EnviroPolitics Blog

End of an Era: Historic SS United States Heads to New Owners

By Mike Schuler, gCaptain

The iconic SS United States is set to embark on its final journey – not across the Atlantic, but towards a new life as the world’s largest artificial reef.

On Saturday, October 12, 2024, the SS United States Conservancy formally transferred the title of the historic ocean liner to Okaloosa County, Florida, marking a significant turning point in the ship’s storied legacy.

This $10.1 million project represents a innovative solution for preserving the vessel, which has been docked in Philadelphia since 1996.

The transfer of ownership comes after a protracted legal dispute with the pier operator and offers a “more dignified option” compared to the alternative of scrapping. A court-ordered mediation between the SS United States Conservancy and Penn Warehousing resulted in a settlement agreement, ending over two years of litigation. The confidential settlement, awaiting final court disposition, led to limited financial liability for the Conservancy. Despite the judge rejecting Penn Warehousing’s claims for doubled rent, the settlement maintains the court’s original ruling that the SS United States must promptly vacate its pier.

Read the full story here

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Milton expected to grow into full-blown hurricane by midweek

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 35 counties, many of which are still recovering from Hurricane Helene.

Associated Press, Updated: 12:42 PM EDT October 6, 2024

MIAMI — Hurricane Milton quickly intensified Sunday and is on track to become a major hurricane with the Tampa Bay area in its sights, putting Florida on edge and triggering evacuation orders along a coast still reeling from Helene’s devastation.

While forecast models vary, the most likely path suggests Milton could make landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area and remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said. That would largely spare other southeastern states ravaged by Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic damage from Florida into the Appalachian Mountains and a death toll that rose Sunday to at least 230 people.

Read the full story here

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Huge NJ Offshore Wind Project Approved For Construction

The 2.8 gigawatt Atlantic Shores project aims to start construction next year and connect to the grid by 2029. But it still must beat legal challenges.

*South Fork Wind Farm, off the coast of Long Island, NY. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)*

By Keaton Peters, Canary Media

Federal regulators gave a huge, contentious offshore wind project the green light to start construction off the coast of New Jersey.

Owned by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a 50-50 venture by Shell and EDF Renewables, the project received approval of air permits from the Environmental Protection Agency and of construction and operation permits from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Tuesday.

The developer plans to install a total of about 200 wind turbines in federally owned waters between 10 and 20 miles off the Jersey shore. It’s also working with utilities to build several offshore substations and two undersea transmission lines that will connect the project to the grid near Atlantic City and farther north in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Construction on phase one of the recently approved project, known as Atlantic Shores South, is set to begin in 2025, and it could start sending power to the grid in 2028 or 2029, according to the developer. The second phase of the project was also approved, but there is no timeline for its construction yet.

Full story here

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Dock workers back on the job after brief walkout

By TOM KRISHER, Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — The union representing 45,000 striking U.S. dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports has reached a deal to suspend a three-day strike until Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract.

The union, the International Longshoremen’s Association, is to resume working immediately. Both sides also reached agreement on wages, but no details were given, according to a joint statement from the ports and union Thursday night.

The union went on strike early Tuesday after its contract expired in a dispute over pay and the automation of tasks at the ports from Maine to Texas. The strike came at the peak of the holiday shopping season at 36 ports that handle about half the cargo from ships coming into and out of the United States.

The walkout raised the risk of shortages of goods on store shelves if it lasted more than a few weeks. But most retailers had stocked up or shipped items early in anticipation of the work stoppage.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted by federal grand jury

The indictment makes Mr. Adams the first sitting mayor of New York City to be charged with a federal crime

By William K. Rashbaum, Dana Rubinstein, Michael Rothfeld,Edward Wong and Chelsia Rose Marcius, New York Times

Eric Adams, a retired police captain who was elected as New York City’s 110th mayor nearly three years ago on a promise to rein in crime, has been indicted in a federal corruption investigation, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The indictment remained sealed on Wednesday night, and it was unclear what charge or charges Mr. Adams will face. But the federal investigation has focused at least in part on whether Mr. Adams and his campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations.

When the indictment is made public, Mr. Adams, a Democrat, will become the first New York City mayor to face a federal charge while in office. It was not clear when he will surrender to the authorities. Federal prosecutors were expected to announce more details on Thursday.

Read the full story here

Related indictment news:
Mayor Eric Adams Indicted (New York Magazine)
Adams indicted on at least one federal charge (CNN)

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Have you stocked up on TP, diapers and booze?

U.S. port strike looms by October 1, portending economic gloom

By Sam Klebanov, Morning Brew

US ports are bracing for a tempest, but the ominous choppiness is in the negotiating room. Dock workers on the East and Gulf Coasts are preparing to walk off the job if their union can’t negotiate a new contract with shipping companies by October 1, threatening a throwback to pandemic-era supply chain bottlenecks.

The International Longshoremen’s Association union and the United States Maritime Alliance, the trade organization representing port operators, remain oceans apart in their talks. The main sticking points are worker pay and plans to automate certain container operations.

The union warns that up to 45,000 port workers could strike. The labor stoppages would disrupt major ports that handle 60% of US shipping traffic, per Oxford Economics.

JPMorgan analysts say a work stoppage could cause $5 billion in economic damage per day.