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

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 328

Fossil Fuels Wind Power Ocean Renewable Energy 328

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 330

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2030 330

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.

Fossil Fuels 262

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2014 Climate Change 262

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 260

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity 260

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 228

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 228

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 245

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Regulations 245

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

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 14, 2025

As the climate crisis deepens, so does the urgency to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for decades of deception. As the fossil fuel industry spares no expense to obscure these truths, the work of scientists who engage with climate litigation is increasingly vital.

Fossil Fuels 184

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Government Law 184

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

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 298

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels 298

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 12, 2023

Utility companies, as well as state and federal government regulatory agencies, made a series of questionable decisions that together created the situation we find ourselves in today. The same scenario has played out with the power plants that use fossil fuels, predominantly methane (“natural”) gas, delivered by pipelines.

Fossil Fuels 228

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 228

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 330

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 330

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

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

Fossil Fuels 143

Fossil Fuels Government Renewable Energy 2028 143

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. Now we need to rapidly accelerate the clean energy momentum already underway.

Technology 263

Technology Technology Climate Change Fossil Fuels 263

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 19, 2022

The shift from fossil fuels in the 100% RES scenario reduces the amount of harmful air pollution from power plants much more than in our “No New Policy”/business-as-usual scenario. Just as important, cleaning up the power grid can also decrease carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. And our modeling shows renewables’ power.

Renewable Energy 363

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Nitrogen Oxides Clean Energy 363

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 26, 2024

Soon after, García put her experience and her education into action, joining a consultant group that helped the Colombian government evaluate what policies could support the large-scale deployment of renewables for the country. Back home in Colombia, García’s family is witnessing the consequences of a fossil fuel-centered energy system.

Renewable Energy 318

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 318

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 140

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Clean Energy Solar Power 140

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2022

First and foremost, despite some fossil fuel interests swinging for the fossil fuel-favored fences, the Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. EPA did not revoke EPA’s underlying authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. What the Supreme Court decided in West Virginia v.

Fossil Fuels 278

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Clean Energy Greenhouse 278

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. Pitting climate and energy against each other is an insidious lie.

Fossil Fuels 321

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 321

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Besides addressing grid reliability, grid planners need to factor them in when considering what energy sources should be used to power the grid. VY: Clean energy sources will be absolutely pivotal for an equitable and reliable grid. How can we make sure the decisionmaking process for a clean grid transition is equitable?

Clean Energy 351

Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Electricity 351

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 113

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy Government 113

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

You don’t have to look beyond the front pages of newspapers , or beyond rooftops in your neighborhood to know that we are in the midst of a clean energy revolution, with renewable energy technologies dramatically decreasing in price and increasing in availability.

Law 325

Law Renewable Energy Clean Energy Fossil Fuels 325

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – We are disappointed to see the Ontario government make unsupported claims about the proposed federal clean electricity regulations. Ontario is going the wrong way when it comes to clean electricity.

Electricity 114

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 114

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 30, 2022

Wider repercussions, including the inequitable impacts of rising food and energy prices and the potential for a food crisis hitting vulnerable populations around the world, must also be urgently addressed by global leaders. Other countries are dependent upon these fossil fuels, they don’t make themselves free of them.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Energy 2030 279

Legal Planet

AUGUST 5, 2021

With some notable exceptions, they’ve tended to drag their feet on the energy transition. The proposed Clean Energy Standard is one effort to deal with this problem. A big shift to renewables could leave stranded assets — existing fossil fuel plants that the utility will no longer get paid for using.

Fossil Fuels 299

Fossil Fuels Regulations Clean Energy Renewable Energy 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

Last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) included a clean hydrogen production tax credit (known as “45V”) that is one of a slew of new incentives intended to help catalyze the next and necessary phase of advancing the nation’s clean energy transition as a whole. The framing is consequential.

Clean Energy 261

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Renewable Energy 261

Enviromental Defense

NOVEMBER 11, 2021

Last week, the federal government showed some much-needed climate leadership at COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. Joining an ever growing list of countries from around the world, Canada pledged to end public financing for overseas fossil-fuel projects in 2022 and instead prioritize the clean energy transition.

Fossil Fuels 101

Fossil Fuels 2022 Clean Energy Climate Change 101

Enviromental Defense

APRIL 3, 2023

To no one’s surprise it contained zero funding to address climate change – not even for clean energy – which the document referred to multiple times. The current government acts like it’s somehow responsible for this feat. The current government acts like it’s somehow responsible for this feat.

Clean Energy 100

Clean Energy Government Electricity 2017 100

Legal Planet

JUNE 4, 2021

Some events last week sent a strong signal that the tide is turning against fossil fuels. To paraphrase Churchill, this may not be beginning of the end for fossil fuels, but at least it is the end of the beginning of the campaign against them. Each of the events standing alone would have been noteworthy.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Climate Change Carbon Emissions 246

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. Fortunately, the federal government is currently developing a policy that would limit oil and gas pollution.

Clean Energy 96

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Change Greenhouse 96

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 16, 2024

Much of our electricity system is 50 to 70 years old, yet current plans for domestic manufacturing, electric vehicle fleets, community solar gardens and more clean energy all depend on a modern grid. How we do this, and how well it happens, depends on planning and collaboration across local, state and federal government.

Electricity 286

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 286

Enviromental Defense

MARCH 31, 2022

A new report released today by Environmental Defence – Buyer Beware: Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Carbon Capture Fairy Tales in Canada – reveals that despite promises to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, the federal government provided the fossil fuel sector with at least $8.6

Fossil Fuels 92

Fossil Fuels Government Renewable Energy Atmosphere 92

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 30, 2023

First, CAISO would need a new governance and decisionmaking system for this Western RTO. As it’s currently organized, CAISO differs from the other RTOs in that California’s elected officials appoint and confirm its governing body, and thus CAISO policies are often aligned with California state policies. What happens next?

Clean Energy 249

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Government Renewable Energy 249

Law and Environment

JULY 1, 2022

The decision focuses on EPA’s authority under a specific section of the Clean Air Act. But a closer read suggests more sweeping, longer-term implications for incentivizing the development of clean energy projects nationwide. What does this mean for clean energy projects? What is the case about? .

Clean Energy 130

Clean Energy Climate Change Clean Air Act Greenhouse 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

In December, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service proposed regulations governing implementation of the 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit , passed as part of 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act. In particular, emissions loopholes related to biomethane and fugitive methane (i.e.,

Fossil Fuels 302

Fossil Fuels Waste Regulations Electricity 302