Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 15, 2022

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.

Wind Power 360

Wind Power Fossil Fuels Electricity Climate Change 360

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

There’s good news in the recently released official data on electricity generation in the United States in 2022: renewable energy has continued to grow, coal power has continued to drop, and renewables are now firmly ahead of coal for the first time ever. They offer a lot of good news about clean energy progress.

Clean Energy 306

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Solar Power 306

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 30, 2023

And I love hearing about new renewable electricity records as spring unfolds. A few recent examples for that last love: California scored a new record for total generation from renewable energy in mid-April and a new record for solar production in mid-May. New York just broke its solar record.

Renewable Energy 245

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Change Electricity 245

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.

Renewable Energy 363

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 363

A Greener Life

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

By Anders Lorenzen Analysis by WindEurope , Europe’s wind power industry group, reveals a record-breaking year for European wind power when it comes to investments in the industry as well as installing new capacity. gigawatts (GW) of new wind power capacity with 80% being onshore. Photo credit: WindEurope.

Wind Power 118

Wind Power 2023 Renewable Energy 2030 118

Legal Planet

APRIL 29, 2024

Climate policy has been boosted by dramatic changes in the economics of clean energy. Perhaps the most important development of the past decade has been the dramatic decline in the cost of renewables. Wind power costs fell by half from 2008 to 2021. But it does make other things easier.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels 2008 2010 Clean Energy 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

Along with interim goals and priorities for pollution reduction in environmental justice areas, the law provides authorization and resources for state agencies to enable the transition to clean, renewable energy. Illinois legislators and clean energy advocates celebrate CEJA’s signing in September 2021.

Electricity 246

Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Waste 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2022

Nearly all of the alliance members have a renewable electricity standard (RES), which requires utilities in their jurisdiction to increase their use of renewable energy to a particular percentage by a specific year. We found that states have technically feasible and highly beneficial ways to achieve 100-percent renewable energy.

Electricity 279

Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nitrogen Oxides 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 22, 2022

Batteries are key to enabling the renewable energy transition. When the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, batteries help store clean energy to continue supplying electricity to the grid and to customers consistently and reliably. A fossil fuel energy grid extracts and expends finite resources.

Renewable Energy 260

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Recycling 260

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2025

And how would that approach compare to using renewable energy? Like the fact thatspoiler alertusing solar panels or wind turbines directly is three times more efficient than an approach involving hydrogen production and gas plants. But an electrolyzer might instead be powered by sources that emit a lot more carbon.

Renewable Energy 130

Renewable Energy Electricity Carbon Dioxide Carbon Emissions 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 25, 2022

Today, the regional entity overseeing much of the electric power grid in the Midwest—the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)—approved a set of major new transmission system upgrades that will bring billions of dollars in benefits to the region while better enabling states and utilities to pursue transitions to clean energy.

Solar Power 312

Solar Power Clean Energy Carbon Emissions Electricity 312

A Greener Life

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

The United States supports Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partners in meeting their clean energy goals. Above, wind turbines turn in Sidenreng Rappang, Indonesia. Dat Bike is one of numerous partners the US government works with to meet this rapidly growing demand for clean energy. million people.

Clean Energy 105

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity Wind Power 105

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

Source: US Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook 2022 (AEO2022). According to the forecast, while economy-wide CO 2 emissions decrease from 2022 to 2037 due primarily to the growth in renewable energy replacing retiring coal plants, emissions do increase after 2037 from increased usage of natural gas.

Natural Gas 290

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290

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. How is that going to happen? Their report, however, comes with a warning.

Carbon Emissions 331

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 331

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 19, 2023

The results include two developers cancelling their offshore wind power contracts with states and utilities, another cancelling two projects altogether, and hesitation elsewhere. The good news-bad news balance, though, would seem to tip decidedly in favor of a whole lot more offshore wind.

Electricity 325

Electricity Fossil Fuels Wind Power Renewable Energy 325

Law Columbia

JUNE 11, 2024

Local opposition has proven to be a significant barrier to the rapid expansion of renewable energy facilities across the United States. The report also identifies 395 local restrictions across 41 states, along with 19 state-level restrictions, that are so severe that they could have the effect of blocking a renewable energy project.

Renewable Energy 111

Renewable Energy 2023 Government Natural Resources 111

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 12, 2022

To ensure the wind industry upholds environmental justice and stewards its raw materials, many companies are replacing balsa with other materials. For example, LM Wind Power has minimized balsa in its blades, substituting in synthetic plastic PET and PVC foams. Click the links below for answers: How Are Wind Turbines Made.

Recycling 326

Recycling Wind Power Technology Technology 326

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 264

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 12, 2023

Renewable energy competition Now that renewable energy sources are economically competitive, companies are building more wind and solar facilities. At the same time, wind farms produced well above expectations. Market forces are moving private investment to renewables. It’s a vicious feedback loop.

Fossil Fuels 278

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 278

Legal Planet

MARCH 30, 2023

I sometimes ask students to guess what state produces the most wind power. Which seems a little hard to square with the state’s reliance on renewable energy. Which seems a little hard to square with the state’s reliance on renewable energy. Instead, Texas is doubling down on renewables.

Wind Power 130

Wind Power Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Natural Gas 130

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 9, 2025

Attacks on nature, clean energy, and livable communities filled the headlines. Speaking of homes, heating and cooling a home in Canada where we see 50 degree temperature swings over the course of the year requires lots of energy. 2024 had some bumps in the road for environmental protection. But what about for 2025?

