Hoosiers Call on EPA Not to Weaken Coal Ash Rules at Public Hearing

cleantechnica.com Nov 13, 2026

Hoosiers Call on EPA Not to Weaken Coal Ash Rules at Public Hearing

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Nov 13, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Hoosiers gathered in Indianapolis to oppose the EPA’s approval of Indiana’s proposed Coal Ash permitting program, which would let the state override federal safeguards and adopt less stringent statewide rules. The hearing highlighted that Indiana hosts more coal ash sites than any other state, with over 100 landfills and ponds holding roughly 134 million cubic yards of toxic ash. Environmental groups warned that the EPA’s endorsement could allow continued leaks and jeopardize community health, especially for residents relying on well water.

💡 Why It Matters

· The decision could set a precedent for loosening protections nationwide, risking long‑term contamination of water supplies and public health.

Capsules Policies

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What Happens in Vegas Should Inform the Rest of the Country

A research brief from the NRDC and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzes Nevada’s workplace heat standard, noting its lack of evidence‑based temperature thresholds that trigger safeguards. The study uses Nevada heat‑complaint data to argue for clear, data‑driven thresholds applicable across industries, alongside water, rest, shade, and acclimatization measures. The brief highlights the broader U.S. gap in formal heat‑risk standards and suggests Nevada’s approach could inform national policy.

💡 The findings provide a concrete, data‑backed framework that could standardize heat protection across the country, addressing a growing occupational health risk amid rising temperatures.

cleantechnica.com · Nov 13

Senate Republicans Begin the Process of Jamming BAAJA While Trump Threatens to…

Senate Republicans began procedural moves on Nov. 11 to push the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 through the chamber, despite a Monday vote that opened debate and prompted Senate Democrats to demand an amendment process to repair the bill. The GOP caucus aims to maximize its remaining time in power by fast‑tracking the legislation, pairing it with another reconciliation measure and a wave of judicial and political confirmations. Former president Donald Trump announced he would refuse to approve wind‑energy projects, even though the draft permitting bill he endorsed is designed to accelerate such projects. The Sierra Club praised amendments by Senators Heinrich and Whitehouse but warned the draft still contains major flaws and urged an amendment process.

💡 Republicans are racing to cement a clean‑energy framework before their term ends, risking a rushed law that may lack critical safeguards.

cleantechnica.com · Nov 13

Managing Offshore Wind in the Face of Uncertainty

A new NRDC report released on November 12 outlines adaptive‑management principles for U.S. offshore wind development, urging regulators to balance rapid renewable expansion with marine ecosystem protection. The document stresses that offshore wind—both fixed‑bottom and floating—could generate more than three times the nation’s current electricity demand, offering a pathway to cut fossil‑fuel emissions, improve air and water quality, and create thousands of skilled jobs. It warns that policy uncertainty under the current administration threatens progress, and recommends that agencies embed monitoring, mitigation and iterative decision‑making into permitting processes. The report draws on adaptive‑management examples from other energy sectors and provides concrete actions for policymakers to ensure offshore projects proceed responsibly while addressing biodiversity and coastal impacts.

💡 Adaptive management equips regulators to navigate policy volatility while unlocking offshore wind’s massive clean‑energy potential.

cleantechnica.com · Nov 12

Build Clean: Accelerating Affordable Energy While Advancing Community and Environmental Stewardship

NRDC’s Build Clean agenda calls for a rapid expansion of U.S. clean electricity generation and transmission, targeting a four‑fold increase by 2040 while integrating vehicle and building electrification. The organization argues that permitting alone is insufficient, urging reforms that modernize infrastructure, streamline grid connections, and foster fair competition. Key elements include early community engagement, impact assessments, and local benefit agreements, alongside measures to protect wildlife and sensitive habitats. The goal is a fast, equitable transition delivering affordable power, economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship.

💡 By linking clean‑energy growth with community and ecological safeguards, NRDC seeks to prevent the “boom‑and‑blow” pattern that has stalled projects and alienated local residents, offering a model that could accelerate nationwide deployment.

cleantechnica.com · Nov 12

Four of Seven Dutch Green Hydrogen Projects Have Been Cancelled. The Subsidies…

The Dutch government granted €783.5 million in 2022 to fund seven green‑hydrogen projects expected to supply 1,150 MW of electrolysis capacity. Four years later, four of those projects – representing 550 MW – have been cancelled and none is operating. Only about €150 million of the subsidy pool has been paid out, while the remaining funds await a new round of support. Parliamentary answers acknowledge that without dedicated subsidies the sector cannot achieve commercial viability, yet another €780 million is earmarked for future grants. Revised demand forecasts and higher production costs have forced the government to scale back hydrogen’s role in heat and power, while still pursuing pipeline construction and mandatory off‑take obligations for industrial users. The Audit warned that pipeline investment could swell to €3.8 billion, jeopardizing financing.

💡 Persisting subsidies lock public money into a stalled industry while inflating the cost base of a hydrogen pipeline that may never find enough buyers.

cleantechnica.com · Nov 12

Democrats Are at COP31 to Show That the US Has Not Abandoned…

The 2026 midterm elections gave Democrats control of both houses, bolstering their climate agenda. At COP31 in Turkey, former officials John Kerry and Al Gore joined an unofficial U.S. delegation, signaling continued domestic commitment despite President Trump’s refusal to attend. The delegation’s presence underscores the U.S.’s pivotal role in global climate negotiations, while congressional Democrats plan to reverse Trump‑era rollbacks on emissions standards and climate science. The shift may reshape U.S. influence at future COPs and the Paris Agreement.

💡 The Democrats’ electoral victory restores a legislative mandate to counteract Trump’s climate rollbacks, potentially reshaping U.S. policy and international climate leadership.