Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 12, 2023

What happens when promise of electricity reliability fails in bad weather? How can gas power plant owners claim to be reliable but fail to make adequate efforts to purchase fuel? We know that consumers pay for electricity reliability and bear the cost when supplies are tight.

Fossil Fuels 219

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 219

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 20, 2025

To build a clean economy and avoid a climate disaster, Canada needs an emissions-free electricity supply. As we electrify everything, from our cars to our home heating systems, we need electricity to come from sources that dont emit greenhouse gases. The Clean Electricity Regulations are an important part of Canadas climate plan.

Electricity 108

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 108

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Energy storage, or the storing of electricity for later use on the power grid, plays an important role in the clean energy transition. Illinois is currently considering policy proposals to establish a statewide energy storage target. Curtailment means we are wasting otherwise clean, perfectly usable electricity.

Fossil Fuels 162

Fossil Fuels 2030 Electricity Clean Energy 162

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. Battery storage is very cost-effective.

Electricity 131

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 131

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. Spring tends to be a time when there is lower electricity demand.

Renewable Energy 245

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Change Electricity 245

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

As the adoption of electric cars, trucks, and buses gains momentum, many people are wondering if the electric grid is up to the task of charging all of those vehicles. And will the grid be able to handle all of the electric vehicles we will have as we progress toward a highly-electrified transportation future, by say 2040 or 2050?

Electricity 352

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Cooling 352

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 360

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 360

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 14, 2025

Without a strong oil and gas pollution cap, fossil fuel companies will continue to prioritize their profits at the expense of our health, climate and future. Even in Alberta, which has the lowest support for renewable energy, only 18 per cent of respondents want to see fossil fuels prioritized.

Politics 120

Politics Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Climate Change 120

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

Last week, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed into law a standard that will make the North Star State’s electricity 100 percent carbon-free by 2040. Building on the success of the 100 percent standard, there are many other energy- and environment-related bills ready for discussion and approval. What’s next?

Electricity 262

Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 262

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 15, 2025

On March 14, a tour of Steelton-Highspire School District facilities and Tregs Independent Brewing in Dauphin County shows the benefits of going solar and electric school buses. These events were held to educate local residents about the benefits of solar energy and electric vehicles. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin), Rep.

Electricity 109

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Solar Power 109

A Greener Life

APRIL 21, 2025

By Shadia Haq Earth Day 2025 focuses on the theme Our Power, Our Planet and urges a global shift to renewable energy. 2025 The theme “Our Power, Our Planet” calls for tripling renewable energy by 2030. 2025 The theme “Our Power, Our Planet” calls for tripling renewable energy by 2030.

Earth Day 54

Earth Day Renewable Energy 2025 Fossil Fuels 54

Ocean Conservancy

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

If we are to protect the ocean, its marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them, we must address climate change at its root: the burning of fossil fuels for energy. But this cannot happen without clean-energy solutions, such as offshore wind and other marine renewables , that can replace them.

Fossil Fuels 133

Fossil Fuels Ocean Climate Change Clean Energy 133

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 280

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 280

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. percent of the country’s electricity supply (up 1.1

Clean Energy 306

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Solar Power 306

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) sets a bold goal for the state—no carbon pollution from electricity generation by 2045, which means zero global warming emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants. PowerGEM , an independent consulting firm, conducted the analysis for us, using the same data and process PJM uses.

Electricity 241

Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Waste 241

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 22, 2023

But extreme heat also hits our electricity system in ways that make it more expensive, more polluting, and less reliable. Extreme heat means more expensive electricity Extreme heat can sharply increase electricity consumption as people turn up their air conditioners for relief. One factor is the dirtiness of fossil fuels.

Electricity 244

Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Cooling 244

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Union of Concerned Scientists’ (UCS) research shows that top fossil fuel producers’ emissions are responsible for as much as half of global surface temperature increase. The best solution: Replace fossil fuels with renewable energy. The transition to 100-percent renewables is possible.

Fossil Fuels 321

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 321

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 15, 2022

The ones that’ll soon be gracing areas over the horizon are powerful enough, each one, to generate the equivalent of an average home’s daily electricity use in just a few seconds. Even more important, though, wind is an impressive piece of our electricity supply. Wind is now the largest source of renewable energy in the country.

