Press Releases
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Michael Hansen
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Flawed Consent Decree Fails Local Communities Impacted by ABC Coke’s Illegal Pollution
Conservation groups are charging that a proposed consent decree is woefully inadequate in addressing the impacts of ABC Coke’s excessive and illegal levels of toxic pollution on local communities around northeast Birmingham and Tarrant, Ala.
Groups Sue Trump’s EPA for Coke Oven Cancer Pollution
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 15, 2019) — Today Earthjustice on behalf of Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, Gasp, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and Sierra Club, sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for improperly regulating coke ovens – producers of known...
Lawsuit Challenges TVA’s Attack on Solar Energy in the South
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts Howard Crystal, Center for Biological Diversity, (202) 809-6926, [email protected] Daniel Tait, Energy Alabama, (256) 812-1431, [email protected] Erin Jensen, Friends of the Earth, (202) 222-0722, [email protected]
Gasp, Conservation Groups Demand Lance LeFleur’s Resignation or Termination
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Eleven Conservation Groups Call for ADEM Director’s Resignation or Termination ahead of Annual Job Evaluation BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (July 30, 2018) — The bribery and corruption trial U.S. v. Gilbert, et al yielded many disturbing revelations,...
Advocates Reject the Trump Administration’s Rollback of Clean Car Standards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BIRMINGHAM ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND STUDENT ADVOCATES REJECT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ROLLBACK OF CLEAN CAR STANDARDS Leaders Urged Administration to Respect State Authority to Protect Residents from Dangerous Tailpipe...
Official Statement: Convictions a First Step in Securing Justice for North Birmingham
OFFICIAL STATEMENT Corruption Convictions First Step in Securing Justice for North Birmingham BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (July 23, 2018) — On Friday, July 20, a jury found Balch & Bingham Attorney Joel Gilbert and Drummond Company Vice President David Roberson guilty of six...
Gasp Announces New Solar Discount Partnership with Eagle Solar & Light
Gasp Announces New Solar Discount Partnership with Eagle Solar & Light In an effort to expand access to clean, renewable energy in Alabama, Gasp today announced a new partnership with Eagle Solar & Light. Under the agreement, the solar energy company...
Mayor Randall Woodfin Pledges to Transition Birmingham to 100% Sustainable Energy
Mayor Randall Woodfin Pledges to Transition Birmingham to 100% Sustainable Energy BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (June 7, 2018) — Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin became the first mayor of an Alabama city to sign Gasp’s “Mayors for 100% Sustainable Energy Pledge” (signed document...
Citizens, Conservation Groups Challenge Alabama Power’s Discriminatory Charges Targeting Rooftop Solar Customers
Citizens, Conservation Groups Challenge Alabama Power’s Discriminatory Charges Targeting Rooftop Solar Customers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Emily Driscoll, Southern Environmental Law Center, [email protected], 678-686-848 Michael Hansen,...
Report Finds Rapidly Growing “Green” Energy Industry Releases Dangerous Air Pollution in AL
Report Finds Rapidly Growing “Green” Energy Industry Releases Dangerous Air Pollution in Alabama FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Half of Wood Pellet Plants in U.S. Violate Pollution Limits or Fail to Install Required Emissions Control Equipment Media Contact: Tom...
‘It’s Time for Pruitt to Resign, or Be Removed’
Forty national civil rights, labor, conservation and environmental organizations representing millions of members and supporters across the United States have taken out a series of full page ads Wednesday calling for the resignation or firing of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
Gasp Responds to Corruption and Bribery Charges Related to North Birmingham
The following is a statement from Gasp Executive Director Michael Hansen regarding corruption & bribery charges related to North Birmingham: I was stunned to learn the extent of the conspiracy involving former-Rep. Oliver Robinson, Balch & Bingham, and...
President Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement
Below is a statement from Gasp Executive Director Michael Hansen on President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement: "Pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement jeopardizes our role in the world as leaders on climate action. Global problems...
BREAKING NEWS: Alabama Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gasp
The Alabama Supreme Court today denied a petition from ABC Coke (a division of Drummond Company) and the Jefferson County Board of Health for writ of certiorari in ABC Coke and Jefferson County Board of Health v. GASP, Inc. In other words, the Alabama Supreme Court...
On April 4, Whole Foods Market Birmingham to Donate 5% of Sales to Gasp
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Whole Foods Market in Mountain Brook is hosting a Community Giving Day — also known as 5% Day — benefiting Gasp on Tuesday, April 4. All day, 5% of net sales will be donated to support our mission for clean air, healthy communities and...
Using Comedy to Lift Spirits, Raise Awareness
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp is teaming up with the Alabama Rivers Alliance to host a unique event Sunday, March 26 at Cahaba Brewing Company. "A Viscous Cycle: Thick Comedy" seeks to lift spirits and connect supporters of the two organizations. Gwen Sunkel and Carson...
Gasp Launches New Online Air Quality Tool
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Gasp Launches New Online Air Quality Tool BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Jan. 5, 2017) — In an effort to reduce exposure to the harmful health effects of air pollution, Gasp this week announced that it has released a new online tool for users to get the...
19 copies of ‘Toxic City’ DVD donated to the Birmingham Public Library
For Immediate Release 19 copies of 'Toxic City' DVD donated to the Birmingham Public Library BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Gasp, a Birmingham-based health advocacy nonprofit, has given the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) 19 DVD copies of “Toxic City: Birmingham’s Dirty Secret,”...
Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Sides with Gasp
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Rules in Gasp's Favor BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals today affirmed a prior court ruling that Gasp is entitled to a hearing before the Jefferson County Board of Health (BOH) on the reissuance...
