The Landscape

The Bureau of Land Management just proposed a rule that would essentially codify the oil and gas reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act as well as make a few other important changes to the federal leasing program. The proposed rule would fundamentally change the way oil and gas leasing occurs on public lands, putting the […] The post New oil and gas rule just dropped. What’s in it? appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Lori Faeth, senior director of government relations at the Land Trust Alliance, shares her expertise on the Farm Bill and its crucial role in private land conservation. She discusses how the Farm Bill stands as the largest federal funding source for these initiatives. Lori highlights the importance of conservation easements in preserving farmland while keeping it within landowners' hands. The conversation also touches on the vital lobbying efforts to ensure conservation remains a priority in legislation and the continuing challenges faced by advocates in the political landscape.

Kate and Aaron are joined by Dr. Dominick DellaSala, Chief Scientist at Wild Heritage, a project of the Earth Island Institute, to talk about the Biden administration’s efforts to protect old growth and mature forests. They also touch on reducing wildfire risk through forest management. Dr. DellaSala is the author of over 300 science papers […] The post What’s going on with old growth forests? appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron are joined by James Kenna, a 40-year Interior Department veteran who wore a number of hats over his decades of public service, including a stint as the California state director at Bureau of Land Management. That gave him a front row seat to land management decisions that would shape America’s energy future. […] The post A BLM veteran weighs in on the agency’s proposed conservation leasing rule appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

The podcast discusses the legacy of former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall, including his impact on civil rights, conservation efforts, and advocacy for downwinders and uranium miners. It explores his bipartisan successes, climate advocacy, and ability to bridge political divides, highlighting the significance of his conservation work.

Aaron and Kate are joined by Grace Wu, an assistant professor in the Environmental Studies Program at UC Santa Barbara, to talk about her research on balancing renewable energy development and conservation in the West. The study examined the potential habitat loss and land use impacts of developing the complete set of onshore wind, offshore […] The post Can renewable energy and conservation coexist? appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Discussion on the impacts of climate change on the Rio Grande River, White House involvement in mining law reform, exploration of the river's different conditions and water management challenges, difficulties in photographing drought, and preservation efforts to protect the river's ecology and resources.

Alli Henderson, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, and Blaine Miller-McFeeley, a senior legislative representative at Earthjustice, dive into the alarming Mining Regulatory Clarity Act. They discuss how this bill threatens public lands and prioritizes mining over environmental protections. The duo unveils the troubling political motivations behind the legislation and its implications for clean energy. They also highlight the urgent need for reform, better standards, and public advocacy to safeguard vulnerable communities.

Kate and Aaron are joined by clean energy consultant Rob Gramlich, founder and president of Grid Strategies LLC, to talk about the need to ramp up renewable transmission capacity in the U.S. Gramlich tells us what the Inflation Reduction Act did and didn’t do when it comes to transmission, as well as how Congress can […] The post What’s really holding up renewable energy transmission construction appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Nse Witherspoon, executive director of the Children’s Environmental Health Network, and Mark Magaña, founder and CEO of GreenLatinos, lead a discussion on making conservation more equitable. They highlight the America the Beautiful for All Coalition's efforts to ensure marginalized communities benefit from conservation. Key topics include the 2023 Farm Bill's role in linking agriculture and sustainability, and the need for diverse voices in conservation initiatives. They stress the importance of community engagement and breaking down silos for better environmental justice.