Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

UCS found that the IRA more than doubles the current rate of annual US emissions reductions to roughly 3 percent through 2030. But to lower emissions by 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, the United States would have to cut emissions by more than 5 percent a year. How is that going to happen?

Carbon Emissions 289

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 289

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 28, 2022

Last week was a big one for clean energy in Michigan. First, Union of Concerned Scientists and the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition released a new report on how Michigan and other states can achieve 100-percent renewable energy standards that benefit all communities. Consumers’ plan wisely avoids that risky path.

Clean Energy 239

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2030 239

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 278

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Solar Power 278

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 23, 2023

Renewable projects can experience delays due to the country’s antiquated (and slow) system of connecting to the grid, as well as other reasons like permitting and transmission constraints. And fossil fuel power plants may not stick to their retirement schedules for a variety of reasons. A bit more on those reasons later.

Fossil Fuels 172

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 172

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 245

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2030 245

A Greener Life

AUGUST 2, 2023

The country’s new energy transition plan targets an estimated US$7.4 billion of hydropower investments by 2030. By Fermín Koop New government plan says US$86 billion of spending needed to boost energy transition – while backing natural gas too. These targets represent a potentially significant shift in Argentina ’s energy mix.

Renewable Energy 95

Renewable Energy 2030 Fossil Fuels Electricity 95

Legal Planet

MARCH 31, 2022

There’s a lot of discussion of how the private sector is supporting renewable energy, but it’s almost all about power consumers like Apple and Walmart. It turns out that most of them are 50-60% reliant on fossil fuels, with a lot of the remainder coming from nuclear and hydro. Fossil Fuel Use. Xcel Energy.

2030 236

2030 Natural Gas Fossil Fuels 2007 236

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2021

We need to quickly transition to a clean energy future in Illinois to prevent additional negative public health impacts from fossil fuel plants. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) HB 0804/ SB1718 is the only bill that puts Illinois on a path to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Fossil Fuels 194

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 2030 194

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. C climate pathway.

Fossil Fuels 98

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2010 2020 98

Circle of Blue

AUGUST 3, 2021

energy policy has done little to incentivize the growth of these technologies, relying on a patchwork of energy credit programs, tax breaks, and development spending to promote renewable energy production. But as the market grows, some urge caution before using wastewater to create renewable natural gas.

Carbon Emissions 317

Carbon Emissions Waste Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 317

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 25, 2022

These estimates come from quantifying the benefits of a more efficient grid that enables lower cost energy, greater system resilience, and more rapid decarbonization. According to Clean Grid Alliance, these projects will also enable more than 7,800 MW of new renewable energy resources developed in the state.

Renewable Energy 209

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 209

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Among many other provisions, CEJA includes carbon emission limits for coal and fossil gas plants that phase in over several years, starting in 2030. CEJA also expanded incentives for wind and solar power; however, the law did not include significant provisions for energy storage deployment.

Fossil Fuels 162

Fossil Fuels 2030 Electricity Clean Energy 162

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 30, 2023

The state-specific fact sheet, On the Road to 100 Percent Renewables for Minnesota , outlines how it could meet its electricity needs completely and equitably with renewable energy by 2035 and dramatically reduce fossil fuel use in vehicles and buildings. One area where the bill could do better?

Electricity 201

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 201

A Greener Life

JULY 26, 2021

In order to make their portfolio more sustainable and respond to lower fossil fuel demand, oil majors are increasingly snapping up renewable energy projects as the pressure grows to take action on climate change. from 2020 to 2030. A significant portion of this will be fulfilled by renewable power generation.

Renewable Energy 98

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power 2030 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 12, 2024

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. Decarbonizing the power sector also plays a critical long-term role by replacing fossil fuels in other sectors.

Fossil Fuels 239

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 239

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

According to the forecast, while economy-wide CO 2 emissions decrease from 2022 to 2037 due primarily to the growth in renewable energy replacing retiring coal plants, emissions do increase after 2037 from increased usage of natural gas. Renewable energy generation increases faster than any other technology.

Natural Gas 281

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 281

Legal Planet

JULY 29, 2021

On Wednesday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a package of four clean energy bills. 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. These bills move Oregon to the forefront of climate action.

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 2010 264

Energy and Climate Law

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

Until 2030 the EU shall emit 55 % less Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG), compared to 1990 levels. This week the European Commission decided in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis to propose an amendment of its GHG-reduction goals for 2030. But given considerable issues with details of the plan, question marks are looming.

Paris Agreement 246

Paris Agreement 2030 Biofuels Cooling 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

Along with interim goals and priorities for pollution reduction in environmental justice areas, the law provides authorization and resources for state agencies to enable the transition to clean, renewable energy. CEJA also extends the state’s successful energy efficiency programs and expands the savings goals utilities must meet.

Electricity 192

Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Waste 192

Legal Planet

MAY 23, 2022

Together we can take advantage of the opportunity for Australia to be a renewable energy superpower.”. Labor’s climate policy calls for a 43% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. Australia gives AU$11 billion a year to subsidize fossil fuel industries, and another AU$55 billion for supportive infrastructure and activities.

