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. New demands for electricity and the need to reduce climate-changing emissions are driving new grid planning efforts.

Electricity 288

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 288

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. Most Minnesotans are familiar with their local electricity utility, since that’s who bills them for electricity they provide.

Renewable Energy 362

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 362

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 12, 2022

Since the summer of 2021, five Republican-controlled state legislatures have passed bills banning their state governments from doing business with financial institutions that they allege have divested from fossil fuel companies as a result of ESG investment policies. Another six statehouses are considering similar bills.

Fossil Fuels 362

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Carbon Emissions Politics 362

Legal Planet

JANUARY 4, 2023

The City of Los Angeles is going into the new year with a big new building-decarbonization ordinance : starting this year, nearly all new buildings in the city will have to be entirely electric. All-electric as the new normal. And getting buildings to use electric appliances isn’t enough.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Electricity Climate Change Natural Gas 246

Circle of Blue

OCTOBER 4, 2022

The move represents a lifeline for fossil fuel use in a decarbonizing energy grid. A plan to build out electric vehicle chargers draws pushback from gas station owners in Minnesota. The post FRESH, October 4, 2022: Carbon Dioxide Storage and Transport Emerges as Political Flashpoint appeared first on Circle of Blue.

Carbon Dioxide 245

Carbon Dioxide Politics 2022 Climate Change 245

Legal Planet

APRIL 29, 2024

The Department of Energy estimates the cost of an electric vehicle lithium-ion battery pack declined 89% between 2008 and 2022. Different batteries may be ideal in settings where charging speed is not a factor, such as utility-scale electricity storage. Prices for battery storage have declined even more sharply.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels 2008 2010 Clean Energy 279

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.

Climate Change 287

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Nitrogen Oxides 287

Legal Planet

MAY 9, 2022

Texas and a number of other states have passed laws banning what they call “boycotts of fossil fuel companies.” ” More precisely, they ban state investment or contracting with firms that “boycott” fossil fuel companies. Is this as opposed to a political purpose on the part of the managers? “.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Law Carbon Emissions Politics 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 27, 2022

There is still much we can do to bend that emissions curve sharply within this decade—but only if world leaders, especially leaders of richer countries and major emitting nations, take responsibility to act together quickly and fossil fuel companies are held accountable for their decades of obstruction and deception.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels 2030 Clean Energy Climate Change 246

Legal Planet

AUGUST 5, 2021

electricity. A big shift to renewables could leave stranded assets — existing fossil fuel plants that the utility will no longer get paid for using. That doesn’t seem to be politically feasible at the national level, at present. Investor-owned utilities supply almost three-quarters of U.S. That brings us to carrots.

Fossil Fuels 299

Fossil Fuels Regulations Clean Energy Renewable Energy 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

They just released their 2022 “Annual Energy Outlook” (AEO), which is a big deal: it tells us where electricity is headed over the next 30 years. Here are five key takeaways from this year’s AEO, focused primarily on the electricity sector: 1. Relying on market trends is nowhere near enough to do the job. Carbon emissions remain high.

Natural Gas 290

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290

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

Legal Planet

MAY 23, 2022

Climate change wasn’t a central issue in the campaign, but resistance to climate action no longer provided a political advantage. It promises AU$20 billion to upgrade the grid, lower taxes on electric vehicles, AU$3 billion to cut emissions from heavy industry, building of 85 solar farms and 400 utility-scale storage facilities. (In

Carbon Emissions 246

Carbon Emissions Climate Change Fossil Fuels Politics 246

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 12, 2024

Yaw announced the introduction of legislation prohibiting the distribution of Act 13 impact fees to any county “that is actively suing over fossil fuel use.” Read more here. Although not yet introduced, Sen. Read more here. 16 [PaEN] -- EPA Files $4.2

Natural Gas 109

Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Law 2019 109

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 4, 2023

At the highest level, the contiguous United States is composed of three electrical grids: the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and the Texas Interconnection. Interconnections and regional entities (Source: North American Electric Reliability Corporation). It would change Western energy markets.

