ATHENA
@athenax9.bsky.social
UCS federal policy advocate working to electrify our transportation system to solve our air pollution problems & protect our climate | opinions my own
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Our expert Samantha Houston is skeptical about National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program's final guidance under Trump. Read more: act.ucsusa.org/45GtH1a
Federal EV Infrastructure Investments Poised to Move Ahead: Here’s What’s Changed Under Trump
The next few months will be telling.
act.ucsusa.org
August 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Our expert Samantha Houston is skeptical about National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program's final guidance under Trump. Read more: act.ucsusa.org/45GtH1a
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The Trump agenda is sending energy prices skyrocketing.
Even worse, his Big-Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill will drive your power bills even higher.
Even worse, his Big-Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill will drive your power bills even higher.
Electricity prices are climbing more than twice as fast as inflation
Electricity prices are rising more than twice as fast as overall inflation. That's especially costly during the dog days of summer when air conditioners are working hardest. In addition to hot weath...
www.npr.org
August 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The Trump agenda is sending energy prices skyrocketing.
Even worse, his Big-Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill will drive your power bills even higher.
Even worse, his Big-Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill will drive your power bills even higher.
Reposted by ATHENA
Today marks day 1 of public hearings on the EPA’s reconsideration of the endangerment finding, a 2009 declaration that greenhouse gases threaten public health. Follow along with us👇🧵
August 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Today marks day 1 of public hearings on the EPA’s reconsideration of the endangerment finding, a 2009 declaration that greenhouse gases threaten public health. Follow along with us👇🧵
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Electric trucks & buses = reduced climate-warming pollution & poor air quality. Thankfully, key policies can accelerate adoption. EPA’s Clean School Bus Program TRIPLED electric school bus deployment in the US. Learn more about MHDV deployment here:
Ready for Work 2.0
Electrifying our on-road freight system is the surest way to reduce truck pollution and improve air quality.
www.ucs.org
August 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Electric trucks & buses = reduced climate-warming pollution & poor air quality. Thankfully, key policies can accelerate adoption. EPA’s Clean School Bus Program TRIPLED electric school bus deployment in the US. Learn more about MHDV deployment here:
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We noticed something important when the administration was announcing they don’t want to regulate heat-trapping emissions. You can see more about the link between climate change and the extreme weather we see here:
➡️ dangerseason.ucs.org
➡️ dangerseason.ucs.org
August 1, 2025 at 5:01 PM
We noticed something important when the administration was announcing they don’t want to regulate heat-trapping emissions. You can see more about the link between climate change and the extreme weather we see here:
➡️ dangerseason.ucs.org
➡️ dangerseason.ucs.org
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🧘♀️ Struggling to find a moment of calm amidst all the bad news this summer? MindLab offers practical, science-based techniques to help science supporters manage stress, regulate emotions & navigate uncertainty.
Join us for free virtual sessions every Wednesday, 11:30 am ET.
➡️ act.ucsusa.org/45bB0wj
Join us for free virtual sessions every Wednesday, 11:30 am ET.
➡️ act.ucsusa.org/45bB0wj
July 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM
🧘♀️ Struggling to find a moment of calm amidst all the bad news this summer? MindLab offers practical, science-based techniques to help science supporters manage stress, regulate emotions & navigate uncertainty.
Join us for free virtual sessions every Wednesday, 11:30 am ET.
➡️ act.ucsusa.org/45bB0wj
Join us for free virtual sessions every Wednesday, 11:30 am ET.