Carbon Emissions 245

Carbon Emissions Climate Change Fossil Fuels Politics 245

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Last November, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released an interdisciplinary study exploring the various pathways to meeting US goals to cut heat-trapping emissions economywide 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The good news?

Clean Energy 270

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2030 270

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 6, 2023

Alongside a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, substantial deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) techniques might avert – or at least limit – overshoot of 1.5°C. Gt of CO2 by 2030. However, it seems much of the carbon will come not from CDR, but from carbon capture on existing or new fossil fuel use.

Fossil Fuels 189

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide 2030 Atmosphere 189

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 13, 2022

We already have so many of the foundational technological building blocks of the clean energy transition at hand: renewables, energy efficiency, energy storage, and pathways to electrifying a vast array of energy end uses. to 80 percent of electricity from zero-carbon resources by 2030.

Technology 215

Technology Technology Climate Change Fossil Fuels 215

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 203

Renewable Energy Clean Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels 203

Legal Planet

JUNE 13, 2022

The national electricity plan projected that renewables will exceed coal in 2027. But given the growth of the economy, carbon emissions were projected to continuing growing steadily through 2030. Given that rapid growth of India’s economy, this would mean a huge effort to install renewables and other zero-carbon power sources.

2030 240

2030 Carbon Emissions 2027 Sea Level 240

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 9, 2024

A word about CCS : this technology has existed for decades but is only used at a handful of fossil energy facilities. Who needs units anyway? Another visualization they use is a roadmap is paired with an abatement curve, showing the costs of emissions reduction strategies compared to the amount of mitigation benefit they provide.

Carbon Dioxide 301

Carbon Dioxide Fossil Fuels Climate Change Atmosphere 301

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 3, 2022

The majority 6–3 decision sharply curtails the EPA’s authority to set standards based on a broad range of flexible options to cut carbon emissions from the power sector—options such as replacing polluting fossil fuels with cheap and widely available wind and solar power coupled with battery storage.

Climate Change 235

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Nitrogen Oxides 235

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

The LCFS is designed to hold fuel producers accountable for their supply chain emissions The LCFS and related Clean Fuel Standard policies are performance standards for transportation fuel based on lifecycle analysis. Negative CI scores undermine California’s goal of phasing out fossil fuels and combustion fuels in general.

Fossil Fuels 254

Fossil Fuels Regulations Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 254

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 21, 2022

Grid upgrades enable clean energy industries to flourish. MISO’s LRTP tranche 1 investments are expected to enable more than 53,000 megawatts of new renewable energy, enough to power 12 million average homes annually. In fact, most of the projects MISO is voting on aren’t expected to be in service until 2030.

Clean Energy 261

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels 261

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

It is overwhelmingly produced by a process known as steam methane reforming (SMR), which is heavily carbon-polluting, and the resulting hydrogen is primarily consumed as a feedstock for industrial purposes, such as oil refining and fertilizer production, not as a way to displace fossil fuels. And this isn’t just hypothetical.

Clean Energy 207

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Renewable Energy 207

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 17, 2024

year the vehicle is purchased): 2023, 2027, 2030, 2035. In addition to the vehicle characteristics, we also considered different energy futures. First, we considered both an electric grid consistent with todays policies (business as usual), using data from the Energy Information Administration.

2027 184

2027 Fossil Fuels Electricity Natural Gas 184

Ocean Conservancy

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Transformative action every year until 2030 is our only chance to keep 1.5°C Collaborative Optimism The upcoming political landscape in the United States may seem like a setback for global climate action, but the momentum for climate action and energy transition remains unstoppable. C within reach.

Ocean 131

Ocean Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Politics 131

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

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. billion in health savings, more than 45,000 additional jobs, and $13 billion in additional state gross domestic product by 2040.

Fossil Fuels 179

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Air Pollution Electricity 179

Law and Environment

APRIL 21, 2022

First, it includes a number of specific commitments: The Commonwealth will reach net-zero for its own operations by 2030. Installation of one million heat pumps by 2030. School buses and MBTA buses will be all electric by 2030. Sale of fossil-fuel cars and light duty trucks will end by 2035.

2030 130

2030 Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Regulations 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 4, 2024

The fossil fuel giant now claims to be “aligned” with the Paris climate agreement, all while it continues to massively expand oil and gas exploration and production and lobby against climate action. A single climate expert clearly failed to steer the corporation away from climate disinformation.

Climate Scientist 255

Climate Scientist Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Energy 255

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

It adds Michigan to the growing list of states, including Illinois and Minnesota , that have adopted standards to increase renewable energy on the grid and move toward 100-percent decarbonization of the power sector. It also will expand energy efficiency programs, streamline utility-scale renewable project siting approvals, and more.

Clean Energy 201

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 201

A Greener Life

JUNE 30, 2023

By Anders Lorenzen The renewable energy sector experienced record growth in 2022 of 1%. But despite this, it did not shift the dominance of fossil fuels. They still account for 82% of the global energy supply according to the industry’s Statistical Review of World Energy released this week.

Fossil Fuels 52

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2022 Paris Agreement 52