Clean Energy 300

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2018 300

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 30, 2023

Landmark DTE Energy settlement In July, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved a momentous sett l e m ent agreement regarding the electric utility DTE Energy’s plan to provide electricity to its 2.3 Reform utility political contribution and lobbying regulations. million customers for the next 20 years.

Clean Energy 253

Clean Energy Electricity Renewable Energy Climate Change 253

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Senate Bill (SB) 271 requires utilities to achieve, at a minimum, renewable energy-generated electricity sales of 50 percent in 2030 and 60 percent in 2035. percent of electricity sales, but at a lower level than the 2 percent clean energy advocates proposed and that utilities have previously achieved. What’s In the Bills?

Clean Energy 266

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 266

Circle of Blue

OCTOBER 6, 2022

Coal mine reclamation has become a flashpoint in the partisan divide over fossil fuel use. In the late 1970s, a golden age for American coal, skyrocketing oil prices coupled with rising demand for electricity set off a boom in coal-fired power plants. A Political Quagmire. Photo © Prairie Rivers Network.

Law 266

Law Fossil Fuels Politics Natural Resources 266

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 16, 2024

I work in the electric utility sector, specifically on the grid issues that shape our energy supply choices. I heard some early warnings of data center growth running into grid limits first from tech companies and then from electric utility planners. This growth is a jolt to the usually slow-moving electricity sector.

Electricity 264

Electricity Clean Energy Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 264

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. It’s a contentious issue fraught with political and social dynamics that have largely doomed previous attempts. The good news? How are we doing on that?

Clean Energy 332

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2030 332

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 18, 2021

North Carolina today gets over half of its power from fossil fuels, about 25% from coal and 33% from natural gas. Perhaps the most controversial portion of the bill changes the mechanism for setting electricity rates. Nuclear accounts for another third, and renewables are only 11% including hydro and biomass.

Solar Power 246

Solar Power Carbon Dioxide Fossil Fuels 2005 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 1, 2022

California’s leadership on reducing truck pollution has been on full display the past few years, passing critical regulations requiring 90 percent reduction in smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NO X ) emissions from diesel trucks and requiring manufacturers sell an increasing share of electric trucks to move away from fossil fuels altogether.

Nitrogen Oxides 246

Nitrogen Oxides Clean Air Act Ozone Fossil Fuels 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

Like many other public-serving institutions throughout society, electricity and gas utilities are facing calls to be more equitable in their operations, planning, and treatment of customers. For example, think of how unequal burdens manifest themselves amid Danger Season , when a range of climate impacts hit increasingly hard.

Electricity 299

Electricity Fossil Fuels Air Pollution Renewable Energy 299

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 26, 2021

C temperature target, and one that more than 130 countries have adopted, albeit mostly as squishy political declarations, not yet legally binding or implemented. Fossil enterprises and political leaders in major fossil producers ranged from politely dismissive to openly contemptuous.

Fossil Fuels 162

Fossil Fuels Politics Technology Technology 162

Legal Planet

AUGUST 2, 2021

In the early 1960s, he wrote again about fossil fuels as causes of global warming. Black, had participated in a National Academy of Sciences report that said CO 2 increases might eventually require reducing the use of fossil fuels. He had already written about global warming before starting there in 1956.

Fossil Fuels 190

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere 190

Legal Planet

MAY 9, 2022

Emissions trading systems are often launched with relatively lenient design features, typically justified as giving the system a chance to “learn-by-doing” and to gain political buy-in for approval of a program. . – Continual reform to improve ambition, integrity, and buy-in. Most ETS have fallen on the prices-too-low side.