Gasp Applauds Senators for Introducing RECLAIM Act
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp applauds U.S. Senators Joe Manchin, Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, Sherrod Brown, and Bob Casey who today announced that they are introducing the RECLAIM Act. The bill would release $1 billion over five years to help coal states like...
Scott Pruitt is an Offensive Choice for the EPA
Yesterday, multiple news outlets reported that President-Elect Donald Trump has selected Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Below is Gasp Executive Director Michael Hansen's statement in response to this pick: By...
State of the Air Report Shows Citizen Advocacy and Common-Sense Policies Work
The American Lung Association released its annual “State of the Air” report today and it showed that Birmingham has made significant improvements in air quality over recent years. The Birmingham metro area ranked 53rd most polluted for ozone, 22nd most polluted for...
Utility Charges Hamper Alabama’s Nascent Clean Energy Economy
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A new white paper released today by health advocacy organization Gasp examines the detrimental impact of charges imposed on residential utility customers who install solar power on their own homes. The report — “An Analysis of Utility Network Use...
Circuit Court Reverses Board of Health Decision Denying Request for Hearing
Today, the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Ala., reversed a decision by the Jefferson County Board of Health denying Gasp’s Request for Hearing on the reissuance of ABC Coke’s operating permit. Finding that Gasp adequately followed Board of Health rules, Judge...
New Ozone Standards Will Protect Children, Elderly
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released a long-awaited new air quality health standard for ground-level ozone, or smog. This announcement is welcome news for thousands of Alabamians young and old who want to live a healthy life. The EPA set the new...
EPA to Investigate Alleged Civil Rights Violations from Air Pollution
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Aug. 28, 2015) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Civil Rights has accepted a complaint by GASP against the Jefferson County (Ala.) Department of Health for alleged civil rights violations from air pollution. GASP, a clean air...
A Strong Clean Power Plan Will Reduce Carbon Pollution, Protect Health
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released its long-awaited Clean Power Plan, a set of rules designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. Overall, the plan seeks to bring carbon pollution down 32 percent...
BREAKING: Board of Health Denies GASP’s Request for a Hearing on Walter Coke Air Permit
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — July 8, 2015 — The Jefferson County Board of Health, the governing body of the Department of Health (JCDH), voted tonight to dismiss a request by GASP for a hearing on the issuance of a key air pollution permit for the Walter Coke facility in...
GASP Wins Hermes Creative Award for ‘Toxic City: Birmingham’s Dirty Secret’
Updated on Tuesday, May 5 to include link to film. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — GASP is proud to announce that “Toxic City: Birmingham’s Dirty Secret” won a Gold Hermes Creative Award in the documentary category. The award is given by the Association of Marketing and...
Board of Health Dismisses GASP’s Request for Hearing on ABC Coke Permit
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2011 named ABC Coke — one of Alabama’s worst toxic air polluters — a potentially responsible party for contamination in northern Birmingham. ABC Coke’s Title V Operating Permit was up for renewal last year, and GASP...
Civil Rights Complaint Alleges Environmental Discrimination by Health Department
GASP petitions EPA to investigate environmental discrimination in northern Birmingham neighborhoods suffering from toxic air pollution BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 3, 2015) — GASP today announced that it has filed a second civil rights complaint against the...
Left in the Dark: Report Shines Light on Lack Of Transparency at Alabama PSC
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Feb. 26, 2015) — A study published today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis shows the Alabama Public Service Commission conducting much of its most important oversight of Alabama Power in private. The report, by David...
GASP launches Solar Works to promote Alabama’s solar potential
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Oct. 16, 2014) — GASP launched Solar Works today, a campaign designed to educate and raise awareness about the benefits of solar energy in Alabama. The Solar Works website explains Alabama's solar power capacity, jobs potential, incentive programs...
EPA Grants GASP Petition to Investigate in Tarrant
The federal agency announced that is has granted a July request by GASP to conduct a preliminary assessment in the Birmingham suburb TARRANT, Ala. (Oct. 9, 2014) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has notified GASP that it has granted a July 1, 2014,...
‘Toxic City’ to be Released on DVD September 16
The short film, produced by GASP, will be released on DVD next Tuesday with bonus features including a screening kit guide, exclusive online access to the film BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — GASP announced today that "Toxic City: Birmingham's Dirty Secret" will be available...
Alabama Power to Close Coal Units
Last Friday, Alabama Power announced that it is closing two small coal units at Plant Gorgas (the oldest units at the plant), as well as reducing or eliminating coal from four others at Plant Barry and Plant Greene County. The company said the move is to comply with...
GASP Commends Proposed EPA Rule to Reduce Carbon Emissions by 2030
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — GASP commends the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and President Barack Obama for putting forth a draft of a new rule to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants. The EPA estimates the reduction in carbon emissions will prevent up to...
New Film Calls Attention to Pollution, Injustice
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — “If there’s anything this documentary can do, I hope it will be to save our children, our next generation. Those are the final words in “Toxic City: Birmingham’s Dirty Secret,” a heartbreaking 26-minute documentary about families fighting for their...
Public Hearing Scheduled for Walter Coke Air Pollution Permit
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) is holding a public hearing regarding Walter Coke's Title V Operating Permit. The hearing is May 20 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Birmingham branch of the Birmingham Public Library (2501 31st Ave...
New Campaign Uses Storytelling to Promote Clean Air
New Campaign Uses Storytelling to Promote Clean Air BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp and the American Lung Association (ALA) in Alabama today announced a new campaign, Voices for Clean Air, to bring awareness to the health effects of breathing polluted air. The project will...
GASP Releases 175-Page Comment on ABC Coke Permit
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — GASP, a nonprofit health advocacy organization working for clean air in Alabama, has released a 175-page comment on the Title V operating permit draft for ABC Coke, which is currently up for renewal with the Jefferson County Department of Health...