states to another step toward reducing the region’s dangerous dependence on oil and fostering the growth of clean fuel alternatives when 11 Governors from Maryland to Maine announced an agreement to develop a mandatory, multi-state Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).
• Energy Efficiency: We bolstered efforts over the last year to upgrade the building energy codes in states across the country. Since April of 2009, we have helped win energy efficiency improvements in state and local building codes ranging from 15%-30% in Illinois, New Hampshire, Maryland, Rhode Island, Virginia, Texas, Iowa, Montana, Pennsylvania and Oregon.
• Renewable Energy Standards: In California, we helped to convince Governor Schwarzenegger to decide to triple the state's RES to 33% by 2020.

Our Rivers, Lakes and Streams

• Drinking Water: With support from the Park Foundation, in March, we hosted a national summit on the threat gas drilling is posing to our drinking water and public lands.
• Chesapeake Bay: Last fall, we ensured that EPA's draft clean up for the Chesapeake included clear deadlines for reducing pollution and consequences if reductions are not met. To ensure this happened, and with support from the Campbell Foundation, we expanded our outreach to the public and generated nearly 44,000 e-activist comments to EPA on the draft plan.

Parks, Open Spaces, Wild Places

• Grand Canyon: In July 2009, we worked with Interior Secretary Salazar to enact a two year moratorium on new mining leases around the Grand Canyon and are continuing to push for longer term protections.
• Florida Everglades: Last summer, Governor Crist and his cabinet answered our call to reject a proposed Lowe’s superstore beyond the urban growth boundary designed to protect the Everglades.

Clean Air

• Lawsuit against Shell Oil Company: In Texas, we sued to stop Shell Oil's illegal violations of the Clean Air Act at their Deer Park facility. Last April, Shell agreed to settle the case for $5.8 million, a record for a citizen environmental suit in Texas, and to clean up their act.