➡️ act.ucsusa.org/45bB0wj
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Think rail is a clean transportation source? Think again. 🤔 UCS Senior Vehicles Analyst explains why and how the rail industry has hindered progress in emission reduction over the past decade:
Railroads Are Running Dirty Diesel Trains Through Communities and No One Is Doing Anything About It
The case for rail electrification is clear in the benefits to the economy, public health, and environment.
blog.ucs.org
July 30, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Think rail is a clean transportation source? Think again. 🤔 UCS Senior Vehicles Analyst explains why and how the rail industry has hindered progress in emission reduction over the past decade:
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🚂Yesterday, @markey.senate.gov and @deluzio.house.gov reintroduced the transformative All Aboard Act, which would dedicate billions of investments to modernize our nation’s rail, reducing locomotive emissions and securing critical labor protections:
Sen. Markey, Rep. Deluzio Introduce Legislation to Transform U.S. Rail Network | U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts
All Aboard Act dedicates $200 billion over five years to build transportation system of the...
www.markey.senate.gov
July 30, 2025 at 3:34 PM
🚂Yesterday, @markey.senate.gov and @deluzio.house.gov reintroduced the transformative All Aboard Act, which would dedicate billions of investments to modernize our nation’s rail, reducing locomotive emissions and securing critical labor protections:
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Today, the EPA released a proposal that would gut the 2009 Endangerment Finding. “These actions by Lee Zeldin are anti-science and backed by the fossil fuel industry, said Chitra Kumar, Managing Director, UCS Climate & Energy campaign.
July 29, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Today, the EPA released a proposal that would gut the 2009 Endangerment Finding. “These actions by Lee Zeldin are anti-science and backed by the fossil fuel industry, said Chitra Kumar, Managing Director, UCS Climate & Energy campaign.
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Uber’s new Route Share shows people want affordable, flexible options—but it falls short and worsens climate impacts. What if we met that demand sustainably, by investing in public transit🚍, safe bike lanes, and walkable routes to get where we need to go?
![A person leans into the back seat of a black Uber car, seen from the outside. Overlaid on the image is a quote in white text:
“Everybody will say, ‘Silicon Valley’s reinventing the bus again,’ but it’s more like [Uber is] reinventing a worse bus.”
—Kevin Shen, Transportation Policy Analyst.
At the bottom is the logo for the Union of Concerned Scientists. The image is credited to Mario Tama/Getty Images](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rvuee746th6j5qacfrfc7jed/bafkreidxdbh4av347jl2ifqawfzbaddri6bh5jhke4il6jox7rvjormtaq@jpeg)
July 28, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Uber’s new Route Share shows people want affordable, flexible options—but it falls short and worsens climate impacts. What if we met that demand sustainably, by investing in public transit🚍, safe bike lanes, and walkable routes to get where we need to go?
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A reprieve for the USPS trucks:
The Senate parliamentarian ruled overnight that this provision violates the rules of budget reconciliation
It **cannot** appear in Trump and Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The Senate parliamentarian ruled overnight that this provision violates the rules of budget reconciliation
It **cannot** appear in Trump and Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
👀 Scoop: Trump and Republicans want USPS to sell off its brand new EVs and chargers.
That would mean literally **ripping up post office parking lots** to auction off assets with no private-sector value.
It’s buried in the Senate’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
That would mean literally **ripping up post office parking lots** to auction off assets with no private-sector value.
It’s buried in the Senate’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
June 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A reprieve for the USPS trucks:
The Senate parliamentarian ruled overnight that this provision violates the rules of budget reconciliation
It **cannot** appear in Trump and Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The Senate parliamentarian ruled overnight that this provision violates the rules of budget reconciliation
It **cannot** appear in Trump and Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Reposted by ATHENA
🚨 Last week CA and 10 other states announced plans to sue the Trump Admin for their illegal attempt to repeal 3 clean air safeguards. @governor.ca.gov responded with an EO reaffirming CA’s commitment to a clean vehicle transition. 👏 Kudos to Gov Newsom for keeping CA moving forward.
California Leads States in Suing the Trump Administration Over Its Revocation of Air Pollution Standards
California and ten other states are suing the Trump administration over its revocation of three waivers that let California set standards to improve air quality, reduce climate-warming emissions and p...
www.ucs.org
June 16, 2025 at 4:37 PM
🚨 Last week CA and 10 other states announced plans to sue the Trump Admin for their illegal attempt to repeal 3 clean air safeguards. @governor.ca.gov responded with an EO reaffirming CA’s commitment to a clean vehicle transition. 👏 Kudos to Gov Newsom for keeping CA moving forward.
