What’s causing sharp drop in Chesapeake Bay’s crab population?

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Crabs being sorted in Maryland. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post)

By Washington Post

A new report on the Chesapeake Bay’s signature blue crab has documented a steep, long-term decline in the crustacean’s population, raising concerns among environmental groups about the future of one of the region’s most important species.

Scientists aren’t sure exactly what’s behind the drop. The total number of blue crabs can fluctuate sharply, with population estimates varying by tens of millions — or even hundreds of millions — within just a few years. But experts said they’re concerned by what they’re seeing.

“It’s clear the bay’s most iconic species is under immense stress,” according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which was not involved in the assessment but whose scientists closely monitor its results.

Habitat loss, especially the reduction of underwater grasses that shelter young crabs, may be playing a role, experts said. Changes in currents, winds and storms, pollution and runoff, and low-oxygen “dead zones” caused by algae blooms may also contribute, experts said.

“They’re a short-lived species and the biggest thing we’re seeing is a decline in the number of young crabs entering the population,” said Chris Moore, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Virginia executive director. “That long-term trend of fewer young ones is very concerning.”

Healthy blue crabs are vital to the bay’s ecosystem. They eat worms, clams, and smaller crabs, and are prey for fish, great blue herons, and sea turtles. Blue crabs also generate $50 million to $80 million annually for the commercial crabbing industries of Maryland and Virginia, experts said.

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Opinion: How’s Sherrill’s $25 Electric Bill Credit Working Out For You?

At her Monday press conference announcing her multi billion dollar new nuclear power plant subsidy program, Gov. Sherrill bragged about her efforts to make energy more affordable, specifically by sending $25 “credit” checks to 3.6 million households

By Bill Wolfe, Wolfenotes

I stopped my inaugural address to sign two Executive Orders. The first declared a state of emergency on utility costs and froze rate hikes. My Administration issued credits for all 3.6 million NJ ratepayers to help them keep up with electric bills this summer.

In the midst of another record-breaking 100+-degree climate-driven extreme weather event – where you’re probably consuming more than $25 today to run the AC – how’s that credit working for you?

Are you able to “keep up with electric bills this summer”?

The Gov. is supporting a multi-billion nuclear construction program, while she tosses the people of NJ $25 crumbs.

Worse, the Gov. did not raise taxes on record-profit-making energy corporations, carbon polluters, or rich people to provide the funds for the checks she just sent to you.

The governor stole money from the proceeds of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), over $650 million just this year. Her DEP issued a RGGI “Strategic Plan”to divert another $900 million over the rest of Sherrill’s term.

That RGGI money is supposed to be invested in cheaper renewable energy and energy conservation programs that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Lower energy consumption and cheaper renewable power lead to lower electric bills.

By stealing that RGGI money for a cheap political stunt too create the false impression of “freezing electric rates”, the Governor is increasing both energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.

That is exactly the wrong path.

Read the full post  here

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When Big Oil meets Trump, extraordinary things happen

Trump meets with oil execs, announces meeting with ...

By David Gelles, New York Times

Last year, President Trump gathered with executives from the oil and gas industry at the White House to discuss a range of topics, including drilling and tariffs.

Few details emerged from the March 2025 meeting at the time, leaving many to wonder what exactly had transpired. Now, our colleagues Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan have answers.

In the new book “Regime Change,” they provide an account of that meeting that sheds additional light on Trump’s affinity for fossil fuels and his willingness to exert presidential power.

At one point during the meeting, the executives began complaining about the Climate Superfund bills that had recently passed in Vermont and New York. As they spoke, Trump’s policy adviser, Stephen Miller, was texting the attorney general, Pam Bondi. “I’m on it,” Miller told the group. Less than two months later, the administration sued both states, seeking to block enforcement of the laws.

In another instance, the ExxonMobil chief executive, Darren Woods, voiced concerns about European Union regulations that required big companies to monitor and reduce the environmental effects of their activities and develop “climate transition plans.”

Haberman and Swan report that, upon hearing this, Trump instructed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to impose additional tariffs on the E.U. until they abandoned those regulations.

Read the full story here

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Hold the obituary for renewables

By Shelby Webb, Politico Power Switch

The artificial intelligence boom may be insulating renewables from the Trump administration’s attacks.

Wind and solar generation churned out more power than nuclear and coal in the first half of 2026 — in spite of the administration issuing emergency orders to keep retiring coal plants open and axing clean energy tax credits, my colleague Ben Storrow writes.

That’s largely because power demand is up and solar is cheap.

“If you’re a utility, and you need to build generation and you want to build generation, you’re going to build what’s fast and cheap. Solar is fast and cheap,” said Nora Brownell, a former Pennsylvania utility regulator who also served on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Utilities are scrambling to bring more power online as data centers spread across the country. The power-hungry facilities could consume as much as 17 percent of U.S. power generation by 2030, according to the Electric Power Research Institute, up from about 5 percent in early 2026.

“Rising demand from data centers and AI has become an independent driver of renewable and storage investment,” said Helen Kou, a U.S. power market analyst at Bloomberg.

Read full story here

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Recycling company in Camden begins phased reopening

By Emily Rose Grassi, NBC Philadelphia

The recycling company at the center of controversy following a series of fires has begun reopening, according to a spokesperson for EMR.

Starting on Monday, July 13, EMR’s Waterfront South facility will be reopening in a phased approach with the location being fulling operational by Friday, July 17.

EMR announced that they have created a new “operating framework” called FireSMART to help manage the property.

This phased plan comes less than a week after a judge allowed EMR to reopen the facility by overturning the Camden City Council’s decision to shut it down.

At least 13 fires have been reported at the facility since 2020, raising concerns among neighbors, community leaders, and state officials.

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NJ Gov. Sherrill launches new nuclear energy process

NJ Gov. Sherrill launches new nuclear energy process

NJ Gov. Sherrill launches new nuclear energy process Read More »