Energy and Climate Law

NOVEMBER 2, 2020

For almost two year now the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is under revision and negotiations shall finish in 2021. The aim of the EU is to try to stop fossil fuel companies suing states over climate action. Then a further round is already planned for February or March 2021.

Fossil Fuels 207

Fossil Fuels Natural Gas Electricity 2020 207

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 16, 2024

Much of our electricity system is 50 to 70 years old, yet current plans for domestic manufacturing, electric vehicle fleets, community solar gardens and more clean energy all depend on a modern grid. New demands for electricity and the need to reduce climate-changing emissions are driving new grid planning efforts.

Electricity 295

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 295

Legal Planet

AUGUST 22, 2024

To address these dual needs, UC Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy and the Environment (CLEE) and the UCLA Law Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment are today releasing the new report Fueling & Financing: Addressing the Urgent Challenges Facing Electric Heavy-Duty Vehicle Deployment.

Electricity 147

Electricity Climate Change Fossil Fuels 2009 147

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Since the beginning of 2022, electric vehicle sales in the United States have been downright electrifying. Last year, US drivers bought more than 800,000 new electric vehicles (EVs), 65 percent more than in 2021, even as overall car sales declined. percent in 2021. Those 807,956 EVs accounted for 5.8

Electricity 338

Electricity Air Pollution Clean Air Act 2030 338

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2022

Nearly all of the alliance members have a renewable electricity standard (RES), which requires utilities in their jurisdiction to increase their use of renewable energy to a particular percentage by a specific year. EN: What were your top findings? Our analysis also demonstrates renewables’ power.

Electricity 280

Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nitrogen Oxides 280

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 30, 2023

Now it’s on to the state Senate, where the question is: Will this be the year Minnesota sets a path toward 100-percent carbon-free electricity? Minnesota can join other leading states By enacting a standard for 100-percent carbon-free electricity by 2040, Minnesota can join other leading states who have updated their clean energy policies.

Electricity 264

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 264

A Greener Life

JULY 7, 2021

New research from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) confirms renewables are continuing to outpace fossil fuels on cost. They found that the share of renewable energy that achieved lower costs than the most competitive fossil fuel option doubled in 2020. With record-low auction prices of $1.1

Fossil Fuels 98

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2010 2020 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

The legislation committed nearly $400 billion to support, among other things, wind and solar power, battery storage, electric vehicles, and other clean energy technologies that will make a significant dent in US heat-trapping emissions. It also will save US consumers money because they will spend less on fossil fuels.

Carbon Emissions 331

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 331

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

As the adoption of electric cars, trucks, and buses gains momentum, many people are wondering if the electric grid is up to the task of charging all of those vehicles. And will the grid be able to handle all of the electric vehicles we will have as we progress toward a highly-electrified transportation future, by say 2040 or 2050?

Electricity 352

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Cooling 352

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) sets a bold goal for the state—no carbon pollution from electricity generation by 2045, which means zero global warming emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants. Illinois legislators and clean energy advocates celebrate CEJA’s signing in September 2021. What does that mean exactly?

Electricity 246

Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Waste 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 12, 2024

Fossil gas power plants currently provide the largest source of electricity generation and capacity in the United States. However, as we replace fossil fuels with clean electricity for heating and transportation to meet our climate goals, these peak demands will increasingly shift to the winter in many parts of the country.

Fossil Fuels 311

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 311

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 22, 2024

The next day, Wednesday, August 14, Puerto Rico woke up with 728,000 clients (almost half) without electricity, thousands without drinking water (because many communities rely on electricity to pump water), and flood warnings throughout the island. What awaits Puerto Rico with Genera in charge of electricity generation?

Renewable Energy 342

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2025 342

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Energy storage, or the storing of electricity for later use on the power grid, plays an important role in the clean energy transition. Renewable generation is variable—wind and solar power produce electricity when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining. Curtailment means we are wasting otherwise clean, perfectly usable electricity.

Fossil Fuels 130

Fossil Fuels 2030 Electricity Clean Energy 130

Environmental Progress

JANUARY 4, 2022

Germany is expected to increase its fossil fuel consumption for electricity generation in 2022, if its weather conditions and electricity demand are similar to 2021, a new analysis from Environmental Progress finds. With its 2021 and 2022 electricity generation profile, Germany would have missed its targets.

Electricity 128

Electricity 2022 Fossil Fuels 2021 128

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

There’s good news in the recently released official data on electricity generation in the United States in 2022: renewable energy has continued to grow, coal power has continued to drop, and renewables are now firmly ahead of coal for the first time ever. percent of the country’s electricity supply (up 1.1 It supplied 10.5

Clean Energy 307

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Solar Power 307

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

In extreme weather, when electricity demand is at its highest and the grid needs gas plants the most, gas plants have been failing at alarming rates. 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.

Fossil Fuels 236

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Technology 236

Legal Planet

JUNE 16, 2022

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.

Climate Change 246

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2030 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

electricity generation. Renewables are continuing to increase their share of the power sector, rising to almost 23 percent of the nation’s electricity supply last year, which was higher than the generation from both coal-fired and nuclear plants. In other words, when the air is hot, gas power plants cannot generate as much electricity.

Fossil Fuels 240

Fossil Fuels Cooling Electricity 2015 240

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 15, 2022

The ones that’ll soon be gracing areas over the horizon are powerful enough, each one, to generate the equivalent of an average home’s daily electricity use in just a few seconds. Even more important, though, wind is an impressive piece of our electricity supply. Wind is now the largest source of renewable energy in the country.

Wind Power 360

Wind Power Fossil Fuels Electricity Climate Change 360

Legal Planet

APRIL 29, 2024

Wind power costs fell by half from 2008 to 2021. The Department of Energy estimates the cost of an electric vehicle lithium-ion battery pack declined 89% between 2008 and 2022. Different batteries may be ideal in settings where charging speed is not a factor, such as utility-scale electricity storage.

