Concerns Over Birmingham’s Accelerated Data Center Timeline
Earlier this month, GASP staff met with the Birmingham Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permits for a stakeholder conversation about proposed land use policies related to data centers. This meeting came on the heels of two City Council “data center input...
Register For Smoke School 2026 – Renew Your Method 9 Certification
Clean air advocacy can take many different forms. So far this year, GASP has engaged in organizing community meetings, speaking at City Hall, and providing resources for public commenting on permits. This time, we're sharing a new way to report pollution. We're...
Apply For GASP’s 2026 Junior Board!
Are you passionate about environmental justice? Ready to use your voice, talents, and connections to make a difference? Join GASP’s Junior Board and help shape a cleaner, healthier future for Birmingham. GASP’s Junior Board brings together emerging leaders, advocates,...
Birmingham Residents Must Stay Engaged on the Proposed Data Center
On January 13th, 2026 Birmingham City Council met to consider a moratorium (a temporary suspension or delay of a specific activity, law, or obligation) on a proposed data center planned for the city. This comes right after Project Marvel, a massive data center...
Honoring The Legacy Charlie Powell, Founder of People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination
Charlie’s leadership was grounded in deep care for his neighbors and a belief that those most affected by pollution must lead the fight for change. His work helped strengthen coalitions across the city and ensured that community voices remained central in conversations with regulators, elected officials, and the public.
GASP Hosts Second Annual Christmas Extravaganza: A Celebration of Joy, Care, and Community Power
Our Extravaganza was created to offer a moment of joy for families living near heavy industry, dealing with ongoing pollution, or facing economic challenges. Environmental justice includes the freedom to thrive, rest, and be supported so our Christmas Extravaganza was a way to show what that looks like in action.
Living For The City: A 2025 NYC Climate Week Reflection
September 22 marked the opening of New York Climate Week. This was my first year attending, and I have to admit my time there felt amazing. To be in a city full of environmentalists and climate activists helped me realize there is hope for a better, more sustainable...
Community Chronicles :Meet Shaul Gayle
Originally from South Florida, Shaul Gayle brings a unique blend of public health expertise, community compassion, and environmental awareness to their role as a GASP Fellow. “I currently have a master’s as a Certified Public Health professional, I’m a third-year...
Community Chronicles: Meet Zion Sharpe
At GASP, our work is rooted in people. That’s why we’re proud to introduce you to Zion Sharpe, our new Community Science & Research Coordinator. Zion is a Birmingham native whose journey into environmental justice started with a simple belief: we are given two...
Meet the 2025 GASP Junior Board!
We are thrilled to announce our newest Junior Board members! These emerging leaders are marking their place in clean air advocacy by stepping up to serve their communities and strengthen GASP’s mission. Our Junior Board is more than a leadership opportunity—it’s an...
Smoke School Recap: Training Eyes for Environmental Justice
On May 22, GASP partnered with the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) to host our first Smoke School of the year—a hands-on training and certification in Method 9 visible emissions evaluation. Led by Brad and Fred Singleton of Singleton Smoke School, the session...
Community-Led Climate Action Framework Presented to City of Birmingham
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Madison Naves, Communications CoordinatorEmail: [email protected]: June 10, 2025 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After four years of rigorous community engagement, research, and expert consultation, a coalition of our local leaders officially...
GASP Introduces Climate Resolution to City Council
The Climate Action Framework, is set to be presented to the Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability this spring. The decision to introduce the resolution is an important step in urging the City of Birmingham to address critical environmental and climate challenges affecting its residents.
Solar Tax Suit Update – Where We Are Now
Switching to renewable energy is one of the most significant activities that we can do to reduce emissions, protect people against the harmful effects of air pollution, and reduce our contribution to climate change. This change has the opportunity to be made at...
Building Climate Solutions in Birmingham: The Power of Community Engagement from the Ground Up
At its core, climate action is about care. Care for people, the environment, and future generations.
Bound by Lines: Redlining’s Impact on Black Opportunity in the South
For generations, redlining shaped the social and economic landscape of the South, restricting Black communities’ access to housing, jobs, and even green spaces. In this special conversation, we sit down with Joshua Jenkins of the National Parks Conservation...
COMMUNITY CHRONICLE #10: FORGED IN LABOR
Their labor not only fueled Birmingham’s rise as an industrial powerhouse but also shaped the fight for racial and economic justice that continues today.
Celebrating Two Milestones in Clean Air Advocacy: The Anniversary of the Clean Air Act & GASP’s 15th Anniversary
This year, we celebrate a pivotal moment in the history of environmental protection: the anniversary of the Clean Air Act. Signed into law on December 31,1970, this landmark legislation transformed the way our nation combats air pollution, prioritizing the health and...
