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

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

Last week, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed into law a standard that will make the North Star State’s electricity 100 percent carbon-free by 2040. What’s next? Minnesota’s legislative session runs until late May.

Electricity 255

Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 255

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. billion to help California drivers switch from gasoline to electricity.

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Electricity Air Pollution 2030 Clean Air Act 326

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 303

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Solar Power 303

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 8, 2023

Electric transportation is essential for a cleaner and healthier world. Replacing gasoline vehicles with electric can reduce emissions that cause climate change and illnesses. Researchers like me are putting a microscope to the electric vehicles (EVs) because, as with any extraction and manufacturing, there are associated impacts.

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Electricity Recycling Fossil Fuels Climate Change 293

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.

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Electricity 2022 Fossil Fuels 2021 128

Circle of Blue

MAY 10, 2022

In India and Pakistan, recent heat waves, worsened by a changing climate, are causing dangerous water and electricity shortages. Despite the heat, Pakistan residents continue to endure daily electricity cuts, losing about nine hours of electricity each day. I’m Eileen Wray-McCann.

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2022 Electricity Climate Change Fossil Fuels 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 26, 2024

As one example of these rising costs, Californians’ electricity bills have been skyrocketing over the past few years. And we know that as our climate warms further—driven by burning fossil fuels—the risk of large wildfires will only grow. There are many more capital costs likely coming.

Climate Change 243

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 243

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 21, 2024

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) included a major—forthcoming—refresh for one of the biggest policy drivers of the nation’s clean energy transition to date: tax credits subsidizing the deployment of clean electricity resources. the GHGs emitted into the atmosphere by a facility in the production of electricity—is not greater than zero.

Electricity 277

Electricity Clean Energy Greenhouse Technology 277

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 13, 2024

As electric vehicle charging stations sprout like mushrooms along our roads and clusters of new wind turbines come online, these two clean energy solutions to the climate crisis are becoming more commonplace. But beyond more electric cars and solar panels, what can everyday people do?

Fossil Fuels 236

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 236

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.

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Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 275

Circle of Blue

OCTOBER 4, 2022

October 4, 2022. The move represents a lifeline for fossil fuel use in a decarbonizing energy grid. October 11-13, 2022: Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting – register. October 18, 2022: EPA’s Debra Shore at the Great Lakes Conference — register. October 28, 2022: Great Lakes Water Conference — register.

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Carbon Dioxide Politics 2022 Climate Change 246

Legal Planet

APRIL 29, 2024

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. Prices for battery storage have declined even more sharply.

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Fossil Fuels 2008 2010 Clean Energy 279

Legal Planet

JULY 15, 2024

The first efforts to use of wind to generate electricity was 134 years ago, and the photoelectric effect was discovered six decades earlier. But the scientific and technological advances that made these technologies competitive with fossil fuels are much more recent. La Cour builds windmill in Denmark to generate electricity.

Renewable Energy 264

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Technology Technology 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

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Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2010 2020 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

They just released their 2022 “Annual Energy Outlook” (AEO), which is a big deal: it tells us where electricity is headed over the next 30 years. Here are five key takeaways from this year’s AEO, focused primarily on the electricity sector: 1. Source: US Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook 2022 (AEO2022).

Natural Gas 290

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 7, 2022

A two-bill package has been introduced in the House and Senate to establish new incentives for the use of fossil-fueled vehicles-- rebranded as “low emission transportation fuels”-- and eliminating rebates and grants for hybrid and electric vehicles. Posted: October 7, 2022] PA Environment Digest

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Fossil Fuels Electricity Biofuels Natural Gas 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 31, 2022

At any point in the summer, extreme heat could trigger electricity supply shortages and rotating power outages. In reality, a big heat wave could lead to electricity supply shortages and rotating power outages during any summer month, but September is when it’s most likely. How well has California’s grid been performing this summer?

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Solar Power Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 286

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 31, 2023

The destruction we see today is a direct result of decades of dependence on fossil fuels, enabled by decades of deception and obstruction on the part of the fossil fuel industry, and prolonged by decades of inaction on the part of policymakers who have been in their thrall.

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Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Clean Air Act Pollution Control 233

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Yet in 2023, China accounted for about 60% of the world’s new renewables and electric vehicles. accounting for over 10% of China’s electricity. Domestic Chinese EV sales in 2022 were 6.8 The amount of new solar capacity in 2023 was double 2022’s, and new wind capacity was up 66%. Will that change?

