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 357

Wind Power Fossil Fuels Electricity Climate Change 357

A Greener Life

AUGUST 30, 2022

The combination of offshore wind turbines, floating solar panels and green hydrogen are some of the hybrid clean energy technologies currently under development off the Dutch coast. . The low-lying European country is using its expertise in water engineering to build up its next wave of clean energy infrastructure.

Clean Energy 98

Clean Energy Technology Technology Fossil Fuels 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

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.

Clean Energy 294

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Solar Power 294

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

Environmental News Bits

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

The San Diego County Water Authority has an unusual plan to use the city’s scenic San Vicente Reservoir to store solar power so it’s available after sunset. The project, and others like it, could help unlock America’s clean energy future.

Wind Power 40

Wind Power Solar Power Clean Energy 40

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 54

Clean Energy Ocean Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 54

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 21, 2024

The IRA was passed into law to propel our nation’s clean energy transition forward. Treasury and the IRS are right to propose clear rules for solar- and wind-powered electricity generation. The power sector transition will overwhelmingly rely on the buildout of solar power and wind power.

Electricity 207

Electricity Wind Power Greenhouse Clean Energy 207

Legal Planet

APRIL 29, 2024

Climate policy has been boosted by dramatic changes in the economics of clean energy. Wind power costs fell by half from 2008 to 2021. Cheaper renewable energy attracts private investment and makes limits on fossil fuels more feasible. In short, we’re seeing something like a slimmed-down Green New Deal.

Fossil Fuels 251

Fossil Fuels 2008 2010 Clean Energy 251

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 309

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 309

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 289

Solar Power Clean Energy Carbon Emissions Electricity 289

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

With respect to the electricity grid, CEJA directs the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to prepare a Renewable Energy Access Plan (REAP) to help ensure that clean energy resources can connect to the grid and be ready to replace coal and gas plants.

Electricity 213

Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Waste 213

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 24, 2024

Using an interactive online dashboard-- Renewables on the Rise 2024 -- documents the growth of six key clean energy technologies across the United States over the past decade and ranks states accordingly for solar power, wind power, battery storage, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations.

Renewable Energy 97

Renewable Energy Clean Energy Solar Power Electricity 97

Environmental News Bits

DECEMBER 14, 2022

National Grid and LineVision are expanding the capacity of New York’s grid to carry greater amounts of wind power. Read the full story at Canary Media. Why aren’t more U.S. utilities doing the same?

Clean Energy 45

Clean Energy Wind Power Renewable Energy 45

Environmental News Bits

MAY 16, 2022

by Bryant Jones, Boise State University and Michael McKibben, University of California, Riverside Geothermal energy has long been the forgotten member of the clean energy family, overshadowed by relatively cheap solar and wind power, despite its proven potential. But that may soon change – for an unexpected reason.

Wind Power 105

Wind Power Clean Energy Technology Technology 105

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

Environmental News Bits

MARCH 25, 2022

by Bryant Jones, Boise State University and Michael McKibben, University of California, Riverside Geothermal energy has long been the forgotten member of the clean energy family, overshadowed by relatively cheap solar and wind power, despite its proven potential. But that may soon change – for an unexpected reason.

Wind Power 105

Wind Power Clean Energy Technology Technology 105

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 184

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 184

Law Columbia

DECEMBER 22, 2023

This proposal would bring real benefits, because large-scale clean energy projects , including all three categories of projects included in the proposal–solar, transmission, and storage–are necessary to meet the United States’ goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.

Clean Energy 60

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Greenhouse Conservation 60

A Greener Life

JULY 4, 2024

In the past 14 years much has happened in the space of climate change as well as the advancement of clean energy , but it has also become clear how hard it is to say goodbye to fossil fuels. These are symbolic and cultural attachments as much as it is the challenge of putting a proper energy transition in place.

