Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 30, 2023

And I love hearing about new renewable electricity records as spring unfolds. A few recent examples for that last love: California scored a new record for total generation from renewable energy in mid-April and a new record for solar production in mid-May. Spring tends to be a time when there is lower electricity demand.

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Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Change Electricity 245

Environment + Energy Leader

JANUARY 4, 2023

Renewable sources as a whole—including solar, wind, biomass, and others—provided 22.6% of US electricity over the first 10 months of 2022, a pace set to beat the agency's projection for the full year. The post Renewable Sources Provided 22.6%

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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. Building on the success of the 100 percent standard, there are many other energy- and environment-related bills ready for discussion and approval. What’s next?

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Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 262

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 30, 2023

On January 26, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed House File 7 —the 100% Clean Energy Bill. 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?

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Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 253

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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Circle of Blue

DECEMBER 13, 2022

The Year in Water, 2022. Sharpening the Shark’s Teeth By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue – December 13, 2022. The strength of the shark’s teeth and the breadth of the bite were on full display in 2022. Though vivid, the shark metaphor is an inadequate frame for some of 2022’s defining water stories. Brett Walton.

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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

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Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

Last spring, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) , which operates the electricity grid serving 45 million people across the central United States, found o ut it was at a higher risk of power outages than it believed. The result, as I explain below, was skyrocketing electricity bills for thousands of people.

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Environment + Energy Leader

DECEMBER 11, 2022

(Credit: Canva) The 2022 Standard Scenarios, a collection of forward-looking scenarios for the electricity sector in the United States, have been made available by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Read more ».

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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?

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Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2019 316

Circle of Blue

JANUARY 18, 2022

In Case You Missed It: HotSpots H2O: In Chile’s Lithium Mines, Climate and Environment Are Dueling Priorities – A battle is brewing over the future of lithium, an essential component of the world’s transition to renewable energy. In Buenos Aires on Friday, more than 75,000 customers did not have electricity.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 5, 2022

Today’s high energy prices are the result of recent events and long-term strategies. Reliance on fossil natural gas and the slow adoption of renewable energy contributed to electricity bills in New England in the first nine months of 2022 that are $5 billion higher than the prior year. Picture those higher prices.

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Natural Gas Renewable Energy Electricity 2022 244

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 31, 2022

On the last day of the 2022 Minnesota legislative session, state legislators had a real case of the Mondays: They failed to deliver on climate and energy policies that would have accelerated renewable energy enough to forge a clear path to carbon-free electricity and set the state on track to meet science-based emission reduction targets.

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Renewable Energy Clean Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels 254

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

The Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) is one of the go-to sources for reliable information about the US power sector. 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.

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Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 291

Environment + Energy Leader

DECEMBER 11, 2022

(Credit: Canva) The 2022 Standard Scenarios, a collection of forward-looking scenarios for the electricity sector in the United States, have been made available by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Read more ».

Renewable Energy 246

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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. Emissions from Germany’s power sector could thus rise from 244 million tons in 2021 to 264 million tons in 2022.

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Law Columbia

JUNE 11, 2024

Local opposition has proven to be a significant barrier to the rapid expansion of renewable energy facilities across the United States. The report also identifies 395 local restrictions across 41 states, along with 19 state-level restrictions, that are so severe that they could have the effect of blocking a renewable energy project.

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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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Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

There are a lot of moving pieces, but it starts with decarbonizing the electricity sector and powering the economy with a diverse combination of clean energy resources—primarily wind, solar, and battery storage—connected with a modernized bulk transmission system that can reliably deliver electricity to consumers all 8,760 hours of the year.

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Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2030 322

Environmental Leader

JANUARY 11, 2022

Solar and wind power and battery storage continue to see significant growth and will drive renewable energy sources in electricity generation in the United States in 2022. The post Solar Power to Lead in 2022 United States Electricity Generation appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Solar Power Electricity 2022 Wind Power 95

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 31, 2022

Chicago just released its Draft 2022 Climate Action Plan (CAP), an update of the city’s 2008 CAP to reduce citywide emissions 25 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels. A majority of city residents said they wanted reliable transit, better air quality, more renewable energy, higher household savings, and improved public health.