Clean Energy 277

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2009 277

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. percent higher than the number of wealthier residents, according to a 2022 UCS study. EN: What needs to be done to make the electric grid more equitable—and reliable?

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Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Electricity 330

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 16, 2023

That’s a really good thing given the central role we expect and need solar to play in a just transition away from fossil fuels. Last year, solar accounted for almost 5 percent of US electricity. The solar energy sector is big and getting bigger. Back then, my focus was on small (really small) systems, measured in tens of watts.

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Solar Power Fossil Fuels Electricity Technology 299

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 12, 2024

In October 2022, Sen. Yaw announced the introduction of legislation prohibiting the distribution of Act 13 impact fees to any county “that is actively suing over fossil fuel use.” The IFO projects another $100 million drop in revenue in calendar year 2024 fee revenue from 2022 to $170 million. Read more here.

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Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Law 2019 109

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 11, 2022

As a result, when today’s fossil fuel end uses can be directly electrified via renewables instead, such as for heating in buildings , it is overwhelmingly a better decarbonization path. Background on the hydrogen hubs program.

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Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Natural Gas Waste 263

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

A Greener Life

APRIL 17, 2025

By Kostantsa Rangelova and Yang Muyi Rising use of air con calls for more energy storage, electricity pricing reform and sturdier grid infrastructure, write two experts from think-tank Ember. They are home to the worlds three largest electricity markets , together accounting for over half of global demand. The findings are stark.

Cooling 62

Cooling Fossil Fuels Electricity Renewable Energy 62

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.

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Fossil Fuels 2030 Clean Energy Climate Change 215

Legal Planet

JULY 29, 2021

These laws ban new fossil fuel plants and set aggressive targets for the state’s two major utilities, requiring emission cuts of 80% by 2030, 90% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. By 2022, the utilities must file Integrated Resource Plans, which will detail their strategies for making the cuts. million per year.

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 2010 264

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.

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Fossil Fuels Cooling Electricity 2015 203

A Greener Life

APRIL 21, 2025

Reduce the dependency on fossil fuels It urges governments, companies, and individuals to reduce fossil fuel dependency and scale up sustainable alternatives. Earth Day takes place on 22 April and marks its 55th anniversary in 2025.

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Earth Day Renewable Energy 2025 Fossil Fuels 56

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

In December, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service proposed regulations governing implementation of the 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit , passed as part of 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act. In particular, emissions loopholes related to biomethane and fugitive methane (i.e.,

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Fossil Fuels Waste Regulations Electricity 274

Environmental News Bits

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Across the United States, 80 cities and counties have adopted policies that require or encourage the move off fossil fuels to all-electric homes and buildings.

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Fossil Fuels Government Electricity 2022 81

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 11, 2023

Fuel transport – Spring floods can hinder the transportation of fuels like coal. While it is a heavily polluting fossil fuel that is set to continue declining as a fuel source for US electricity generation over the next decade, coal still accounted for roughly 20 percent of the country’s generation in 2022.

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Fossil Fuels 2011 Climate Change Nuclear Power 217

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

CARB has proposed to rapidly increase the stringency of the standard to increase demand for credits, but it should also address the supply of credits, to make sure the fuels supported by the LCFS help move California towards a clean transportation future. Each credit one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent pollution below the standard.

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Fossil Fuels Regulations Carbon Dioxide Renewable Energy 291

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

In 2022 I visited Glacier National Park for the first time with two close friends. Some estimates suggest they could disappear by 2030 due to the climate change triggered by human fossil fuel use, which began less than 200 years ago. In January, about two months into my training, I joined the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Climate Change 219

Climate Change 2030 Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions 219

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 4, 2023

At the highest level, the contiguous United States is composed of three electrical grids: the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and the Texas Interconnection. Interconnections and regional entities (Source: North American Electric Reliability Corporation). It would change Western energy markets.

Clean Energy 278

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2018 278

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

While the epicenter of the war and its horrors has remained trained on and in Ukraine, Russia has also leveraged its position as a major fossil fuel exporter to fund its war efforts and to manipulate and threaten others, including countries across Europe that have long relied on Russian supplies of gas. Credit: U.S. Credit: U.S.

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Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Carbon Dioxide Natural Gas 230