Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 22, 2024

When it comes to the transition to clean energy, 2023 was quite a year for progress: record-breaking amounts of solar installed in the United States, a solid drop in carbon emissions from the US power sector, more than one million electric vehicles sold in the country for the first time, “breakneck” growth in renewable energy globally, and more.

Clean Energy 197

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2024 197

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. Those 807,956 EVs accounted for 5.8 percent of all new cars sold, an increase from 3.1

Electricity 338

Electricity Air Pollution 2030 Clean Air Act 338

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 4, 2024

This represents an unprecedented influx of state and federal support for clean energy in Pennsylvania, including a just-announced $303.5 million closed loan from the US Department of Energy for Eos Energy Enterprises, and has made the Pittsburgh region a clean energy gateway for the state.

Clean Energy 83

Clean Energy Environmental Protection 2024 Solar Power 83

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 23, 2023

With the clean energy transition already under way, the US electricity mix is set to continue changing this year. Solar power is expected to make up about half of all additions of US electric generating capacity in 2023, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Fossil Fuels 233

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 233

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!

Nuclear Power 198

Nuclear Power Electricity Clean Energy Technology 198

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.

Electricity 262

Electricity Clean Energy Natural Resources 2022 262

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. They offer a lot of good news about clean energy progress.

Clean Energy 306

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Solar Power 306

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Extreme weather, which is increasing due to climate change , can degrade the electricity system and cause these failures. In fact, between 2000 and 2023, 80% of all major power outages in the United States were due to weather, including severe storms, wildfires, and extreme heat.

Electricity 261

Electricity Renewable Energy Climate Change Sea Level 261

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

The best way policy makers can do so is to seize these climate and clean energy opportunities. UCS research from earlier this year shows states can reliably meet 100 percent of their electricity needs with renewable energy. It’s up to all of us to hold governors accountable. Demand climate funding from state legislators.

Clean Energy 231

Clean Energy Climate Change Renewable Energy Government 231

Environment + Energy Leader

MAY 15, 2023

During the first quarter of 2023, the renewable source generated more than 32% of the country's energy.

Electricity 279

Electricity 2023 Clean Energy Renewable Energy 279

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 269

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 269

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.

Clean Energy 130

Clean Energy Electricity Renewable Energy 2030 130

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.

Renewable Energy 261

Renewable Energy Clean Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels 261

PA Environment Daily

MAY 22, 2024

On May 22, Duquesne Light Company released its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report , which discloses the company’s performance in three core areas of its ESG strategy: climate conscious, powering people and responsible performance. At the time of recognition, DLC was one of only two electric utility companies in the U.S.

Clean Energy 104

Clean Energy 2023 Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 104

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.

Fossil Fuels 305

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 305

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

January 2023 marked the beginning of a new year. Transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2035 The state has already committed to reduce its heat trapping emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and 75 percent by 2040, and to be net zero by 2050. En español NOTE: This piece was originally published on CommonWealth Magazine.

Fossil Fuels 241

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Air Pollution Electricity 241

Law and Environment

AUGUST 11, 2022

Based on numerous sources, Governor Baker has now signed an Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind. This bill includes a number of key advancements for increased adoption of zero emission vehicles and clean transportation throughout the Commonwealth. The Department shall approve the rebates not later than June 30, 2023; and.

Clean Energy 130

Clean Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels Greenhouse 130

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

And yet, one of the largest threats to California’s clean transportation leadership in recent history has materialized right under our noses — and it’s coming from our own legislature. Our elected leaders understand that California’s transition to a clean energy future is essential both for the health of our residents and our economy.

Clean Air Act 338

Clean Air Act Electricity Clean Energy 2023 338

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 16, 2024

I work in the electric utility sector, specifically on the grid issues that shape our energy supply choices. I heard some early warnings of data center growth running into grid limits first from tech companies and then from electric utility planners. This growth is a jolt to the usually slow-moving electricity sector.

Electricity 266

Electricity Clean Energy Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 266

Law and Environment

JANUARY 24, 2023

This past year represents a real turning point in the transition to electric vehicles, demonstrated by new major incentives and regulatory activities at both federal and state government levels and several notable accomplishments in the private sector. Let’s see if 2023 pushes the needle even further. 13,522,732 estimated FY 2023.

