Mars wants to help 1 million people living and working in the communities where it sources commodities such as cocoa, palm oil and sugar, said CEO Grant Reid. Initiatives include reducing carbon emissions in its supply chain by 67% by 2050, increasing income for people working in these communities and eliminating deforestation.

Startup Lillian Augusta plans to make hair extensions biodegradable by using phragmites instead of the plastic typically used. Founders Jannice Newson and Nana Britwum say the use of the invasive plant species will reduce the amount of plastic headed to landfills while helping to preserve local wetlands.

Public Service Electric and Gas has designed a $1 billion plan to encourage its customers to use energy-efficient HVAC and lighting equipment. The plan, part of which was recently approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, is meant to help the state prevent 8 million metric tons of carbon emissions by 2050.

The Trump administration continues to diminish water protections and threaten water quality, from potentially slashing water infrastructure funding to revising key regulations, writes Jeff Peterson, a retired senior policy adviser at the Environmental Protection Agency. "Americans should keep in mind the importance of clean water -- and the Trump administration's sabotage of regulations that protect this precious resource -- when they vote on Nov. 3," he writes.

The city of Gardiner and the Livermore Falls Water District, both in Maine, have together received over $5.7 million in grants and loans from USDA Rural Development for water infrastructure upgrades. The projects "will ensure that users of these two systems have reliable and properly working water and wastewater infrastructure," said Timothy Hobbs, USDA Rural Development state director.

Florida is seeking Environmental Protection Agency approval to assume control of wetland and water permitting covered by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The state Department of Environmental Protection says the change would streamline permitting, but critics warn that it could weaken water protections.

General Electric aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its global facilities and operations by 2030 and is also developing technologies and solutions that will help the world decarbonize, writes Chairman and CEO Larry Culp. "Building a world that works is our purpose and addressing climate change is fundamental to fulfilling this purpose for our customers, employees and communities," he writes.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management appears to lack the staff and funding needed to review multiple offshore wind farms simultaneously, said panelists during the AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER Virtual Summit. The presidential election and Senate races will affect BOEM's priorities in 2021, said AWEA Federal Affairs Director Claire Richer.

President Donald Trump's dislike for wind energy is odd, because so many of his supporters support wind energy," said American Wind Energy Association CEO Tom Kiernan. "Approximately 80 percent of Americans of all political stripes support wind energy," he said, citing AWEA data.

The proposed Vineyard Wind project would generate millions of dollars in tax revenue and host community payments for the Town of Barnstable, Mass., said company Public Affairs Director Nathaniel Mayo. Vineyard Wind expects to secure federal permitting approval in November.