Looking Through The Smoke: GASP’s Smoke School for Clean Air
The energy in the room was infectious. It was more than a training session—it was a gathering of individuals ready to take on the responsibility of protecting our community’s air quality.
Barbara Jackson, GASP’s Grassroots Organizer: In Her Own Words
As the Grassroots Organizer it is important to give them tools, strategies and resources they can use that will help to build a supportive network that will foster resilience and growth despite the obstacles they are facing.
The Hidden Cost of Industry: Health Hazards and Climate Consequences
Jefferson County is home to one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the United States, the Alabama Power, James H. Miller Jr. Steam Plant, a coal-fired power plant. Birmingham is also home to several industrial facilities that produce materials like coke, steel, pipe, and concrete. These plants emit significant amounts of pollutants that harm the environment and contribute to climate change.
GASP and Partner Organizations Support EPA’s Strengthened Soot Pollution Standard, File Amicus Brief in U.S. Court of Appeals
Contact: Jilisa Milton, GASP, [email protected] Birmingham, AL — GASP, alongside several leading environmental justice organizations, has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in support of the U.S. The...
COMMUNITY CHRONICLE: 9 – JULIANNE THARP
Julianne Tharp’s journey into environmental advocacy is one of profound transformation, shaped by her commitment to service and a deep-seated passion for justice. As the Field and Advocacy Fellow for GASP and the Chair of the Central Alabama Chapter of the Climate Reality Project, Julianne stands at the forefront of the fight for environmental justice in Birmingham and beyond. Julianne’s professional journey began in healthcare, where she earned her BSN in nursing.
COMMUNITY CHRONICLES #8: Charlie Powell – PANIC
Before the creation of the Clean Air Act in 1970, “It used to just rain stuff on us. You know, it would be all on our houses.” Powell’s family would hang their clean clothes on a drying line outside and have to bring them back in before too long because soot would make them dirty again. “I believe up until this day, if any of our fathers knew they (were) bringing us into an environment like this here, they never would (have).” Powell will never understand how two coke plants (ABC Coke and Bluestone Coke) were able to be built three miles from each other.
Exploring Environmental Justice at Sloss Furnaces: A May Day Reflection
The legacy of environmental injustice persists in our communities today, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups who bear the brunt of pollution, climate change, and industrial exploitation. May Day is a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights and environmental justice intertwined in a complex web of systemic inequality.
COMMUNITY CHRONICLES #7 Linda Carr (Harriman Park)
Linda Carr lived in the Harriman Park neighborhood long enough to see the street she grew up on transform from Huntsville Row into Shuttlesworth Drive in 1988. The street was renamed to honor Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a prominent leader during the Civil Rights Movement and a founder of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR). This transformation symbolized a shift in recognition, yet the legacy of environmental degradation persisted.
Magical Meetings at The 2023 Moss Rock Festival
At the Moss Rock Festival, an annual eco-creative haven, art and nature converge. Amidst the festivities, GASP engaged with visitors of all ages. One standout was Leo, a 6th grader eager to combat air pollution, shared his own initiative—a recycling program at his school. This connection exemplified the impact of community engagement. The Moss Rock Festival showcased more than art; it was a fusion of art, nature, and sustainability. GASP left, appreciating the importance of local artists and sustainable practices. Anticipation lingers for next year’s rendezvous as we continue our journey to protect the environment and nurture future advocates.
Making a Difference Through Mutual Aid – GASP Hosts Last Popup Market of 2023
GASP’s impactful Pop-Up markets transcend charity in North Birmingham’s Superfund Site. Since 2020, these events ensure crucial support for low- and middle-income communities. Grassroots organizer Barbara Jackson emphasizes their significance, stating, “The Pop-Up markets connect GASP with citizens and build relationships,” highlighting the community bonds fostered through these initiatives
Meet The Author With Kathryn Savage & Keisha Brown at Burdock Book Collective
Partnering with Burdock Book Collective turned out to be an inspiring afternoon at the reading and discussion of Ground Glass with Author Kathryn Savage and Keisha Brown! The venue at the Burdock Book Collective allowed an intimate space to fill with honest personal stories and sparked attendees with motivation and empowerment.
GASP Goes Solar! – UAB Solar House National Tour
Attending the UAB Solar House Tour was an enlightening and inspiring experience. The solar house itself was a marvel of modern design and sustainability, showcasing the potential of solar energy and eco-friendly construction. It is a glimpse into a more sustainable and eco-conscious future, and GASP left feeling inspired to make more sustainable choices in our daily lives.