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1/ The Trump administration is turning our government into a weapon to attack families and undermine our fundamental rights and freedoms. Its tactics of escalating violence against migrant communities in Los Angeles are deeply concerning and signal a further slide into authoritarianism.
For Trump, This Is a Dress Rehearsal
Ordering the National Guard to deploy in Los Angeles is a warning of what to expect when his hold on power is threatened.
www.theatlantic.com
June 9, 2025 at 8:24 PM
1/ The Trump administration is turning our government into a weapon to attack families and undermine our fundamental rights and freedoms. Its tactics of escalating violence against migrant communities in Los Angeles are deeply concerning and signal a further slide into authoritarianism.
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Hurricane season started last weekend—and acting FEMA head David Richardson reportedly told staff he didn’t know the US had one. Clueless? Joking? Either way, the guy running US disaster response is giving big Michael Scott energy—and that’s really bad. Some comments from his tenure:
June 3, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Hurricane season started last weekend—and acting FEMA head David Richardson reportedly told staff he didn’t know the US had one. Clueless? Joking? Either way, the guy running US disaster response is giving big Michael Scott energy—and that’s really bad. Some comments from his tenure:
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Call your senators at 202-224-3121 and tell them to stop the #BillionaireTaxScam 🗣️
June 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Call your senators at 202-224-3121 and tell them to stop the #BillionaireTaxScam 🗣️
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Republicans want to overturn half a century of precedent to undermine California’s ability to protect the health of our residents.
Why?
Because to them, it’s more important to appease big oil than it is for your kid to breathe clean air.
Why?
Because to them, it’s more important to appease big oil than it is for your kid to breathe clean air.
May 21, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Republicans want to overturn half a century of precedent to undermine California’s ability to protect the health of our residents.
Why?
Because to them, it’s more important to appease big oil than it is for your kid to breathe clean air.
Why?
Because to them, it’s more important to appease big oil than it is for your kid to breathe clean air.
Reposted by ATHENA
Toyota has joined fossil fuel companies in asking the US Senate to prevent California from taking necessary steps to slow climate change and protect its residents from air pollution that is making people sick and shortening lives.
Learn the details in UCS's David Reichmuth's blog.
Learn the details in UCS's David Reichmuth's blog.
Why Does Toyota Oppose Clean Air?
There is no way to protect our health and our climate by simply making better gasoline cars.
blog.ucs.org
May 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Toyota has joined fossil fuel companies in asking the US Senate to prevent California from taking necessary steps to slow climate change and protect its residents from air pollution that is making people sick and shortening lives.
Learn the details in UCS's David Reichmuth's blog.
Learn the details in UCS's David Reichmuth's blog.
"For a party so dedicated to protecting the filibuster, Republicans are going to extreme lengths to undo California’s Clean Air Act waivers." Op-ed from Senator Padilla: www.wsj.com/opinion/what...
Opinion | What if Republicans Ditch the Senate’s Rules?
If they can ignore the parliamentarian on electric vehicles, why not on their tax bill? On healthcare? On the president’s latest overreach?
www.wsj.com
May 14, 2025 at 7:51 PM
"For a party so dedicated to protecting the filibuster, Republicans are going to extreme lengths to undo California’s Clean Air Act waivers." Op-ed from Senator Padilla: www.wsj.com/opinion/what...
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#CA business and clean air organizations, including #IBEW CA, oppose the attacks on California’s Clean Air Act authority, which has put people to work across the state. Protecting the Advanced Clean Cars Program ensures more work is on the horizon! ibew.org/ibew-califor...
April 29, 2025 at 6:55 PM
#CA business and clean air organizations, including #IBEW CA, oppose the attacks on California’s Clean Air Act authority, which has put people to work across the state. Protecting the Advanced Clean Cars Program ensures more work is on the horizon! ibew.org/ibew-califor...