Electricity 130

Electricity 2022 2028 2027 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

An ambitious law that promises to accelerate the state’s clean energy transition, CEJA provides a detailed framework for greater utility transparency and accountability to update electricity distribution infrastructure to ensure a clean energy future. Over the same period, ComEd grid investments went from $1.3

Clean Energy 254

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels 2012 Law 254

New Scientist

MAY 7, 2024

The rapid growth of solar power led to a record-breaking year for clean energy generation in 2023, and the year is expected to mark the start of a long-term decline in fossil fuels

Fossil Fuels 145

Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity Clean Energy 145

Inside Climate News

DECEMBER 27, 2023

The push and pull of progress and catastrophe made 2023 one of the most discordant—and consequential—years for the world’s climate. By ICN Staff In 2023, clean energy progress and the horrors of a radically warming climate fought almost to a draw.

2023 114

2023 Clean Energy Sea Level Nuclear Power 114

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 2, 2024

For hydrogen to have any role in the clean energy transition , it must be cleanly produced. This framework enables regulators to verify that the direct and significant indirect emissions associated with electrolyzer operations are zero.

Carbon Emissions 182

Carbon Emissions Clean Energy Electricity Air Pollution 182

Cresforum

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Armchair Discussion: Grid Deployment Office During the 2023 National Clean Energy Week Policymakers Symposium , American Electric Power Senior Vice President of Federal Affairs Emily Duncan sat down with Maria Duaime Robinson , Director of the U.S. continues to transition to clean energy.

Clean Energy 97

Clean Energy Electricity Regulations 2023 97

Law Columbia

OCTOBER 16, 2023

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is chock-full of tax incentives for climate and clean energy projects. This year, 2023, marks the first tax year in U.S. For tax year 2023, direct pay claimants can receive their full base credit amount regardless of whether they also meet domestic content criteria.

Clean Energy 137

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Government 2026 137

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 3, 2024

By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center Next year, the electricity bills for twenty percent of Americans will start reflecting the high cost of failing to transition to clean energy. Massive amounts of clean energy generation and storage projects are backlogged in PJM.

Clean Energy 111

Clean Energy Natural Gas Electricity 2025 111

Cresforum

MARCH 13, 2024

In the ever-evolving world of renewable energy, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) emerged as a piece of legislation aimed at accelerating the adoption of clean energy practices have become a point of contention among political parties. As Wills said, “We all want the benefits of clean energy, and we all want clean power.

Clean Energy 93

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Politics Electricity 93

Legal Planet

JANUARY 4, 2023

The City of Los Angeles is going into the new year with a big new building-decarbonization ordinance : starting this year, nearly all new buildings in the city will have to be entirely electric. All-electric as the new normal. And getting buildings to use electric appliances isn’t enough. Download as PDF.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Electricity Climate Change Natural Gas 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 17, 2024

In the electric utility industry, this conflict is on display in the debate over who makes decisions on new electric transmission and how to include policies set by state laws. They have since split this into two efforts and have issued two packages of rule changes: Order 2023 and Order 1920.

Electricity 256

Electricity Fossil Fuels Climate Change Sea Level 256

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 3, 2023

The Energy Efficiency Alliance , Environmental Entrepreneurs , Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia , and Sustainable Pittsburgh will host an August 16 webinar Shaping Pennsylvania's Clean Energy Workforce Future starting at 2:00 p.m. But the business community also faces significant workforce shortages.

Clean Energy 96

Clean Energy Solar Power Climate Change Electricity 96

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 11, 2023

This blog post was first published on Utility Dive on March 6, 2023. Fortunately, solutions like energy storage and clean energy technologies can provide safe, reliable, and equitable power during severe weather conditions. Energy storage could have saved Robert’s life.

Clean Energy 245

Clean Energy Solar Power Electricity Technology 245

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 2, 2024

Whatever the weather in March and beyond—in-like-a-lion blustery or out-like-a-lamb sunny—spring tends to be a season of strong electricity production from solar and wind in particular. Spring is also a glorious time for taking stock, since the official data on the previous year’s US electricity generation become available.

Electricity 157

Electricity 2013 2023 Clean Energy 157

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 27, 2024

On August 27, Ready for 100% Montgomery County announced nearly one-third of the communities in Montgomery County committed to a gradual transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy in its electricity usage by 2035 and in all sectors (heat, transportation) by 2050.

Clean Energy 87

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 87

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. The US Energy Information Administration is forecasting the wholesale price of gas to reach its highest level since the winter of 2009-2010 in inflation-adjusted terms.

Fossil Fuels 332

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Electricity Natural Gas 332

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 17, 2023

cranks its air conditioners to get through historic high temperatures , the need for energy that slows, not hastens, climate change is more apparent than ever. Yet, in 2022, almost 40% of electricity in the US was generated by power plants fueled by natural gas. States remain widely varied on their reliance on gas for electricity.

Fossil Fuels 245

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen Oxides Electricity 245

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. Read more here.

Electricity 114

Electricity Natural Gas Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 114