Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Communities and ecosystems continue to suffer the consequences of human-caused climate change , primarily from the burning of fossil fuels across our economy. The case for phasing out of fossil fuels and making a just and equitable transition to clean energy has never been more clear. comes from burning fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels 281

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides Air Pollution 281

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2022

All told, they represent 56 percent of the US population, generate 62 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, and are responsible for 43 percent of the country’s annual carbon emissions. Emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from power plants in alliance states drop 88 percent and 77 percent respectively by 2040.

Electricity 279

Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nitrogen Oxides 279

Legal Planet

APRIL 29, 2024

Fourteen states now have net-zero emissions targets for the economy as a whole, and sixteen have zero-carbon targets for the grid. New California legislation will require corporations to disclose their carbon emissions. I don’t mean to imply that technological progress will automatically fix things.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels 2008 2010 Clean Energy 279

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. Minnesota’s current goal is to reduce statewide carbon emissions 30 percent by 2025 compared to 2005 levels and 80 percent by 2050.

Renewable Energy 359

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 359

Circle of Blue

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Carbon-reduction plans, if not well designed, can worsen water scarcity and pollution. Plans to reduce carbon emissions should take water into account. Some low-carbon energy options require significant amounts of water. But other low-carbon technologies do not tread as lightly. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue.

Biofuels 363

Biofuels Carbon Emissions Cooling Fossil Fuels 363

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

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 26, 2024

Because one of Pennsylvania’s two hubs, ARCH2, is also proposing to be heavily reliant on fossil fuel-based hydrogen production projects, I also detailed the serious risks of policymakers propping up such an approach. Here are three critical flags with pursuing a fossil-based “clean” hydrogen future.

Climate Change 254

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Clean Energy 254

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 13, 2024

One place to look is the power grid , responsible for a quarter of the United States’ carbon emissions. Paul Arbaje is an energy analyst in the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists and an expert on electricity policies and reforms that reduce fossil fuel use and reliance.

Fossil Fuels 252

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 252

Legal Planet

APRIL 3, 2023

EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) A. Standards for carbon and methane emissions from new sources Permitting requirements for carbon emissions from new stationary sources of major sources of existing pollutants. Standards for emissions from new vehicles.

Law 246

Law Endangered Species Act Clean Air Act Biofuels 246

Clean Energy Law

MARCH 11, 2021

In December 2018, after having successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector by 53.3%, a majority of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) jurisdictions announced plans to design a program to address carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels.

Carbon Emissions 130

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Regulations Greenhouse 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

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. As I continue my work with the Union of Concerned Scientists, I’ll carry this journey with me and use it to fuel my dedication to tackling the climate crisis.

Climate Change 232

Climate Change 2030 Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions 232

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 29, 2022

Meanwhile, annual reports show corporations are pushing ahead with plans to expand production, betting on new technologies to somehow make it all okay in the future. Companies are spending millions fighting lawsuits that would hold them accountable for the costs that fossil fuel extraction has imposed on people and the planet.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels Coastal Erosion Carbon Dioxide Biofuels 279

Circle of Blue

JUNE 6, 2022

Rated for 1,320 megawatts — roughly the size of a large fossil fuel plant — the dam is now capable of only 800 megawatts. Less hydropower will force utilities to look elsewhere for replacement supplies, including from fossil fuel sources. Most comes from fossil fuels, wind, and solar.

Electricity 338

Electricity Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Greenhouse 338

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

The biggest takeaway : without robust new policies, US energy sector heat trapping emissions will continue to remain high, far off-track from where we need to be to meet our climate goals. CO 2 emissions remain mostly level through 2050—nowhere close to meeting US climate goals. Carbon emissions remain high.

Natural Gas 291

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 291

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 20, 2023

The IRA gave us effective tools for cleaning up the power sector through dedicated support for the rapid and widescale deployment of renewable resources and the technologies that support them. Indeed, EPA still retains the ability to set strong standards that curtail carbon pollution at the scale, speed, and rigor required.

Clean Air Act 218

Clean Air Act Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Clean Energy 218

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 25, 2023

The Inflation Reduction Act’s new hydrogen production tax credit , known as code 45V, is intended to incentivize a shift to low-carbon hydrogen production by offering producers a credit that increases in value as the carbon emissions associated with produced hydrogen declines.

Fossil Fuels 216

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Clean Energy Carbon Emissions 216

A Greener Life

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Weifang Port’s “zero-carbon” certification was primarily achieved by transitioning away from fossil fuel use, according to China Electric Power News (CEPN). It has built a wind power system to provide green energy for its operations and deployed hydrogen-powered vehicles to replace fossil-fuel-powered trucks.

Fossil Fuels 52

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Wind Power Solar Power 52

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

However, the bill’s definition of what constitutes clean energy includes nuclear power (which doesn’t emit carbon but isn’t “clean”) and fossil gas power plants that capture and store at least 90 percent of their carbon emissions. What Still Needs to be Done?

Clean Energy 254

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 254

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 22, 2022

A 1 megawatt vanadium flow battery (a different technology from lithium-ion, but also used for energy storage) is in Pullman, Washington, built by UniEnergy Technologies and owned by Avista Utilities. Source: UniEnergy Technologies / Wikimedia Commons. Engineers develop energy storage battery technologies. Batteries.

Wind Power 231

Wind Power Renewable Energy Electricity Clean Energy 231

Legal Planet

AUGUST 2, 2022

Assessments by the IPCC have made clear that the most feasible way for the world to meet its target of restricting climate change to below two degrees Celsius of warming includes rapid and massive expansion of carbon removal technology – technology that would extract carbon dioxide and permanently sequester that carbon dioxide underground.

Carbon Dioxide 147

Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere Carbon Emissions Technology 147

Enviromental Defense

AUGUST 30, 2021

We no longer have time for incremental emission reductions that aren’t aligned with a pathway to zero emissions. Though our focus is on how none of these options will put a dent in our emissions, it’s also important to note that decreasing emissions isn’t our only priority. of annual emissions from fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels 98

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Carbon Emissions Technology 98

Legal Planet

MARCH 6, 2023

But with the recent influx of government incentives for hydrogen production, new and improving production and storage technologies, and greater political will than ever before, H 2 ’s reputation is gaining favor. But for many of these use-cases, hydrogen doesn’t do the job particularly well, at least as compared to existing technology.

Natural Gas 147

Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Carbon Dioxide 147

A Greener Life

DECEMBER 19, 2024

By Jiang Mengnan Chinas oil demand is projected to peak at approximately 770 million tonnes in 2025, according to a forecast by the China National Petroleum Corporations Economic and Technological Research Institute (ETRI), reports Caixin.

2025 52

2025 Paris Agreement 2028 Fossil Fuels 52

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 16, 2024

These firms recognized that they could not assume the risks of exacerbating climate damage from continued burning of fossil fuels. Thus the progress so far with large-scale solar in reducing carbon emissions is offset by the present levels of energy use by data centers.

Electricity 249

Electricity Clean Energy Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 249

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 8, 2023

EVs powered by today’s electricity grid produce significantly less carbon emissions than gasoline cars and can be powered by renewable energy. Batteries for EVs require more minerals than gasoline cars. As we phase out petroleum, we have an opportunity to create a more efficient transportation and manufacturing system.

Electricity 304

Electricity Recycling Fossil Fuels Climate Change 304

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 183

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2024 183

A Greener Life

DECEMBER 28, 2023

By Anders Lorenzen The consumption of coal, the most climate polluting fossil fuel, is predicted to peak by 2025 in China, the world’s highest emitting country. Emissions peak China’s total carbon emissions from energy activities are expected to peak during 2025 at 10.1 million bpd of oil this year.

2025 80

2025 Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2026 80

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

In contrast to other solutions which primarily serve to enhance resilience, microgrids also help get more renewable energy on the grid, supporting a reduction in carbon emissions while reducing energy costs. Modernizing our power grid by shifting from fossil fuels to renewables makes sense for many reasons. What is next?

Electricity 245

Electricity Renewable Energy Climate Change Sea Level 245

Law and Environment

MARCH 14, 2023

In the same release, Rhode Island Acting State Energy Commissioner Christopher Kearns added: This will help our regional New England grid make the transition to clean energy, reduce our collective carbon emissions significantly, and deliver a major victory in our fight against climate change.”

Clean Energy 130

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Technology 130

Law and Environment

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

This is the second post in our series on the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act , covering how the Act invests in strengthening our electric grid, which could better prepare us for the shift from fossil fuel generated electricity to renewable power. Smart Grid Investment Matching Grant Program.

Renewable Energy 130

Renewable Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions 130

Legal Planet

MAY 9, 2022

Continual reform is necessary so that emissions trading systems do not become merely symbolic regulation, or even worse create harmful negative consequences for climate policy – by for example subsidizing fossil fuel use or preempting useful complementary regulations. Implications for China.

Government 241

Government Politics Climate Change Paris Agreement 241

Enviromental Defense

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Fossil gas, or “natural gas,” as it’s been cunningly branded, is a fossil fuel that causes warming and is harmful to human health. Its mainstream name is nothing more than a clever marketing scheme by Big Oil to make the fuel sound natural, safe, and clean. This is a huge problem. Many reasons!

Natural Gas 101

Natural Gas Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide 101

PA Environment Daily

JULY 6, 2023

There’s much about the IRA that deserves our support, but due to the influence of powerful fossil fuel lobbyists, the plan also includes projects whose benefits are questionable, even counter-productive. That footprint, Howarth goes on to say, “is worse than if you simply burned natural gas directly for fuel instead.

Fossil Fuels 80

Fossil Fuels Natural Gas Carbon Emissions Greenhouse 80

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

One strategy is to counterbalance carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that contribute to climate change by drawing an equal amount of carbon out of the atmosphere, such as through planting trees. Reports from these studies and partnerships are found on the DCNR website.

Climate Change 104

Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Carbon Emissions Atmosphere 104

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 30, 2024

According to official analysis from CARB and EPA, soybean oil-based diesel has lower lifecycle carbon emissions than fossil diesel, but this finding is quite uncertain. The key finding is that air quality benefits from older engines are not observed in new technology diesel engines, which are now required in California.

Biofuels 285

Biofuels Deforestation 2030 2025 285

Frontiers

APRIL 24, 2023

In the case of climate change, there is unequal access to the knowledge, technology, and finances that would help to combat it. Keeping with the topic of climate change, one part of the inequality is evident and it’s the discussion about carbon debt. In other words, most people are lowering their carbon emissions.

Carbon Emissions 105

Carbon Emissions Climate Change Fossil Fuels Technology 105

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 12, 2023

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events TODAY 10:00: House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee hearing on Act 12 - private acquisition of public water & wastewater systems-- House Bill 1862 (Matzie-D-Beaver), House Bill 1863 (Matzie-D-Beaver), House Bill 1864 (Matzie-D-Beaver), House Bill 1865 (Matzie-D-Beaver) ( sponsor summary ).

Fossil Fuels 106

Fossil Fuels Natural Gas Electricity Climate Change 106