Wind Power 360

Wind Power Fossil Fuels Electricity Climate Change 360

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 19, 2022

Minnesotans are already experiencing the climate crisis, as well as health impacts, from burning fossil fuels. A recent Union of Concerned Scientists analysis found that Minnesota could meet its electricity demands with 100-percent renewable energy by 2035, which would provide significant economic and health benefits.

Clean Energy 256

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity 256

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 8, 2023

Electric transportation is essential for a cleaner and healthier world. Replacing gasoline vehicles with electric can reduce emissions that cause climate change and illnesses. Researchers like me are putting a microscope to the electric vehicles (EVs) because, as with any extraction and manufacturing, there are associated impacts.

Electricity 305

Electricity Recycling Fossil Fuels Climate Change 305

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 25, 2022

This week, the Midwest’s regional electric grid operators approved nearly $10.5 These investments will bring more clean energy online, improve grid resiliency, and deliver significant consumer benefits and jobs. This development will create almost 32,000 jobs while providing enough energy to power more than 1.8 million homes.

Renewable Energy 259

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 259

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2025

And how would that approach compare to using renewable energy? That means that, for a plant to generate the same amount of electricity, it needs to burn more of a gas-hydrogen blend. Electrolysis involves using electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. Water itself (H 2 O) is carbon-free. So far, so good.

Renewable Energy 156

Renewable Energy Electricity Carbon Dioxide Carbon Emissions 156

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Extreme weather, which is increasing due to climate change , can degrade the electricity system and cause these failures. Power outages are costly, can have extreme impacts on both the health and safety of a population, and can happen at any point in the process of electricity generation, distribution, and usage.

Electricity 248

Electricity Renewable Energy Climate Change Sea Level 248

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 28, 2022

First, Union of Concerned Scientists and the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition released a new report on how Michigan and other states can achieve 100-percent renewable energy standards that benefit all communities. Whitmer announced the MI Healthy Climate Plan , a roadmap for meeting the state’s carbon pollution reduction goals.

Clean Energy 277

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2030 277

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2021

We need to quickly transition to a clean energy future in Illinois to prevent additional negative public health impacts from fossil fuel plants. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) HB 0804/ SB1718 is the only bill that puts Illinois on a path to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Fossil Fuels 250

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 2030 250

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.

Law 325

Law Renewable Energy Clean Energy Fossil Fuels 325

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 25, 2022

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Without power grid modeling tools, the transition to clean electricity would be an absolute mess. Just imagine if grid planners had to guess how many renewables are required to reduce emissions or how much capacity is needed to ensure grid reliability. Surely that would not end well.

Electricity 277

Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 277

Enviromental Defense

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

They are useful tools for incentivizing things that we want more of – like renewable energy. That’s what the proposed clean energy tax credit does. Hydrogen, like electricity, is an energy carrier – it can be used to store and deliver usable energy, for example to a cement or steel factory or to produce fertilizer.

Fossil Fuels 116

Fossil Fuels 2023 Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 116

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 6, 2025

On March 6, the City of Reading announced it is now moving into the construction phase as part of a strategic partnership with Schneider Electric to implement a Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA) project, reinforcing Reading's commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. The total project cost of $17.9

Renewable Energy 65

Renewable Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels 2026 65

Circle of Blue

AUGUST 3, 2021

energy policy has done little to incentivize the growth of these technologies, relying on a patchwork of energy credit programs, tax breaks, and development spending to promote renewable energy production. But as the market grows, some urge caution before using wastewater to create renewable natural gas.

Carbon Emissions 317

Carbon Emissions Waste Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 317

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 255

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 255

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 12, 2024

Fossil gas power plants currently provide the largest source of electricity generation and capacity in the United States. However, as we replace fossil fuels with clean electricity for heating and transportation to meet our climate goals, these peak demands will increasingly shift to the winter in many parts of the country.

Fossil Fuels 294

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 294

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

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

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

On November 11, Energy Justice Advocates announced PECO has agreed to contract for 25 MW of solar energy as part of its default power procurement for electric customers from June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2029 as a result of a settlement recently approved by the Public Utility Commission. PECO serves nearly 1.7

Fossil Fuels 79

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2029 Clean Energy 79

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

The Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) is one of the go-to sources for reliable information about the US power sector. 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. Carbon emissions remain high.

Natural Gas 290

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 31, 2022

At any point in the summer, extreme heat could trigger electricity supply shortages and rotating power outages. In reality, a big heat wave could lead to electricity supply shortages and rotating power outages during any summer month, but September is when it’s most likely. How well has California’s grid been performing this summer?

Solar Power 295

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 295