Government 241

Government Politics Climate Change Paris Agreement 241

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 20, 2023

Because beyond the importance of cleaning up the power sector itself, we also need a clean electricity system to enable the decarbonization of so many other aspects of our economy, from vehicles to homes and businesses to industrial processes. One critical tool for forcing that reckoning comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Clean Air Act 231

Clean Air Act Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Clean Energy 231

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 28, 2023

By Dave Jenkins, Conservatives For Responsible Stewardshi p The following goest essay first appeared in the Erie Times on March 27, 2023 -- We are at an inflection point on energy: 2022 was the first year when global investment in carbon-free sources of energy matched investment in fossil fuels. High overseas demand for U.S.

Fossil Fuels 73

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Conservation Nuclear Power 73

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else-- -- Gov. Rapp (R-Warren) Defends Indoor Smoking -- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion -- AAA Gasoline Prices: PA Average- $3.60; National Average- $3.33; Ohio Average- $3.16 -- PUC Alert: Dec. 1 Utility Prices Are Changing - Natural Gas (+149% to -64.2%); Electric (+18.8%

Politics 106

Politics Natural Gas 2024 2023 106

Enviromental Defense

AUGUST 12, 2024

It highlights the most active fossil fuel companies and industry associations, as well as the Members of Parliament, ministries and ministers targeted for lobbying. Big Oil has a long history of denying climate change and promoting disinformation to greenwash the fossil fuel industry.

Fossil Fuels 145

Fossil Fuels Natural Resources Climate Change Government 145

Enviromental Defense

MAY 31, 2022

To help voters determine which candidates would deliver the needed course correction, Environmental Defence and its allies in the Ontario Priorities Working Group asked each of the province’s major political parties whether – and how – they would deliver the rapid emissions reductions Ontario will need to head off climate catastrophe. .

Climate Change 98

Climate Change Politics 2022 2030 98

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

This post was originally published on the Law and Political Economy blog as part of a symposium on inflation. In the early days of the current price shocks, fossil fuel boosters blamed clean energy and climate policy. The Capacity Story. How then do we explain what is currently happening with energy prices?

Natural Gas 130

Natural Gas Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 130

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 20, 2023

. -- March 20 PA Environment Digest Now Available [PaEN] -- Guest Essay: Shell Petrochemical Plant Off To A Bad- And Dangerous- Start In Beaver County - By Joseph Minott, Clean Air Council -- Inside Climate News: Fossil Fuel Executives See A ‘Golden Age’ For Natural Gas, If They Can Brand It As ‘Clean’ -- The Guardian: Older Americans To Blockade Banks (..)

Fossil Fuels 108

Fossil Fuels Politics Conservation Natural Gas 108

A Greener Life

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Fossil fuels such as coal , oil and natural gas are the source of just over 80% of the world’s energy. To avert catastrophic warming, the global community must rapidly reduce how much of these fuels it extracts and burns. Fossil fuels still provide most of the world’s energy. Fossil fuel rationing.

Fossil Fuels 98

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Technology Technology 98

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 11, 2023

They were powered by fossil fuels, mostly gas. PJM reported failures across the gas system, including low pressure, frozen compressors, and simply no commercially available fuel. PJM must plan accordingly, and reform rules that subsidize fossil fuel power plants by pretending they’re more reliable than they really are.”

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Electricity Waste 98

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

The PJM Interconnection , the regional electric grid operator that includes Pennsylvania, has issued a Cold Weather Alert and declared Conservative Operations throughout the PJM footprint for February 3–4 in anticipation of frigid temperatures. With the Cold Weather Alert and a preceding Cold Weather Advisory issued Jan.

Electricity 83

Electricity Conservation Natural Gas Fossil Fuels 83

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 10, 2023

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events -- 118 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA [PaEN] -- Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults [PaEN] -- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week [PaEN] -- Centre Daily Times Guest Essay: Time To Make Our Electric Grid (..)

Fossil Fuels 108

Fossil Fuels Natural Gas Carbon Emissions Politics 108