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 Clean Air Act 2030 338

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 19, 2022

And we’re still trying to recover from a pandemic that has made even more clear the disproportionate impacts of air pollution on overburdened communities, making them even more vulnerable to the negative impacts of COVID 19. And we’re already seeing the prominent role that renewables are starting to play in our electricity mix.

Renewable Energy 364

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Nitrogen Oxides Clean Energy 364

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

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

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

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 290

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 290

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 10, 2024

More recently, ongoing discrimination continues to push marginalized groups into areas with existing polluting infrastructure. In New England, the percent of people of color living near fossil fuel power plants is up to 23.5 Most notable of these polluting emissions are nitrogen oxides (NOx).

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Fossil Fuels Nitrogen Oxides Electricity Air Pollution 325

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. Likewise, housing discrimination has forced poorer folks and racial and ethnic minorities to live in areas with polluting infrastructure. First, there’s air pollution.

Clean Energy 359

Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Electricity 359

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 18, 2024

This included a bill that would have started a statewide conversation about the diminished role fossil fuels should play in Maine’s energy system as the state strives to meet its climate and clean energy commitments. Gas is primarily composed of methane—a fossil fuel with extremely high global warming potential.

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Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen Oxides Electricity 249

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Union of Concerned Scientists’ (UCS) research shows that top fossil fuel producers’ emissions are responsible for as much as half of global surface temperature increase. The best solution: Replace fossil fuels with renewable energy. A small number of big corporations are responsible for the climate crisis.

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Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 321

Yale E360

NOVEMBER 24, 2020

Close ties between the ruling elite and the coal industry have helped perpetuate South Africa’s dependence on the dirtiest fossil fuel for electricity. But now residents of the nation’s most coal-intensive region are suing to force the government to clean up choking air pollution. Read more on E360 ?.

Fossil Fuels 205

Fossil Fuels Air Pollution Electricity Government 205

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

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

These targets must be matched with the power sector at the forefront by decarbonizing electricity supplies and electrifying other sectors of the economy, such as transportation and home heating. Now is the time to enact legislative proposals such as the 100% Clean Act , which is aligned with Healey’s own campaign commitment.

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Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Air Pollution Electricity 246

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.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Electricity Climate Change Natural Gas 246

Legal Planet

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Over its short lifetime, the program has already transformed many segments of the fuels market. More than two-thirds of our diesel comes from renewable, non-petroleum resources, and many California refineries are shifting from refining fossil fuels to refining waste oils and other renewable feedstocks.

Air Pollution 279

Air Pollution Fossil Fuels Greenhouse Regulations 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 19, 2023

In late April, California air regulators are poised to pass one of the most meaningful regulations to reduce pollution from commercial trucks, vans, and buses. The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, which I’ve blogged about in detail before, will phase out fossil-fueled trucks over the next several decades.

Electricity 279

Electricity Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Regulations 279

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

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. And now, as the U.S.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen Oxides Electricity 246

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. Consequently, residential gas prices are expected to be 22 percent higher this winter compared to last year’s, and residential electricity prices are expected to be 6 percent higher on average.

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Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Electricity Natural Gas 340

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

Another is that the costs of renewable energy and electric vehicles have declined so greatly in the past ten years, making them more or less competitive with their fossil-fuel alternatives. They also reduce air pollution and benefit public health.

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Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels 2007 Air Pollution 246

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 264

Renewable Energy Clean Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Coming off its recent decision requiring all new passenger cars and trucks be zero-emission by 2035, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is developing a first-of-its-kind regulation to reduce emissions from heavy-duty vehicles like delivery vans, big rigs, box trucks, and buses. The rule would also reduce NOx and PM2.5 Drayage Fleets.

Climate Change 290

Climate Change Electricity Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels 290

Legal Planet

MARCH 15, 2023

Research shows that halting the burning of fossil fuels in homes and businesses is beneficial for the health of residents and vital to combat climate change. Gas stoves are a significant driver of childhood asthma , leaking methane even while turned off and releasing as much nationwide climate pollution each year as 500,000 cars.

