Hi Reader, Last week, a group of community members from Spartanburg Co., South Carolina did something that made me chuckle. At a recent town hall meeting, they recreated the constant noise that people living near a hyperscale data center experience every single day. Sounds annoying, right? I hope their board members took note. As it happens, we just hosted a workshop on data center noise pollution, where I learned that a decibel reading is only part of the story. Continuous, low-frequency...
6 days ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader, Now's the time to review and RSVP for events you're interested in attending live. Network events are a chance to meet others, bring questions, share what you're working on, and even network. If you're new to HHN, join tomorrow's Networking Meetup. See all events in our calendar here. ↓ Fracking Waste and Rare Cancer: A Conversation with Justin Nobel (Network Café) Tuesday, July 21 (view details in your time zone) Investigative journalist Justin Nobel joins us for a casual...
6 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Last week, a group of community members from Spartanburg Co., South Carolina did something that made me chuckle. At a recent town hall meeting, they recreated the constant noise that people living near a hyperscale data center experience every single day. Sounds annoying, right? I hope their board members took note. As it happens, we just hosted a workshop on data center noise pollution, where I learned that a decibel reading alone is only part of the story. Continuous,...
6 days ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader, Among many events coming up, two of them are addressing the harms of radioactive waste, public exposure, and industry accountability. Now's the time to review and mark your calendar for anything you're interested in. ↓ Fracking Waste and Rare Cancer: A Conversation with Justin Nobel (Network Café) Tuesday, July 21 (view details in your time zone) Investigative journalist Justin Nobel joins us for a casual Network Café conversation about his latest investigation for DeSmog and...
9 days ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, You probably already know someone who deserves this. The person who keeps showing up. Who files the records request, runs the air monitor, sits through the hearings and organizes the meeting after a long day. Most of them will never put their own name forward. That is where you come in. The Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship honors community leaders standing up to oil, gas and petrochemical harm. Halt the Harm Network co-hosts the award with our friends at...
17 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Plastics “chemical recycling” facilities are showing up in communities across the country. Most people never learn which hazardous chemicals sit on site, or how to find out. If you're facing this or any polluting industry, today's webinar with expert presenters will give you important insight into the power of public record requests. That information is public. You just have to know how to ask for it. Having the documented truth gives you power to push back against greenwashing,...
17 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, It’s hot out there. According to the National Weather Service, an estimated 37.5 million Americans have lived under a heat advisory over the past month. If you were outside over the holiday weekend, you probably noticed! Most of us (especially those of us who remember the 90s 😅 ) can feel the weather getting hotter due to climate change. And data centers are adding fuel to the fire, not only through their massive energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions, but also through a...
19 days ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader, It's a lot easier to take action and have influence when we have all the information we need. Thanks to leaders in this network, we're all able to track industry proposals, legislation (even if it's in a different state), and know when and where important decisions are taking place. Yesterday Mia and Katie from FracTracker Alliance shared more updates on the open tracker map (details posted in HHN), and next week we have 3 webinars on July 7th, 8th, and 9th covering different...
23 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Last month’s newsletter started with an update about a plastics “chemical recycling” (pyrolysis) facility outside Hebron, Ohio and how local residents and watchdogs pushed Ohio EPA to treat it like what it is—a plastic-burning operation with real consequences for air quality and public health. Now there’s a major update: Freepoint Eco-Systems has announced it’s shutting down the facility this summer. Community members are calling it a win. It turns out that the viability of a lot...
25 days ago • 5 min read
