Last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives took the first meaningful steps on the long path toward transforming our energy economy and curbing global warming. The American Clean Energy and Security Act passed the House by a vote of 219-211.

Clean Water Action applauds every member of Congress who voted for the legislation, and is disappointed in those who voted against this first step toward a clean energy future.

Take Action: Please take a moment to tell your Representative what you think about his or her vote.

Studies show that energy demand in Michigan is continually declining and that there are better alternatives to coal for Michigan's economic and environmental future.

We only have a short time to show that coal is not the future for Michigan!  Act now!

Sign the petition in support of better alternatives to dirty old coal!

Please download a petition and get support from people across your community too!

Thanks to you, Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) introduced the Clean Water Restoration Act in the Senate on April 2, 2009.

For three decades, the Clean Water Act protected America's waters from industrial pollution, oil spills, sewage and outright destruction. Recent interpretations of the law have now put protection of drinking water sources for 110 million Americans in jeopardy.

Big polluters will be talking to our Senators, claiming the Clean Water Act should not cover numerous wetlands, streams, rivers and lakes that have been protected under the Clean Water Act. In just one year more than 500 enforcement cases have been dropped by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Justice Department.

We cannot go back to the days of dirty water. Congress must reverse this damage and pass the Clean Water Restoration Act this year.

Connecticut has become the first state in the nation to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) from infant formula and baby food cans and jars, as well as the full range of reusable food and beverage containers! Governor M. Jodi Rell (R) signed the legislation into law, which will take effect on October 1, 2011. BPA has been linked to a wide range of chronic diseases, including: obesity, diabetes, breast and prostate cancers, reproductive problems, brain damage, behavior changes, and early puberty in girls.

Thank you for being part of the diverse and broad coalition that made this victory possible! Your efforts successfully turned back intense opposition from the chemical, plastics, and canning lobbies.

We believe in America's ability to innovate and solve big problems. We've proven time and time again we can rise to the occasion and address major environmental challenges without harming the economy. Just think about the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. Global warming and dirty energy put America's water resources at risk – now is the time to act!

On Earth Day, eighteen Pennsylvania State Senators introduced SB 777, state legislation that would protect rivers, streams, and aquifers (groundwater) that supply our public drinking water. This bill, the Safer Drinking Water Act, will provide special protection to any water that supplies the public with its drinking water.

Take Action Now: Urge your State Senator to support the Safer Drinking Water Act and push for a vote in the senate.

Federal legislation has been introduced in Congress that would ban the toxic chemical BPA from food and beverage containers.

Help ban BPA nationwide

BPA, first developed as a synthetic sex hormone, can be found in re-useable water bottles, the lining of your soup or soda cans, baby bottles, sippy cups, and other polycarbonate plastic products. It has been shown to leach from containers directly into food and beverages, especially when heated. Why is this a problem?

More than 200 studies have found that low dose exposures to BPA are linked to heart disease, breast and testicular cancers, reproductive problems, and other diseases reaching epidemic proportions in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted research that revealed detectable levels of BPA in the bodies of 93% of Americans.

New Jersey is running out of funds for open space, farmland and historic preservation. But borrowing more money is not the answer...

Unfortunately, after 3.5 years of inaction by Governor Corzine, there is push for a short-term funding “fix”. We believe it is likely to fail, hurts chances of adopting a long-term funding stream for open space, and continues the failed borrow and spend practices that put New Jersey into its fiscal mess in the first place. With each successive stop gap, it becomes harder to secure something better.

Covanta's Mid-Conn incinerator in Hartford Connecticut burns 2,000 tons of trash per day.
© Roger Smith/Clean Water Action

Take action now to keep the ban on trash incineration intact and keep Rhode Island's recycling plans moving forward.

For 15 years Rhode Island has banned trash incineration because it's dirty, dangerous, and it burns resources that we can recycle.

Now, out-of-state energy giant Covanta is spending thousands of dollars a month to convince our elected officials to take a giant step backward and undo the incinerator ban.

Over the last several years, several companies have proposed legislation to get around Rhode Island's incinerator ban. At every turn, the legislature rejected those plans.

Construction is responsible for a whopping 40% of all mobile diesel emissions in the Northeast. It's time that our policies reflect government concern for the health of the workers and the public in and around those construction sites, particularly when they are located in dense urban areas - the Diesel Emission Reduction Act does just that.