Clean Energy 59

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Change Conservation 59

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

A Greener Life

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Weifang Port’s “zero-carbon” certification was primarily achieved by transitioning away from fossil fuel use, according to China Electric Power News (CEPN). It has built a wind power system to provide green energy for its operations and deployed hydrogen-powered vehicles to replace fossil-fuel-powered trucks.

Fossil Fuels 52

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Wind Power Solar Power 52

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 74

Wind Power Clean Energy 2029 Fossil Fuels 74

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 22, 2022

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. Southwest Minnesota and the Dakotas have a lot of wind power—and the potential for even more. Source: MISO LRTP Report.

Renewable Energy 335

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 335

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 227

Recycling Wind Power Technology Technology 227

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 240

Electricity Fossil Fuels Wind Power Renewable Energy 240

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2022

We also evaluated the potential to accelerate the use of renewable energy dramatically through state-level renewable electricity standards, which have been major drivers of clean energy in recent decades. What job opportunities would this clean energy transition create? In the no-new-policy scenario, it drops to 3.3

Electricity 269

Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nitrogen Oxides 269

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

Without additional climate or clean energy policies, gas (and to a lesser degree, coal) will both provide electricity and will be used to balance the grid with growing levels of variable wind and solar generation. These low gas prices play an interesting role in the US and world energy markets.

Natural Gas 288

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 288

A Greener Life

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

Forecasts of cool weather and expectations of lower wind power output had driven up demand for more fossil-fuel produced energy. The EU’s emissions trading system forces manufacturers, power companies and airlines, to pay for each tonne of CO2 they emit, in an effort to reduce emissions and to meet climate targets.

Fossil Fuels 52

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Wind Power Carbon Emissions 52

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Clean electricity is absolutely integral to efforts to decarbonize the economy and fight climate change. It’s good to see Ontario working to bolster, rather than undermine, the province’s “Clean Energy Advantage.” And it is a competitive advantage for the province.

Electricity 71

Electricity Wind Power Solar Power Climate Change 71

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

AUGUST 3, 2023

In a groundbreaking move, China installed the largest wind turbine ever erected, solidifying its position as a global leader in the renewable energy sector. The achievement marks another milestone in the country’s effort to be a clean energy leader.

Renewable Energy 97

Renewable Energy Clean Energy Electricity Wind Power 97

Acoel

JANUARY 5, 2024

With my zoom on full extension, I took this photo of a wind turbine (some assembly required!) en route to the Vineyard Wind site. This has become a familiar sight, and on January 2 , the first of the planned 62 turbines began delivering clean energy to the grid. I wrote an upbeat blog about these developments last June.

Wind Power 52

Wind Power Cooling Clean Energy 2024 52

A Greener Life

JANUARY 21, 2022

When the Paris Agreement was celebrated in 2015, no one was talking about hydrogen as a climate solution, the idea of net-zero targets had not been invented yet, and offshore wind power was mainly a European venture. These might not be perfect, but they’re at least starting to make plans for a non-fossil-fuel industry world.

Fossil Fuels 98

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Clean Energy 2015 98

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 22, 2024

By next year, Pennsylvania will get 50 percent of its electricity from ten new solar arrays around the Commonwealth – making Pennsylvania the first state in the country to commit to getting half of its energy from solar power.

Electricity 109

Electricity Government Clean Energy Renewable Energy 109

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 2, 2024

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

Law and Environment

MAY 4, 2023

According to the Department of Energy (“DOE”), PEM electrolyzers can operate “effectively at a range of loads with sub-second response times,” making them “particularly compatible with variable energy sources, such as sun and wind power.” Ammonia could also be an important carbon-less fuel. Steelmaking.

Carbon Monoxide 130

Carbon Monoxide Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Nuclear Power 130

Cresforum

JANUARY 16, 2024

Introduction One of the main messages coming out of the recent COP28 meetings in the UAE concerns the role that nuclear power can play in the future of clean energy development around the world. The hope is that this encourages international financial institutions to include nuclear energy in loans for energy projects.

Nuclear Power 103

Nuclear Power Electricity Clean Energy Technology 103