Remove Clean Energy Remove Fossil Fuels Remove Wind Power
article thumbnail

2024 Year in Review: Clean Energy Progress Steeped in Solar and Storage

Union of Concerned Scientists

The end of every year is a great time for taking stock of what the year has broughtincluding in terms of clean energy in the power sector. As it turns out, 2024 has provided a whole lot of clean energy progress as fodder for that stock-taking.

article thumbnail

5 Powerful Facts for Global Wind Day

Union of Concerned Scientists

We at the Union of Concerned Scientists think a lot about wind power. In honor of Global Wind Day , here’s a roundup of what we’re seeing and what we’ve been thinking—five facts about wind energy to keep in mind as you celebrate, or at least make note, on June 15. Wind power is big, and getting bigger.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Fossil Fuels vs. Renewables: A Price on Reliability?

Union of Concerned Scientists

The same scenario has played out with the power plants that use fossil fuels, predominantly methane (“natural”) gas, delivered by pipelines. The electric power system is trapped by gas-dependent power plants that cannot obtain gas when it needs it to keep the lights on. It’s a vicious feedback loop.

article thumbnail

Renewables Have Pulled Ahead of Coal. What’s Next?

Union of Concerned Scientists

The progress in the numbers The new numbers are from the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA), which collects data from power plant operators from across the country. They offer a lot of good news about clean energy progress. Renewables up, coal down More renewable energy is desirable for a lot of reasons.

article thumbnail

How Are Lithium-ion Batteries that Store Solar and Wind Power Made?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Once the battery looks up to code, it is off to the grid to power our renewable energy future! Battery energy storage is powerful and growing. Battery energy storage can help store clean energy for the grid. Challenges and Opportunities in Mining Materials for Energy Storage Lithium-ion Batteries.

article thumbnail

Building a Better Power Grid for Minnesota

Union of Concerned Scientists

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.

article thumbnail

This Leap Year, Some Clean Energy Leaps to Watch For

Union of Concerned Scientists

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.