🧑🔬 Scientists, technical experts, and STEM students: learn how to engage local media to save science! Join @ucsusa.bsky.social for a science advocacy webinar on April 17 from 8-9pm ET about how to write & submit a letter to editor. RSVP 👇 secure.ucs.org/a/2025-4-17-...
Sharing Stories of Science through Letters to the Editor
The Union of Concerned Scientists invites scientists and experts to a science advocacy training webinar on writing letters to the editor to inform and influence different audiences about the impacts o...
secure.ucs.org
April 9, 2025 at 7:11 PM
🧑🔬 Scientists, technical experts, and STEM students: learn how to engage local media to save science! Join @ucsusa.bsky.social for a science advocacy webinar on April 17 from 8-9pm ET about how to write & submit a letter to editor. RSVP 👇 secure.ucs.org/a/2025-4-17-...
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Today and beyond, we celebrate the history and vibrant culture of Arab Americans who have enriched our communities.
April 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Today and beyond, we celebrate the history and vibrant culture of Arab Americans who have enriched our communities.
Are your Congressional representatives organizing a town hall near you? Join UCS’s upcoming training, “Holding Congress Accountable: How to Ask Tough Questions at Town Halls,” Next Tuesday, April 8, at 8pm ET. RSVP here: secure.ucs.org/a/2025-4-8-t...
Holding Congress Accountable: How to Ask Tough Questions at Town Halls
The Union of Concerned Scientists invites scientists and experts to a training webinar on
secure.ucs.org
April 1, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Are your Congressional representatives organizing a town hall near you? Join UCS’s upcoming training, “Holding Congress Accountable: How to Ask Tough Questions at Town Halls,” Next Tuesday, April 8, at 8pm ET. RSVP here: secure.ucs.org/a/2025-4-8-t...
🚨 ICYMI: The automobile industry that once lobbied against *life-saving safety protections* like seat belts & air bags🚗 currently support a Senate bill that would prevent EPA & DOT from considering the best available technology to protect communities against tailpipe pollution -⚡electrification.
General Motors, Toyota, and Stellantis, as well as the trucking and auto industries broadly, are working with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) to gut vehicle regulation via a bill that seems to have flown under the radar. Read about this disaster of a bill here: blog.ucs.org/dave-cooke/a...
Automakers are Partnering with an Ohio Senator to Decrease Consumer Choice and Increase Pollution
Proposed bill could prevent any future administration’s attempt to protect consumers and the environment.
blog.ucs.org
April 1, 2025 at 5:55 PM
🚨 ICYMI: The automobile industry that once lobbied against *life-saving safety protections* like seat belts & air bags🚗 currently support a Senate bill that would prevent EPA & DOT from considering the best available technology to protect communities against tailpipe pollution -⚡electrification.
Reposted by ATHENA
🚝 Ever seen The Simpsons episode “Marge vs. the Monorail”? Turns out, life imitates art.
Remember when Elon Musk won a bid for high-speed transit in Chicago? He pitched futuristic tech that didn’t exist—and, surprise, his proposal was never built. Sound familiar?
Remember when Elon Musk won a bid for high-speed transit in Chicago? He pitched futuristic tech that didn’t exist—and, surprise, his proposal was never built. Sound familiar?
Musk and the Monorail
YouTube video by Union of Concerned Scientists
youtube.com
March 25, 2025 at 5:31 PM
🚝 Ever seen The Simpsons episode “Marge vs. the Monorail”? Turns out, life imitates art.
Remember when Elon Musk won a bid for high-speed transit in Chicago? He pitched futuristic tech that didn’t exist—and, surprise, his proposal was never built. Sound familiar?
Remember when Elon Musk won a bid for high-speed transit in Chicago? He pitched futuristic tech that didn’t exist—and, surprise, his proposal was never built. Sound familiar?