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.

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Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 264

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

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.

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Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 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

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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 279

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 279

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 290

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 290

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.

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Climate Change Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 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.

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Fossil Fuels Regulations Clean Energy Renewable Energy 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2022

That’s because the case, which was about the nature and scope of EPA authority in regulating carbon emissions from existing power plants, turned on a rule that does not exist. Because while this decision does still recognize EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, it simultaneously sharply curtails the agency’s ability to do so.

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Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Clean Energy Greenhouse 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Permitting them to violate these critical regulations means taxpayers have to shoulder the cost of monitoring, remediation, and cleanup, if they happen at all. VY: Clean energy sources will be absolutely pivotal for an equitable and reliable grid. EN: What needs to be done to make the electric grid more equitable—and reliable?

Clean Energy 359

Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Electricity 359

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.

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Technology Technology Climate Change Fossil Fuels 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Although the country’s federal energy regulator has had a disconcertingly nonchalant attitude towards these events.) The most promising and comprehensive solution is to meet grid reliability needs with clean resources rather than gas plants. However, that’s not what I’m going to focus on here.

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Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Technology 290

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.

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Law Renewable Energy Clean Energy Fossil Fuels 325

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 23, 2024

Prompted by a state law, California’s utility regulator has proposed to change the way electricity is billed by adding a fixed monthly charge to all rate plans and making a corresponding reduction to the cost for each unit of electricity used. The transition to clean transportation and clean energy is underway and we have to get it right.

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Electricity Fossil Fuels 2026 Climate Change 306

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 18, 2024

In late December, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released proposed regulations for the Section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit. The tax credit, passed as part of 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act, provides a generous incentive for the production of clean hydrogen. the “three pillars”).

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Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2028 Carbon Emissions 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. Renewable energy will help with all of that—but we need a grid that is designed for wind and solar instead of having to rely on expensive coal and gas plants.

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Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 363

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 costs will be too great otherwise.

Clean Energy 264

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Renewable Energy 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Bidirectional EVs Could Be the New Standard Electric vehicles (EVs) should be a clean transportation and a clean energy solution. Special session takes on big oil and wins The transition to clean transportation and away from fossil fuels is here. that need to be mined for new batteries.

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Fossil Fuels Recycling Clean Energy 2004 246

Law and Environment

AUGUST 11, 2022

5060 ), titled An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, into law on Thursday August 11, 2022. DPU is directed to promulgate updated regulations in accordance with the legislation. Reduction of Fossil Fuels. Governor Baker signed the climate bill ( H.5060 The law keeps the required procurement total at 5.6

Clean Energy 147

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2027 147

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 338

Fossil Fuels Waste Regulations Electricity 338

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Despite the clean energy transition that is well underway in the United States, methane gas, or natural gas, remains the largest source of U.S. The grid operator CAISO, along with state regulators, found that the derates and forced outages of this event mostly hit gas plants and were driven largely by high ambient temperatures.

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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. The West Virginia v.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Renewable energy like wind and solar is a clear solution: generate more electricity from renewables, and you can use less gas, and minimize the range of harms that come with that gas. We can help those decision makers make good decisions about gas plants and carbon cutting by sharing our understanding about what needs to be in the picture.

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Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Nitrogen Oxides 306

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

APRIL 20, 2023

This is despite the clean energy progress the power sector has experienced to date—and despite the groundwork laid for more progress from leading states, as well as the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). And more gas is slated to come. So what follows from that obligation?

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Clean Air Act Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Clean Energy 246

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. Add the supply We have more energy-producing facilities than ever before, and the United States is producing record levels of energy.

Electricity 299

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 299

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Statement by Alienor Rougeot, Senior Program Manager, Climate and Energy, on Ontario’s claims regarding the federal Clean Electricity Regulations. The federal government’s proposed regulations to reduce emissions in electricity generation are achievable without breaking the bank.

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Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 122

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 25, 2023

With an outsized credit for the lowest-carbon tier, the incentive’s aim is clear: Drive deployment of hydrogen production technologies that will be needed by, and aligned with , the nation’s overall clean energy transition. How do biomethane, lifecycle carbon accounting, and the tax credit interact?

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Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Clean Energy Carbon Emissions 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

An ambitious law that promises to accelerate the state’s clean energy transition, CEJA provides a detailed framework for greater utility transparency and accountability to update electricity distribution infrastructure to ensure a clean energy future.

Clean Energy 279

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Law and Environment

JULY 1, 2022

EPA on Thursday, June 30, 2022, curbing the power of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants across the country. The decision focuses on EPA’s authority under a specific section of the Clean Air Act. What does this mean for clean energy projects?

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Clean Energy Climate Change Clean Air Act Greenhouse 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 31, 2022

I’d be remiss not to mention that, ever since the August 2020 power outages, California policymakers and regulators have been pulling out all the stops to maintain grid reliability. The solar, wind, nuclear, hydropower, geothermal, energy storage and natural gas on the grid right now are the resources the state has this month.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

It’s widely viewed as the “gold standard” for energy projections, even though there’s much debate in the energy community about the validity of the assumptions behind these projections. EIA has a tough time coming to these projections as it’s difficult to predict the events that cause changes to energy markets.

Natural Gas 290

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 25, 2022

Grid modeling tools have a significant real-world impact because utilities, grid operators, regulators and policymakers rely on these tools to make investment and policy decisions. Capacity expansion models are the ones that get all the glory these days because utilities, grid operators and regulators use them to make investment decisions.

Electricity 279

Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 17, 2023

We need more electricity to transition our homes and cars off fossil fuels, but we can’t afford to let that electricity come from more gas power plants. Aging plants and state clean energy goals are certainly helping that trend. But we’ve also reached the point where the economics of renewables are just much better.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen Oxides Electricity 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

The US Energy Information Administration is forecasting the wholesale price of gas to reach its highest level since the winter of 2009-2010 in inflation-adjusted terms. Henry Hub is the national benchmark for wholesale gas prices (Source: US Energy Information Administration ). There are examples from across the country.

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Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Electricity Natural Gas 340

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 16, 2021

Energy use accounts for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions. The key to getting climate change under control is to rapidly decrease the user of fossil fuels. These facts make energy law central to one of the biggest issues now facing humanity. There are three interlinked reasons for the change. Climate change.

Law 244

Law Fossil Fuels Regulations Electricity 244

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. So while it likes to talk about Ontario’s “clean energy advantage”, the government is actively dismantling it. It will be something to watch.

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