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We Need to Change Our Assumptions About Gas Plant Reliability

Union of Concerned Scientists

Gas plants failed at a scale that jeopardized grid reliability for large regions of the United States during severe winter storms in 2011 , 2014 , 2018 , 2021 , and 2022. Even with the clean energy transition well underway, gas plants will be around for a while as we phase out fossil fuels.

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How Much Battery Storage Does Illinois Need? 

Union of Concerned Scientists

So now it’s time to think seriously about what amount of energy storage the state may need to complement renewable energy resources that are coming onto the grid to replace fossil fuel plants. For example: Our 2018 report Soot to Solar included a case study looking at retiring the Waukegan coal plant in Illinois.

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NEPA Is Still Going to Pose an Obstacle to Leasing Public Lands for Fossil Fuel Extraction

Law and Environment

Earlier this month, Chief Judge Brian Morris made clear that NEPA remains a powerful weapon against the leasing of public lands for fossil fuel extraction. In short, the need to balance different uses does not allow BLM to avoid assessing whether that balance may require an alternative that limits future fossil fuel extraction.

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South Korea and Climate Change

Legal Planet

According to the Energy Information Agency , South Korea’s power sector is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Two thirds of generation capacity is based on fossil fuels, split evenly between coal and natural gas, with 17% nuclear, and 14% hydro and other renewables. 50% coal, 26% gas, and 25% nuclear.

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Statement from Sarah Buchanan, Ontario Climate Program Manager, on Ontario spending $26,000 per customer to subsidize fossil fuels over clean technologies

Enviromental Defense

. – Ontario has launched the second phase of a program to expand fossil fuel gas pipelines to new communities. This is a big subsidy for fossil fuels and a step in the wrong direction, when the government could have chosen to support clean technologies, help customers save money long term, lower capital costs, and cut carbon emissions.

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Canada joins historic commitment to end international fossil fuel finance by end of 2022

Enviromental Defense

If honored, this commitment will likely unseat Canada as the worst-ranking in the G20 for international public financing to the fossil fuel sector. . This means while EDC’s overall fossil fuel support was CAD 13.6 Shifting public finance for energy out of all fossil fuels and into clean energy is an urgent task.

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Driving on Electricity Is Now Much Cleaner than Using a Gasoline Car

Union of Concerned Scientists

Even where the grid still has significant fossil fuel-powered generation, EVs are a cleaner choice. In the grid region that serves most of Texas, driving the average EV produces emissions equal to an 82 MPG gasoline car, despite over 60% of electricity generation coming from fossil fuels.