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Renewable Energy Carbon Emissions Electricity 2008 228

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

This experience, not far from Seattle and with ties to the information tech industry, highlights some of the issues surrounding the electric power needs of data centers. He was obviously oblivious to the fact that old-style electric heat (i.e. He assured me he hadnt: it doesnt require electricity! Modernize, or bypass, the grid?

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HumanNature

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

Student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University There is a renewable energy revolution happening all over the world: costs for renewable energy have dropped significantly in the last 10 years and the world is starting to adopt the technology at a very fast pace. kWh per day. kWh per day.

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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. To meet our climate goals and reach net zero emissions by 2050, most studies show that we need to dramatically reduce gas use for generating electricity, heating homes and businesses, and running industrial processes.

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Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 291

Legal Planet

JUNE 2, 2022

Scotland set a 2020 goal of 100% renewable energy electricity generation. renewable energy generation (62% coming from onshore wind) A climate plan adopted in 2018 sets a binding target of net-zero emissions by 2045. This covers electricity, heating, transportation, etc., Northern Ireland.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 4, 2024

A new North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) review of power outages and gas industry failures reveals the potential for prolonged and deadly power outages. What Happened in Texas?

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Electricity 2021 Renewable Energy Natural Gas 288

Legal Planet

JULY 29, 2021

By 2022, the utilities must file Integrated Resource Plans, which will detail their strategies for making the cuts. The law also contains provisions addressing wages and benefits for workers on renewable energy projects. House Bill 2165 addresses electrical charging for vehicles. million per year.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 22, 2022

The renewable energy transition involves harnessing epic forces of nature. Sleek solar panels forged from silver and silica from the depths of the Earth translate the sun’s blindingly fiery light energy into electricity. Batteries help store surplus energy. Source: UniEnergy Technologies / Wikimedia Commons.

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Wind Power Renewable Energy Electricity Clean Energy 231

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 8, 2023

billion global carbon dioxide emissions in 2022 came from fossil fuel use. Climate action is limited by political will (not technology) In this pivotal moment of history, where the imperative to avert the worst impacts of climate change is clear, the world stands at the cusp of a transformative shift toward a renewable energy paradigm.

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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 295

Earth 911

OCTOBER 3, 2022

On August 31, 2022, the second. The post Offshore Wind: America’s Neglected Renewable Energy Source appeared first on Earth911. The world’s largest wind farm just became fully operational.

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Renewable Energy 2022 Wind Power Electricity 98

Environmental Leader

JANUARY 11, 2022

Solar and wind power and battery storage continue to see significant growth and will drive renewable energy sources in electricity generation in the United States in 2022. The post Solar Power to Lead in 2022 United States Electricity Generation appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Solar Power Electricity 2022 Wind Power 78

Law and Environment

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced that proposed amendments to the state’s Clean Energy Standard (CES) were finalized earlier this month without substantive changes from draft language initially proposed by the agencies in April 2022.

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Clean Energy Electricity Renewable Energy 2030 130

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP ) offers grants and loan guarantees to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, as previously reported by NSAC , boosted REAPs funding, appropriating $820.25

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Renewable Energy 2014 2025 2024 75

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 17, 2023

States’ roles in electricity decisions stem from their authority over public health, safety, and consumer protection. States’ jurisdiction on electricity supply and reliability are not limited to only reviewing proposed construction. States should be heard on transmission When regulators make policy, utilities listen.

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Clean Energy Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Regulations 242

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

The world’s biggest fossil fuel companies recently released their 2022 earnings reports, revealing record-breaking profits last year; just five companies–ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, and TotalEnergies–reported a total of nearly $200 billion in profits. billion, respectively, during 2022. billion and $35.5

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Circle of Blue

JANUARY 17, 2022

A battle is brewing over the future of lithium, an essential component of the world’s transition to renewable energy. The issue refracts a quandary being litigated around the world: the transition towards renewable energy is creating its own host of social and environmental problems.

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