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Trump Administration to Pay RWE to Cancel Wind Leases

It was the fifth such deal struck by the administration to get companies to drop offshore wind projects.

Β© Joshua A. Bickel/Associated Press

The deal on Wednesday follows agreements to refund wind leases off California, Maine, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina.
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Trump Administration Is Undoing Plans to Boost Workplace Heat Protections

The Biden administration took steps to shield workers from extreme temperatures. The Trump administration is taking a gentler approach with employers.

Β© Allison Joyce/Agence France-Presse β€” Getty Images

A delivery in Wilmington, N.C., this month. Heat is linked to hundreds of workplace deaths each year, but labor groups say the true toll is unknown because heat-related illnesses are not properly tracked or reported.
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U.S. Raises Threat of Steep Water Cuts in Lower Colorado River Basin

A federal plan would impose drastic water cuts on Arizona, California and Nevada in dry years over the next decade. A legal battle could follow.

Β© Rebecca Noble/Reuters

Water from the Colorado River flowing through an irrigation canal in Arizona earlier this month.
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Cameron Hamilton Poised to Lead FEMA Once More

Cameron Hamilton defended the agency last year when President Trump talked about eliminating it. Emergency managers hope for more stability if he’s confirmed as administrator.

Β© Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Just over a year after being fired, Cameron Hamilton is on the brink of assuming the helm of FEMA once again.
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Data Centers to Add Billions in Power Costs in 13 States

A power auction conducted by a giant grid operator is expected to add $6.3 billion in additional charges to consumers and businesses because of electricity needs of data centers.

Β© Leah Millis/Reuters

Northern Virginia is home to several data centers, including the Digital Realty Data Center in Ashburn.
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New Rules Require Election Changes for States to Get Terrorism Grants

Federal officials said they would withhold some money unless states pursue paper ballot systems, verify citizenship and conduct costly audits.

Β© Emily Elconin for The New York Times

Courts have already blocked similar efforts by the administration to withhold funding, saying the Constitution does not grant the executive branch power over elections.
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Trump’s FEMA Nominee Calls Staff Cuts a β€˜Challenge’ for Disaster Agency

Cameron Hamilton, who briefly led the agency on an acting basis last year but was fired for contradicting the president, also said he would get money out to states faster.

Β© Mariam Zuhaib/Associated Press

Cameron Hamilton, President Trump’s FEMA nominee, testifying before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday.
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D.O.J. Seeks to Halt Pollution Lawsuit Against Elon Musk’s Data Center

The department cited national security concerns, saying Elon Musk’s company had played a crucial role in the Iran war. It also argued it has the authority to stop environmental lawsuits brought by citizens.

Β© Brad J. Vest for The New York Times

Construction at xAI’s power plant in Southaven, Miss., in February. The NAACP has sued the company over air pollution from generators there.
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Tensions Are Rising Among States That Rely on the Colorado River

A prolonged drought means the nation’s largest reservoirs are dwindling, and litigation over access to water could lie ahead.

Β© Nina Riggio for The New York Times

The Upper Colorado River on the Grand Canyon last month. About 40 million people and 5.5 million acres of cropland depend on the Colorado for drinking water and irrigation.
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