Jason Plautz
FEATURED WORK
The Environmental Burden of Generation Z
Kids growing up in a world defined by climate change are scared. And parents, teachers and doctors are having a hard time handling their justified anxiety.
Who Wants To Lead America's Poorest Big City?
Cleveland, Ohio, elected its first new mayor in more than a decade last year. The task ahead of him is enormous -- and so is the opportunity.
Jared Polis and the 'Colorado Way'
My profile of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who has brought a unique approach to making his state a leader on climate change.
Did Covid Lockdowns Really Clear the Air?
COVID lockdowns gave environmental scientists a unique natural experiment. What did we learn about pollution -- and can that help protect the public?
As Legal Pot Farms Expand, So Do Air Pollution Worries
The chemicals that make weed "dank" also contribute to smog. Scientists trying to figure out how much are also skirting federal laws.
The Methane Cloud Roiling Local Politics
La Plata County in Colorado sits under a red spot of methane seen from satellites. A county commissioner trying to fight it finds herself in hot water.
Piercing the Haze to Learn About Ammonia's Reach
Ammonia is notoriously hard to measure and understand. New tools are helping scientists puzzle through its role in creating toxic smog.
Insects Could Be The Food of the Future
I dove headfirst into the world of insect cuisine, complete with cricket salad, grasshopper tacos and a mealworm breakfast pie.
When Your Neighborhood Goes Boom
Fracking sites are getting closer to places where people live. What happens when they explode? Written with Dan Glick of The Story Group
Are Jaguars an American Species?
Conservationists want to restore jaguars to the American Southwest. Succeeding is as much about narrative as it is ecology
Colorado's climate-friendly homes: A national model?
After Colorado's most destructive wildfire destroyed more than a thousand homes, there's an effort to rebuild them in the most efficient way possible.
Can a Post-Coal Economy Survive a Drilling Push?
Colorado's North Fork Valley has moved past its dependence on coal to build an artsy, organic community. Here comes"energy dominance."
Sidewalk Data Making Cities More Accessible
Cracked, uneven sidewalks make a city inaccessible for some. Fixing that requires unprecedented data collection that some cities can't handle.
Is It Safe To Strike Up The Band During COVID?
Band geeks meet science geeks. Can orchestras survive the threat of COVID when nobody's sure whether playing a trumpet could spread disease?
Should the government move to Grand Junction?
This Colorado city felt the recession hard. Could a relocated federal public lands agency revitalize the town, or would that hurt the agency's mission?
Can The Government Turn Down The Noise?
The EPA used to regulate noise as a pollutant. Now community advocates tired of plane noise want the government to start again.
The Kids Books Making Climate Change Seem Real
Children's authors aren't sugarcoating the climate crisis. Including interviews with K.A. Applegate, Michaela Goade and Jeremy Wortzel.
The Young Conservatives Fighting Climate Change
Benji Backer is leading a movement of millennial conservatives who want the GOP to take climate change head on. But is a conservative solution enough?
States challenge utilities' ‘fleet of lawyers’
Would you believe that some of your electricity bill goes to lobbying and campaigning to keep rates where they are? Some states are cracking down.
Anxiety is Rising. Cities are Adapting on the Fly.
Cities have already been offering mental health. Then COVID spiked demand and forced governments to adapt on the fly.
In the Rural West: More Oil, More Gas, More Ozone
Ozone is supposed to be a city problem. So why are some wide-open parts of the west seeing levels rise to unhealthy levels when fracking starts?
Meet Trump's Air Pollution Scientist
Tony Cox was appointed to a little-known scientific board at the EPA. His fringe views on air pollution could mar pollution regulations for years.
Cheap Sensors Are Democratizing Air Data
Tiny sensors are revolutionizing how people understand the air around them and how they can keep themselves healthy.
As Louisiana Wrangles, Its Coast Is Swept Out To Sea
Louisiana's coastline is eroding rapidly, but who should fix it? As some push for oil and gas companies to pay, lawmakers are fighting back.