Willy Blackmore, Author at Word In Black

A legal battle over $2.8 billion in environmental justice grants, funding projects like planting trees to ease the effect of "heat islands," has left projects serving Black and brown communities in limbo — and with the program’s spending deadline approaching, the clock is running out.

Climate Justice

$2.8 Billion for Climate Justice Is Stuck in Legal Limbo

by Willy Blackmore September 18, 2026September 18, 2026

Communities promised federal money to fight pollution and climate risks are caught in a court battle that could outlast the program itself.

Many historically Black communities, like this one in Statesboro, Georgia, after Tropical Storm Debby in 2024, face heightened exposure to climate change-intensified hazards. Now, rising insurance costs threaten to make protecting homes in those neighborhoods even more expensive.

Climate Justice

Redlining 2.0: The Hidden Cost of Owning a Home While Black

by Willy Blackmore September 17, 2026September 17, 2026

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund was created to leverage private investment in cleaner energy, including in historically underserved communities. A court has now blocked EPA's attempt to terminate $20 billion in grants — but the legal victory hasn't ended the uncertainty surrounding the money.

Climate Justice

Trump Tried to Kill a $20B Green Fund. A Court Said ‘Not So Fast’

by Willy Blackmore September 14, 2026September 14, 2026

After Elon Musk’s Colossus project made Memphis ground zero for the environmental-justice fight over AI, Black residents demanded a timeout. The City Council may give them one — while considering rules that could make it disappear.

Climate Justice

Memphis May Pause Its AI Boom — Then Start It Right Back Up

by Willy Blackmore September 9, 2026September 9, 2026

Climate Justice

Could Climate Change Lead to Sweet Potato Pie Supremacy?

by Willy Blackmore September 3, 2026September 2, 2026

From Memphis to Bessemer, public permit records and hearings have helped Black communities discover what enormous data centers could mean for their air — and organize to fight back. Now the EPA is considering making that public participation optional.

Climate Justice

The EPA Could Make It Harder to Fight Polluting Data Centers

by Willy Blackmore September 1, 2026September 2, 2026

Elon Musk’s massive AI infrastructure buildout has transformed South Memphis with little regulation and plenty of controversy. Now, after learning about his latest project after the fact, Black city leaders want time to establish some ground rules.

Climate Justice

Memphis Wants to Hit Pause on Musk’s Data Center Boom

by Willy Blackmore August 25, 2026August 25, 2026

The AI data-center boom has repeatedly brought pollution and infrastructure fights to Black communities. In Covington, Georgia, residents say the latest project went a step further: turbines and generators arrived — and some began operating — before regulators gave their approval.

Climate Justice

AI’s Data Center Boom Keeps Finding Black Communities

by Willy Blackmore August 21, 2026August 21, 2026

As data centers consume more electricity, critics warn that extending the life of aging coal plants like the Stanton Energy Center in Orlando shifts the health costs of AI onto communities already burdened by pollution.

Environmental Justice

Amid AI Boom, Coal Returns — With a Familiar Cost

by Willy Blackmore July 28, 2026July 28, 2026

Environmental advocates say Bessemer officials placed developers above residents by accepting strict secrecy terms surrounding a controversial hyperscale data center.

Climate Justice

Data Center Deal Put Bessemer’s Public in the Dark

by Willy Blackmore July 24, 2026July 31, 2026