The funding will be used to plug orphaned oil and gas wells, addressing environmental hazards, creating jobs, and advancing environmental justice as part of a larger effort funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the Department of the Interior, has announced the allocation of $126.7 million to tackle legacy pollution in Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, New York, and Ohio. This funding is part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda and aims to address the environmental and safety hazards posed by orphaned oil and gas wells. These wells, which release toxic pollutants and methane, will be plugged to protect public health, reduce climate change impacts, and create good-paying union jobs. The initiative supports the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan and contributes to broader environmental justice goals.
The funding will enable the five states to plug nearly 600 orphaned wells and inventory additional undocumented wells for future plugging. These efforts seek to not only mitigate environmental hazards but also spur economic growth and community revitalization. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland emphasized the significance of this historic investment in addressing environmental injustices and protecting millions of Americans living near these hazardous sites. The initiative is aligned with the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the benefits of federal investments to disadvantaged communities.
This funding is part of a larger $660 million in formula grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes a total investment of $4.7 billion to address legacy pollution across the United States. Since August 2022, the Department has awarded $565 million in initial grant funding, and as of March 2024, over 340 wells have been plugged in the five states receiving the latest funding. Nationwide, over 7,700 wells have been plugged, reducing significant carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and supporting thousands of jobs. States are also eligible for additional performance grants to further enhance their efforts in tackling orphaned wells.
Read the full story: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Additional $127 Million from the Investing in America Agenda to Clean Up Legacy Pollution Across Five States
Mapping Groundwater Risks from Orphan Wells Across U.S. Aquifers
A new USGS study reveals that more than half of the nation’s documented orphan wells lie within aquifers supplying the vast majority of U.S. groundwater, posing widespread risks of contamination from aging, unplugged infrastructure.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Alberta’s Orphan Well Cleanup Plan Sparks Debate Over Use of Public Funds
Alberta’s upcoming plan to address nearly 80,000 abandoned oil wells has sparked controversy over the potential use of public funds, despite government claims that taxpayers won’t be footing the bill.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion
Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.
Idaho may see an 18% drop in federal surface transit funding — the largest estimated cut in the US
Transit systems in rural communities are much more reliant on federal funding to provide their services.
How ‘post-disaster gentrification’ alters neighborhoods after natural calamities
After hurricanes, fires or other calamities, the original residents of a community are often replaced by younger, wealthier residents.
Maryland local governments examine if they should have more power to raise property taxes
Maryland’s housing market is out of reach for the majority of moderate-income residents.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello