Chris Jordan-Bloch's Blog

February 1, 2018

In Memoriam: William Anderson

The former Moapa Band of Paiutes tribal chairman, who helped close down a coal plant that was killing people on his reservation, died Sunday at age 44.

June 26, 2015

Iconic Images Offer Pristine View of a Threatened Arctic

A ringed seal is on the lookout for polar bears as it surfaces.

In Frozen Treasure: Defending the Arctic, National Geographic photographs help our audience learn about the diverse Arctic ecosystem that is threatened by plans to drill oil and gas wells in Alaskan waters and beyond.

December 3, 2014

More Than Just Parks

A new set of stunning videos showcases our national parks.

June 4, 2013

Wake and Smile, the Nightmare is Over

Vickie Simmons works at the test station where the new Moapa Paiute solar plant will be built.

In a vote last night, the Nevada Assembly approved SB123, a landmark bill that shifts the state away from coal-fired power. The bill closes Reid Gardner, directs NV Energy to eliminate 800 megawatts of coal-fired power generation from its portfolio, and mandates 350 megawatts of renewable energy development.

September 10, 2012

Part Of Me Stayed There

Larry Gibson, watching the sun set over a decimated Kayford Mountain.

Imagine for a moment that you live in a beautiful forest. Your home is on the side of a big mountain. All around it are tall trees and elegant flowers. After a long day of work you come home. You are tired. Dinner smells delicious. You smile at your family. Everyone sits down at the dinner table. You are happy.

Suddenly there is a loud noise.

“What was that,” you wonder.

July 13, 2012

Moapa vs. NV Energy or David vs. Goliath

For years, white ash has been blowing across the desert from the Reid Gardner Power Plant right into the homes on the Moapa Paiute Indian Reservation. The Paiutes claim that this ash—the waste from the power plant—is making them sick. The power plant claims that the Paiutes are wrong. This week, a 3-part investigative series from KSNV, the NBC station in Las Vegas, examines the situation in Moapa from three sides. The Paiutes and the power plant each get their say—as does science.

December 21, 2011

In the Shadow of the Stacks

"It's like hell. Living in hell," says Marti Blake, when asked about being neighbors with a coal-fired power plant. "It's filthy, it's dirty, it's noisy, it's unhealthy."

For the past 21 years, Blake has lived across the street from the Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale, PA. A family situation left her trying to find a place quickly, and a simple brick home in the small town only 20 minutes from Pittsburgh seemed fine.

December 1, 2011

Air Watch

Tom Frantz grew up in California’s central valley. The once sparse rural area is now the source of food for millions of Americans, and throughout his life Tom has seen the bucolic pastures of his childhood transform into modern-day mega-farms.

July 21, 2011

An Ill Wind Blows in Moapa

A giant cloud of toxic coal ash is seen blowing at the Moapa River Reservation.

It starts with a warning. Then it's just a matter of which way the wind blows.

In the evening, someone will go from house to house and tell the neighborhood that tomorrow will be a windy day and perhaps, a bad air day. The next afternoon—if the conditions are just wrong—a toxic dust called coal ash picks up from the landfills and slag ponds of the coal-fired Reid Gardner Power Station and heads towards the reservation like a sandstorm.

May 12, 2011

Celebrating National Bike to Work Day

Today is national Bike to Work Day. In honor of all of you who rode this year, here are a few of our favorite bike videos. Hopefully they will persuade you to keep on pedaling.

The first is the wonderful story of a New York City fire fighter who bikes to work—sometimes with 60 pounds of gear on her back! This was sent to me via campaign manager Kathleen Sutcliffe.

May 3, 2011

This Is What Asthma Feels Like

In the words of asthma sufferers, asthma feels:

“Like you’re in a pool of water. You can’t breathe. And when you try to breathe it don’t work.”

“Like you put a pillow over your face and pushed it. It’s horrible! You feel desperate because you can’t breathe.”

“Like you wish you could still be playing outside, where the air could be cleaner.”

April 22, 2011

Fighting Fracking: A Love Story

The Slotterback's journey began with a day hike on their favorite trail, and now, as Jim told me, "We're prepared to spend the rest of our lives working on this issue."

March 29, 2011

Coal Plant Heats Up Chicago Politics

When combined, the Fisk and Crawford coal-fired power plants are the largest source of pollution in Chicago, and local residents have been fighting for years for stronger health controls from these plants.

March 24, 2011

EPA Administrator Visits California's Central Valley

For years citizens of California's central valley have been asking for help and Wednesday, if only for a few hours, one of the most influential people in the country listened. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson travelled to a church in Fresno to hear the concerns of the people of the valley and what she heard was troubling to say the least.

March 1, 2011

Radioactive water being dumped into our rivers?

The recent New York Times investigation into the dangers posed to our air and water by fracking is a must-read. The meat of the investigation deals with radioactive material in wastewater from the fracking process and its possible migration into our lakes and rivers. The paper's findings are alarming to say the least, here are just a few: