Law and Environment

AUGUST 3, 2023

On July 31, 2023, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signed an executive order ending the use of fossil fuels in new construction and major renovations of city-owned buildings. Covered buildings and projects will require heating, ventilation, air conditioning, hot water, and cooking systems that do not use fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels 243

Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Clean Energy Law 243

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 10, 2023

This year has brought new evidence of what major fossil fuel companies knew and when about the role their products play in climate change, as well as what they did in spite of what they knew. But these technologies are no substitute for sharp cuts in fossil fuels if we keep the goals of the Paris climate agreement within reach.

Fossil Fuels 363

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Renewable Energy 363

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 8, 2024

Some years ago, I began to feel the most important thing I could do was learn how to replace fossil fuel with renewable energy. For 30 years I have been an advocate for offshore wind development off New England’s coast and for the creation of institutions to support a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Fossil Fuels 333

Fossil Fuels Wind Power Ocean Renewable Energy 333

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 12, 2022

Earlier this year, The Guardian ran a powerful article exposing the ties of Elsevier, one of the world’s largest academic publishing companies, to the fossil fuel industry. The article caught my attention because I’d never considered the ways in which an academic publisher might be perpetuating and enabling a fossil fuel economy.

Fossil Fuels 355

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Energy Paris Agreement 355

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

In an important win for climate accountability in the United States, the US Supreme Court decided that lawsuits filed in Colorado, Maryland, California, Hawai’i, and Rhode Island against fossil fuel companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Suncor, and others will remain in state courts.

Fossil Fuels 312

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Government Carbon Dioxide 312

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.

Fossil Fuels 321

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Sea Level 2022 321

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). I’ll start off with the good.

Fossil Fuels 249

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 249

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

The simple fact is that ditching fossil fuels for low-cost clean energy resources is good for the planet, good for the US economy, and good for public health. The studies the DOE reviewed also found that transmission investments would provide a host of benefits beyond access to clean energy. The good news?

Clean Energy 337

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2030 337

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 17, 2023

The fabulous growth of wind and solar builds on states’ clean energy policy and corporate decarbonization targets. However, great opportunities for more new clean energy supplies to replace fossil fuel energy need supporting grid investments. Where do we go for that modern infrastructure?

Clean Energy 246

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Regulations 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 27, 2023

Fossil fuel power plant owners are facing increased accountability for their air and water pollution, including from a new round of environmental and public health protections that are being rolled out by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We’ve heard these lazily disingenuous narratives before.

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Fossil Fuels Electricity 2014 Climate Change 280

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

Deputy Policy Director Julie McNamara urges policymakers to see calls from the fossil fuel industry to invest more in their operations--in response to market instability because of the war in Ukraine--as an opportunistic attempt to lower their costs and increase their profits, at great cost to us.

Fossil Fuels 312

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 312

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Earlier this month at COP28 countries committed to transitioning off of fossil fuels and massively scaling up renewable energy instead. So you’re excused if, like me, you’re baffled by Minister Freeland’s first move in the wake of COP28: a giant new fossil fuel subsidy, via the new Canada Growth Fund.

Fossil Fuels 142

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Clean Energy Solar Power 142

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Codifying a floor for renewables in state law is helpful, but clean energy advocates must keep pushing utilities to move more quickly to incorporate higher levels of renewables not only to cut emissions faster, but also because renewables are the most cost-effective resources for ratepayers. What Still Needs to be Done?

Clean Energy 275

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 275

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 12, 2023

The same scenario has played out with the power plants that use fossil fuels, predominantly methane (“natural”) gas, delivered by pipelines. At the same time, extreme weather events are becoming more common as more fossil fuel is burned and carbon is released into the air. It’s a vicious feedback loop.

Fossil Fuels 251

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 251

Enviromental Defense

OCTOBER 16, 2024

This is great news, considering the outsized impacts of fossil fuels on driving climate change. For Canada, a major oil and gas producing country, it is imperative to be prepared for the shift in the global energy market. We have the tools to support a fair phaseout of fossil fuels.

Clean Energy 98

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Change Greenhouse 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 19, 2022

Minnesota needs substantial investments now to build toward an equitable clean energy future. The bad news is, they have to find a compromise between two vastly different clean energy bills—by Monday. Minnesotans are already experiencing the climate crisis, as well as health impacts, from burning fossil fuels.

Clean Energy 264

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 31, 2022

This is exacerbating a crisis in energy insecurity that has only worsened during the pandemic, leaving many more families struggling to pay their bills, facing disconnection, or already shut off from their utility service. And such action cannot be influenced by fossil fuel interests and their policy proposals that we are seeing in Congress.

Clean Energy 246

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 246

A Greener Life

AUGUST 9, 2024

By Anders Lorenzen The United Nations (UN) has warned that dis- and misinformation campaigns by primarily fossil fuel companies, slowing down the clean energy transition. This is directly due to the climate crisis, and directly due to the use of fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels 52

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Climate Change Government 52

Environment + Energy Leader

APRIL 3, 2023

As the world shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy, Australia’s lithium sector is poised to match thermal coal’s importance within the next five years. Read more » The post Lithium Mining Boom Continues in Australia as Demand for Clean Energy Grows appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

Clean Energy 189

Clean Energy 2028 Fossil Fuels Government 189

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 30, 2022

Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy from wind and solar will depend on upgrading the electric power grid, which is currently plagued by planning delays and gridlock. The 2021 law allows, but does not require, PJM to plan ahead because various fossil fuel plants must reduce and then cease emissions by a specific date.

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 264

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 21, 2022

Earlier this month the Government of Canada delivered on a key climate promise and released new rules which end public funding for fossil fuels abroad, starting January 1, 2023. It also begins to align federal spending with a climate-safe future, by prioritizing public dollars towards climate solutions like renewable energy.

Fossil Fuels 124

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy Government 124

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. No new gas plants. The Path Ahead.

Clean Energy 279

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2030 279

Enviromental Defense

MARCH 27, 2024

New analysis from Environmental Defence reveals that despite federal government promises, funding to the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries remains high Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – New analysis released today by Environmental Defence reveals Canada’s federal government provided at least $18.6

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Fossil Fuels Government Renewable Energy 2028 145

A Greener Life

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

By Anders Lorenzen The UK’s Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Ed Miliband, used a speech at the UK’s trade association for the energy sector, Energy UK Annual Conference, to make a compelling case for scaling up the clean energy transition.

Clean Energy 59

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Government 2008 59

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 214

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2024 214

Environment + Energy Leader

MAY 26, 2023

Solar energy investment in particular is leading this growth and is expected to surpass oil production.

Fossil Fuels 130

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 130

Environmental News Bits

AUGUST 4, 2022

2 renewable energy producer in the country after California. In fact, more than … Continue reading Who benefits from renewable energy subsidies? In Texas, it’s often fossil fuel companies that are fighting clean energy elsewhere.

Fossil Fuels 98

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Clean Energy 98

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. The United States needs to speed its transition to clean energy in order to stave off even worse impacts of climate change.

Fossil Fuels 281

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 281

Cresforum

OCTOBER 25, 2023

need to deploy clean energy technologies to achieve net zero emissions? How will this energy transition impact energy security and the country’s position today as a major energy exporter? biofuels, and fossil fuels. Electrification will reduce overall fossil fuel use. As the U.S.

Clean Energy 90

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Biofuels 2007 90

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 21, 2022

The most consequential vote to advance a clean energy future won’t be happening in Washington, D.C., billion in new transmission investments to accommodate a shift to clean energy. billion in new transmission investments to accommodate a shift to clean energy. or your state capital next week. billion to $11.6

Clean Energy 299

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 31, 2024

As I discussed in a previous blogpost , this funding is crucial for lower-income countries to be able to make a rapid clean energy transition while closing the huge energy poverty gap for millions of people without access to modern forms of energy. Progress on support for climate adaptation.

Fossil Fuels 273

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Renewable Energy Climate Change 273

Law and Environment

AUGUST 11, 2022

5060 ), titled An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, into law on Thursday August 11, 2022. Reduction of Fossil Fuels. Other provisions include a ban on incentives and rebates from Mass Save related to fossil fuel powered systems, except as backup for electric heat pumps.

Clean Energy 147

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2027 147

Environmental News Bits

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Global spending on clean energy technologies and infrastructure is on track to hit $2 trillion in 2024. Much of this funding is slated to be put toward renewables, electric vehicles, low-emission fuels, storage solutions, nuclear power and other green technology. Read the full story at ESG Dive.

Clean Energy 40

Clean Energy 2024 Nuclear Power Fossil Fuels 40

Scientific American

JUNE 12, 2024

Investments in carbon-free energy will be twice as large as fossil fuel spending in 2024, the International Energy Agency predicts

Clean Energy 145

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels 2024 145

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

Energy and Climate Law

NOVEMBER 2, 2020

For almost two year now the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is under revision and negotiations shall finish in 2021. The aim of the EU is to try to stop fossil fuel companies suing states over climate action. The EU now ratched up its position on the reform of the ECT during recent negotiation rounds.

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Fossil Fuels Natural Gas Electricity 2020 207

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 26, 2024

And we know that as our climate warms further—driven by burning fossil fuels—the risk of large wildfires will only grow. This alarming finding clarifies the significant role and responsibility of fossil fuel companies to not only stop their harm moving forward, but also to address damage they have already done.

Climate Change 272

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 272