Environment America
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 | |
| Founded | 2007[1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit |
| 20-5355252 | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(4) |
| Location | |
| Fields | Environmentalism |
Key people | Wendy Wendlandt, President Doug Phelps, Chairman |
| Revenue | $14.4 million[2] (2024) |
| Expenses | $10.69 million[2] (2024) |
| Website | environmentamerica |
Environment America is a federation of state-based environmental advocacy organizations in the United States.[3][4] The organization researches and advocates for environmental policies through lobbying, litigation,[5] and the mobilization of public support.[6] Environment America advocates new laws and policies to address climate change,[7] air pollution[8] and water pollution,[9] and is a proponent of clean energy,[10] while opposing offshore drilling.[11]
On November 5, 2007, Environment America separated from the state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG), bringing with it the organization's national environmental advocacy program. The federation combined several small, state-based advocacy groups that had already separated from the PIRGs.[12] As a result of the separation of the organizations, the PIRGs' scope of work was defined as consumer,[13] health,[14] and safety issues[15] while Environment America became responsible for the group's previous environmental work. Doug Phelps, who helped build the state PIRG network, became the group's new chair.[16]
Aims and activities
Environment America works to publicize and gain support for solving environmental problems in the United States. Its areas of interest include the use of renewable energy sources,[17] climate change, air pollution, fossil fuel dependency,[18] environmental conservation,[19] and offshore drilling. The organization releases reports on topics such as wind energy policy,[20] solar energy,[21] global warming,[22] mercury pollution,[23] companies’ compliance with the Clean Water Act,[24] energy efficient buildings,[25] extreme weather in the U.S.,[26] fuel efficient cars,[27] and levels of carcinogens in waterways.[28]
Environment America has worked on various environmental policies, including supporting the American Clean Energy and Security Act[29] and the Clean Power Plan[30] to reduce climate pollution; the Clean Water Rule to include streams and wetlands in Clean Water Act protections;[31] and the EPA's proposal for a revised fuel economy label.[32]
The organization has sought to influence environmental policy through politics. Environment America publishes an annual scorecard of members of the U.S. Congress based on how they voted on environmental issues in that year's session. Members of the Democratic Party typically score higher than members of the Republican Party on the scorecard.[33] The organization has endorsed both Republican and Democratic candidates during national elections.[34][35] In 2008 and 2012, it joined the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters and Clean Water Action in endorsing Barack Obama’s reelection to office.[36]
In 2012, Environment America contributed $550,000 to Fair Share Action, an independent expenditure committee also funded by Tim Gill. The group conducted get-out-the-vote efforts in support of President Barack Obama during his 2012 reelection campaign.[37]
Ratings
In its December 1, 2019, evaluation of Environment America, Charity Navigator gave the organization two of four stars, with two stars for "financial" and three stars for "accountability and transparency". With respect to the latter, several concerns were indicated by Charity Navigator: the FY 2018 Form 990 audited financials did not appear to be prepared by an independent accountant, and the organization's website lacked an easily accessible donor privacy policy and audited financials.[38]