2025 80

2025 Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Cooling 80

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Here’s more: “California’s climate ambitions will be met only by deploying clean energy and transportation on an unprecedented scale, and China has a lot to offer on that score. China is also a world leader on offshore wind energy production, an area Newsom has sought to emphasize in California.

Wind Power 195

Wind Power Clean Energy Electricity Carbon Emissions 195

A Greener Life

JUNE 18, 2024

This was recently the case with a new law to boost renewable energy in the alpine country. The government wanted more emphasis on producing more home-grown clean energy. In a referendum held last week, voters backed the costed legislation that would promote renewable energy.

Renewable Energy 59

Renewable Energy Wind Power Law Electricity 59

Enviromental Defense

MARCH 22, 2022

A report commissioned by the Ontario Power Authority (now the Independent Electricity System Operator) identified 64 potential offshore wind power sites in the Great Lakes that could produce nearly 35,000 MW of electricity which is 50 per cent more than our current energy demand. Use Water Power Imports.

Solar Power 124

Solar Power Wind Power Renewable Energy Electricity 124

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 12, 2022

The wind is in our sails on the voyage towards a clean energy future. Wind energy is currently the largest renewable energy source in the US, and the industry is growing fast. Global demand for neodymium for wind turbines is estimated to increase 48% by 2050. That place rocks! Promethium.

Recycling 147

Recycling Renewable Energy Technology Clean Energy 147

A Greener Life

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

The Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm. By Anders Lorenzen The UK government has said that the UK’s sixth renewable energy auction has delivered a record 131 clean energy projects. Under current projections and with no change to the scale, the 2024 record auction would power 11 million British homes.

Renewable Energy 59

Renewable Energy Clean Energy Government 2030 59

A Greener Life

APRIL 7, 2023

By Anders Lorenzen Tenders for 250 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy by 2028 are set to be unveiled by the Indian government, according to a government memo. Wind power is set to play a key part in the target of 50 GW of new green energy tenders each year at 10 GW. Photo credit: Reuters / Amit Dave. in 2019 to 72.8%

Clean Energy 52

Clean Energy 2028 Wind Power Renewable Energy 52

A Greener Life

OCTOBER 12, 2023

The country, which is one of the largest oil producers in the region, is nevertheless keen to showcase that they do believe in shifting to clean energy. The country has launched what will be its first ever commercial wind project. Masdar added that it is innovative, as the turbines can exploit low wind speeds at scale.

Wind Power 111

Wind Power Renewable Energy Clean Energy 111

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 11, 2023

Diversifying the country’s power system away from large, thermal power plants that require fuel and water to operate–like coal- and gas-fired plants–can also make the grid more resilient to spring impacts like floods and other extreme weather.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels 2011 Climate Change Nuclear Power 246

Acoel

MAY 18, 2021

Yet Mainers are questioning whether to accept a new 145-mile electric transmission line that will bring hydropower from Quebec into the New England power grid, removing 3.0 Million tons of regional CO2 per year, and providing energy cost savings to Mainers ($40 million per year in savings) and others in New England. What gives?

Renewable Energy 76

Renewable Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels Wind Power 76

Ocean Conservancy

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

To avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis, it’s crucial that we shift energy production away from the unsustainable fossil fuels that cause climate change and towards those that release little to no greenhouse gases (GHG), such as solar and wind power. Clean energy is key to national security.

Clean Energy 57

Clean Energy Ocean Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 57

Law Columbia

APRIL 3, 2024

Achieving the United States’ ambitious emissions reduction goals depends in large part on the rapid adoption of wind and solar energy and the electrification of consumer vehicles. However, misinformation and coordinated disinformation about renewable energy is widespread and threatens to undermine public support for the transition.

Electricity 135

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Radiation 135

A Greener Life

AUGUST 3, 2023

By Anders Lorenzen China continues to set renewable energy records and has once again reaffirmed its commitment to the sector. In a groundbreaking move, China installed the largest wind turbine ever erected, solidifying its position as a global leader in the renewable energy sector.

Renewable Energy 97

Renewable Energy Clean Energy Electricity Wind Power 97

Legal Planet

MARCH 6, 2023

Hydrogen’s supply-side has been buttressed by incentives from state and federal governments, refineries and utilities looking to extend the life of fossil fuel infrastructure, and renewable energy companies seeking to take advantage of the huge amounts of clean energy needed to produce green hydrogen.

Natural Gas 147

Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Carbon Dioxide 147

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 9, 2023

On August 9, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority announced it would be committing to the purchase of wind power and the use of clean energy to support the production and operations of water services. PWSA holds the largest share at 30% of the total, underlining our strong commitment to sustainable energy practices.

Wind Power 75

Wind Power Clean Energy 2029 Fossil Fuels 75

Enviromental Defense

JUNE 17, 2024

Alberta: Speak Up For a SAFE Climate: Take Action Here How Climate Action Makes Life More Affordable Renewable energy, including solar and wind power, is much cheaper and less polluting than burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil and coal. In the last three fiscal years, the government of Alberta has provided $4.8

Climate Change 98

Climate Change Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Wind Power 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 2, 2024

Spring is a glorious time for renewable energy. Whatever the weather in March and beyond—in-like-a-lion blustery or out-like-a-lamb sunny—spring tends to be a season of strong electricity production from solar and wind in particular. And, this spring, that clean energy production is looking more impressive than ever.

Electricity 157

Electricity 2013 2023 Clean Energy 157