Fossil Fuels 271

Fossil Fuels 2008 2010 Clean Energy 271

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 31, 2022

Rising prices of methane gas used for power and heating, exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are contributing to soaring electric and heating bills across the country. And such action cannot be influenced by fossil fuel interests and their policy proposals that we are seeing in Congress. How Did We Get Here?

Clean Energy 246

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 30, 2023

And I love hearing about new renewable electricity records as spring unfolds. That same month, New England recorded its lowest demand ever for electricity from the regional grid, which the grid operator attributed to record rooftop solar production. Spring tends to be a time when there is lower electricity demand.

Renewable Energy 245

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Change Electricity 245

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 22, 2022

Minnesotans are facing concurrent crises of climate change, high energy prices and inflation, and the inequitable public health impacts of fossil fuel air pollution. Most Minnesotans are familiar with their local electricity utility, since that’s who bills them for electricity they provide.

Renewable Energy 363

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 363

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 19, 2022

Minnesotans are already experiencing the climate crisis, as well as health impacts, from burning fossil fuels. A recent Union of Concerned Scientists analysis found that Minnesota could meet its electricity demands with 100-percent renewable energy by 2035, which would provide significant economic and health benefits.

Clean Energy 264

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 10, 2024

In New England, the percent of people of color living near fossil fuel power plants is up to 23.5 Even as some parts of the country transition away from fossil fuel infrastructure, the retirement of gas plants has become another driver of inequity.

Fossil Fuels 322

Fossil Fuels Nitrogen Oxides Electricity Air Pollution 322

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 13, 2024

On March 7, the Independent Fiscal Office issued its latest Pennsylvania Electricity update that reports the electricity grid is dependent on one fuel for 59% of the state’s electricity generation-- natural gas-- followed by nuclear power-- 31.9%, coal-- 5.4% from other sources. Read more here. Read more here.

Electricity 116

Electricity Natural Gas Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 116

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 25, 2022

This week, the Midwest’s regional electric grid operators approved nearly $10.5 Allowing for more cheap renewable energy to meet demand, and addressing areas where the grid is vulnerable will provide fuel savings, avoided risk of controlled blackouts, and reductions in fossil fuel pollution. million homes. million homes.

Renewable Energy 264

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 27, 2022

There is still much we can do to bend that emissions curve sharply within this decade—but only if world leaders, especially leaders of richer countries and major emitting nations, take responsibility to act together quickly and fossil fuel companies are held accountable for their decades of obstruction and deception.

Fossil Fuels 254

Fossil Fuels 2030 Clean Energy Climate Change 254

A Greener Life

MARCH 15, 2022

The energy analysts found that despite all the efforts to curb emissions, in 2021 global energy-related CO2 emissions rose to their highest ever level as the lockdowns put in place by many governments due to the pandemic were eased. IEA said that in 2021 alone China’s CO2 emissions rose above 11.9 billion tonnes. billion tonnes.

2021 98

2021 Fossil Fuels 2019 2020 98

Circle of Blue

DECEMBER 13, 2021

Communities rich and poor bore witness to horrific devastation in 2021. The events of 2021 are likely to be a prelude for tougher tests ahead. Countries whose electricity relies largely on hydropower can face shortages when rains fail. Fossil fuel subsidies could be lowered. Extreme events are happening more often.

2021 246

2021 Fossil Fuels Politics Natural Gas 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 31, 2022

At any point in the summer, extreme heat could trigger electricity supply shortages and rotating power outages. It issued five Flex Alerts in 2020, eight in 2021, but there’s only been one so far this year. And to clean up buildings and industry, many residences and businesses will switch to electricity-powered heating systems (e.g.,

Solar Power 299

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 30, 2022

Fossil fuels are the root cause of climate change, of long-standing environmental injustices, and are also frequently connected to geopolitical strife and violent conflicts. Other countries are dependent upon these fossil fuels, they don’t make themselves free of them. This is a fossil fuel war.

Fossil Fuels 280

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Energy 2030 280

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Gas, which now generates 40 percent of US electricity, is considered by some to be critical to maintain grid reliability. For example, Dominion Energy, an electric and gas utility in Virginia, is planning to build a mammoth 1,000-megawatt gas plant in an area with a high percentage of residents who are people of color and low-income.

Clean Energy 356

Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Electricity 356

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

US ratepayers very likely will pay even more for electricity and heating this winter compared to the already-expensive winter of 2021-2022. Between 2015 and 2021, 274 North American oil and gas producers filed for bankruptcy with a debt load of $177 billion. The bankruptcies were set in motion even before 2020.

Fossil Fuels 336

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Electricity Natural Gas 336

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 10, 2022

The Governor approved a notable slate of climate legislation with a package that includes more stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets and measures designed to reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels. The post 2021-2022 California Environmental Legislation: What’s Been Enacted? Clean Energy. Download as PDF.

2021 130

2021 2022 Sea Level Clean Energy 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 14, 2023

Winter is once again here, bringing great festivities and respite via holidays, but also great worries to energy regulators, grid operators, and communities about dangerous winter storms that can spread across large parts of the United States and negatively affect electric grid reliability.

Electricity 335

Electricity Fossil Fuels 2011 2014 335

Enviromental Defense

JULY 29, 2024

Despite studying climate change and my familiarity with impacts like drought and extreme heat, I had never heard of the term ‘ heat dome ’ before 2021. During the 2021 heat dome in BC, temperatures were up to 20 degrees celsius above normal. Well, for one, we stop fueling the fire. So how do we bring down the heat?

Fossil Fuels 130

Fossil Fuels Cooling Climate Change Electricity 130