Willy Blackmore, Author at Word In Black - Page 3 of 19

Despite stiff public opposition, ethical questions and anticipated environmental impact, officials in Bessemer, Alabama, changed zoning laws to facilitate construction of Project Marvel, an enormous, $14 billion data center the size of 18 Walmart superstores.

Climate Justice

A Huge Data Center Set for a Black Alabama City Gains Ground

by Willy Blackmore October 22, 2025October 22, 2025

Tired Construction Worker Wiping Sweat Under the Hot Sun, Exhausted Engineer Taking a Break at Construction Site in Heat, Manual Labor in Extreme Weather, Worker Struggling with Heat Stress

Climate Justice

Working While Black — and in the Heat

by Willy Blackmore October 17, 2025October 17, 2025

While opponents know that a massive new data center is planned for Bessemer, Alabama, no one knows precise details because some city officials have signed a non-disclosure agreement with the developer, Logistical Land Development, LLC. The NAACP has used Alabama's open-records laws to request environmental impact statements of the project, as well as copies of the non-disclosure agreements signed by Mayor Kenneth Gulley and his staff.

Why Are Plans for This Alabama Data Center So Hush-Hush?

by Willy Blackmore September 30, 2025September 30, 2025

Highway 99 cuts through Fresno, traffic along the corridor is one of the many practices that contribute to the poor air quality. The San Joaquin Valley has three of the most polluted metropolitan areas in the US. Between 8 and 10 percent of the centrasl valley population has a lung disease like asthma. The local air pollution board will voluntarily ask that the valley be upgraded to "Extreme" catergory of air pollution from "Severe" putting them in par with LA and giving them 5-7 more years to deal with the problem.

One Weird Trick to Fix the Climate Crisis

by Willy Blackmore September 19, 2025September 19, 2025

Climate justice campaigners march from the Shell Centre to Trafalgar Square to demand urgent climate finance and reparations for loss and damage for global south communities on 12 November 2022 in London, United Kingdom. The march was organised by the Climate Justice Coalition as part of a Global Day of Action called by African climate campaign groups at COP27.

Climate Justice

Who Made Your Heat Wave?

by Willy Blackmore September 15, 2025September 15, 2025

United States Environmental Protection Agency Lettering on headquarters building

Climate Justice

The EPA’s Ability to Kill Climate Justice Gets New Life

by Willy Blackmore September 10, 2025September 10, 2025

Photo provides a view of downtown Chicago, south loop residential area.

Climate Justice

See Where All of Chicago’s 412,000 Lead Water Pipes Are

by Willy Blackmore September 3, 2025September 3, 2025

In 2016, nonprofit Sustaining Our Urban Landscape planted 200 trees in New Orleans. "This year we're going to plant at least 2,000 trees,” says founder and executive director Susannah Burley.

Two Decades After Katrina, New Orleans Is Still Missing its Trees

by Willy Blackmore August 27, 2025August 29, 2025

A new American Lung Association study finds that if industries and manufacturers adopted the same technology used in air conditioning heat pumps, it could clear the air in Black and brown neighborhoods that sit adjacent to industrial zones — the legacy of redlining. The ALA report estimates that the switch from industrial boilers to heat pumps could prevent hundreds of thousands of asthma-related illnesses each year and stave off billions of dollars' worth of storm-related damage by easing extreme weather fueled by climate change.

Climate Justice

Industrial Heat Pumps Could Clear the Air in Black Neighborhoods

by Willy Blackmore August 20, 2025August 20, 2025

General Iron's new facility on the Calumet River on Chciago's Southeast side.

Climate Justice

The Federal Retreat From Fighting Environmental Racism Has Begun

by Willy Blackmore August 11, 2025August 11, 2025