Nitrogen Oxides 305

Nitrogen Oxides Air Pollution Ozone 2029 305

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 25, 2024

Two key pieces of Federal support for electric vehicle (EV) charging are coming into place to accelerate EV infrastructure installation for all kinds of vehicles. That is a good thing to help us on our way to phasing out fossil fuels —we shouldn’t be sinking money into infrastructure for those technologies.

Electricity 290

Electricity Fossil Fuels Air Pollution Natural Gas 290

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 290

Electricity Clean Energy Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 290

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.

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Carbon Dioxide Natural Gas 264

Legal Planet

JUNE 13, 2022

The national electricity plan projected that renewables will exceed coal in 2027. Prior to Glasgow, the NRDC had concluded that India was on track to meet its previous commitment to have 40% non-fossil fuel power generation by 2030. The roadmap calls for Mumbai to get half its electricity from renewables by 2030 and 90% by 2050.

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2030 Carbon Emissions 2027 Sea Level 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

Perhaps most importantly, this rule doesn’t even attempt to grapple with the question of how to eliminate emissions from trucks, focusing exclusively on fossil-fuel powered engines to the exclusion of electrification. Bad news: electric trucks aren’t included in the rule. Electric trucks aren’t included in the rule.

Clean Air Act 278

Clean Air Act Electricity Fossil Fuels Regulations 278

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Replacing petroleum with renewable electricity as the primary source of transportation energy will leave us all much better off. Tailpipes from our cars, trucks and buses are also a major source of toxic local air pollution that disproportionately harms overburdened and underserved communities.

Electricity 290

Electricity Biofuels Technology Technology 290

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

More efficient (and cleaner) gasoline cars are part of the reason why gasoline use is down, but the increasing number of electric vehicles being sold in the state will likely drive gasoline use down even further. But a growing share of the reductions is likely due to the increasing sales of electric vehicles (EVs).

Carbon Dioxide 200

Carbon Dioxide 2005 Electricity Nitrogen Oxides 200

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 20, 2023

The ongoing pollution from these power plants is an affront to public health and wildly incompatible with every climate ambition this country —and this world—has. Which means the consequences of these polluters unabashedly continuing to pollute aren’t just severe—they’re compounding. EPA decision, but it did not ground EPA.

Clean Air Act 246

Clean Air Act Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Clean Energy 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

Like many other public-serving institutions throughout society, electricity and gas utilities are facing calls to be more equitable in their operations, planning, and treatment of customers. That law created the state’s Community Air Protection Program focused on reducing exposure in communities most impacted by air pollution.

Electricity 306

Electricity Fossil Fuels Air Pollution Renewable Energy 306

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 11, 2022

The Public Utility Commission is inviting comments on a petition from ChargEVC-PA requesting the Commission to issue a Policy Statement on electric utility rate design for electric vehicle charging in PA. The burning of transportation fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, is a substantial source of air pollution.

Electricity 98

Electricity Air Pollution Ozone Fossil Fuels 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 7, 2024

2023 was a milestone year for electric car sales in the US. That is A LOT of EVs and A LOT less oil use, air pollution and climate emissions. But it shouldn’t be surprising that the transition to electric vehicles might not be a straight line up, up and up. Automakers pushed back, concerned the rules were too stringent.

Electricity 363

Electricity Climate Change 2025 2023 363

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 4, 2023

In the coming years, Californians will begin to see a massive switch away from highly polluting fossil-fueled trucks to zero-emission electric trucks. Additionally, the rule phases out the sale of fossil-fueled trucks in 2036. The rule will apply to commercial, federal, state, municipal, and drayage fleets.

Nitrogen Oxides 162

Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Air Pollution Ozone 162

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

If enacted, Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council would not only surpass former Mayor De Blasio’s goal of an all-electric city fleet by 2040, but also make New York City the first major jurisdiction in the U.S. New York City lags behind other major cities in both electric vehicle (EV) uptake and charging infrastructure deployment.

Electricity 246

Electricity Fossil Fuels Regulations 2024 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 1, 2022

California’s leadership on reducing truck pollution has been on full display the past few years, passing critical regulations requiring 90 percent reduction in smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NO X ) emissions from diesel trucks and requiring manufacturers sell an increasing share of electric trucks to move away from fossil fuels altogether.

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Nitrogen Oxides Clean Air Act Ozone Fossil Fuels 246