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 290

Electricity Clean Energy Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 290

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 3, 2024

This law is a clear setback for open and accountable energy planning and will mean Ontarians are left in the dark about how critical decisions regarding our energy system are made. The government’s choice to enshrine in law a prioritization of nuclear power is also troubling.

Nuclear Power 109

Nuclear Power 2017 Climate Change Law 109

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 28, 2021

The future of electric power in New England, or at least a piece of it, is the subject of a highly contested referendum in Maine. It asks whether Maine voters want “to ban the construction of high-impact electric transmission lines in the Upper Kennebec Region.”. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue – October 28, 2021.

2021 317

2021 Clean Energy Carbon Dioxide Electricity 317

Circle of Blue

NOVEMBER 1, 2021

In the Nile River basin last week, a political power shift in Sudan could turn up the heat on a long-simmering dispute over a major dam in the region. The proposed amendment is a brief but powerful statement of principle, according to John Dernbach, a law professor at Widener University Commonwealth Law School.

2021 278

2021 Electricity Environmental Protection Politics 278

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 16, 2025

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else-- -- Gov. Shapiro -- The Center Square: Shapiros Office Deleted Emails Relevant To Sexual Misconduct Complaint -- Spotlight PA: Thousands In Limbo As Shapiro Administration Again Tries To Convince Lawmakers To Fund Home Repair Program -- PennLive: Gov. Ohio- $2.92

Politics 62

Politics Natural Gas Nuclear Power 2028 62

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 264

Clean Energy Electricity Renewable Energy Climate Change 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 3, 2022

The petitioners who brought this case include state-level political officials and coal companies who are single-mindedly determined to block climate action and perpetuate fossil fuel dependence to serve their narrow political or business interests.

Climate Change 334

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Nitrogen Oxides 334

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 4, 2023

the Foraker Act , the Jones-Shafroth Act , the Jones Act , the Federal Relations Act , the PROMESA law) and judicial decisions (e.g., billion, continues to prompt austerity cuts in social and other public services mandated by the fiscal oversight board appointed through the PROMESA law. SCOTUS’ Puerto Rico v.

Climate Change 72

Climate Change Fossil Fuels 2017 Law 72

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 12, 2022

The LA Times’ inestimable Sammy Roth reports on the attempt of California’s investor-owned utilities to end “net metering,” whereby utilities must pay customers with rooftop solar for their excess electricity. And we will need lower-income communities to use electricity to get them into EVs. I don’t know what the PUC will do.

Electricity 246

Electricity Politics Law Climate Change 246

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Fifteen percent of electricity is renewable. Renewables are a third of electricity consumption. Climate law makes emission targets legally binding 2019. Climate law makes emission targets legally binding 2019. Renewables are 42% of electricity. German parliament adopts a law to end coal use by 2038 at the latest.

Nuclear Power 203

Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 2030 Carbon Emissions 203

Circle of Blue

JULY 14, 2022

With less water in reservoirs, generators crank out fewer megawatt-hours, raising the cost of electricity and increasing the risk of summer blackouts. This year, Glen Canyon Dam is operating at just 60 percent of its maximum electrical generating capacity due to the drying of Lake Powell. 4) Drought Is Political.

Atmosphere 352

Atmosphere Regulations Politics Electricity 352

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. This year’s projections are a bit grim. Carbon emissions remain high.

Natural Gas 290

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290

Legal Planet

JUNE 20, 2022

For example, equity weighting would increase the social cost of carbon but would also raise questions about regulations that raise the price of electricity, an important expense for poor people. Second, there are political and legal problems with equity weighting. with conventional cost-benefit analysis, which is based on that goal.

Regulations 246

Regulations Politics Conservation Law 246

Law and Environment

JUNE 16, 2021

The post TCI Update: Final Model Rule Addresses EJ, but Political Will May Be Lacking first appeared on Law and the Environment. TCI will be an effective regional structure for making those investments, and it makes sense for New York to act in concert with other states in the region.

Politics 130

Politics Carbon Emissions Clean Energy Greenhouse 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

Whether you call it updating, modernizing, or reforming, changes to the water rights system have long been considered a political third rail —the electric kind you don’t touch. The bill would give the State Water Resources Control Board (the Water Board) the authority to verify pre-1914 appropriative and riparian water rights.

2027 338

2027 Climate Change Law 2017 338

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

Legal Planet

JULY 11, 2022

EPA lacked expertise on running the electricity system. A: The Court doesn’t address this question directly, but the major questions doctrine doesn’t seem to be a rule of constitutional law. . Q: When does an issue have “major political significance”? . A: “Political significance” seems to have a narrow meaning. .

Politics 264

Politics Regulations Law Climate Change 264

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

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

The sale of new electric trucks, buses, and vans in California doubled in 2023 from 2022 , and one of every six medium and heavy-duty vehicles sold in the state today produces zero pollution. Manufacturers are stepping up to meet fleet operators’ growing interest in highly efficient electric technologies.

Clean Air Act 338

Clean Air Act Electricity Clean Energy 2023 338

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign into law tomorrow. 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. An equitable clean energy transition is not just about the technologies used to generate electricity.

Clean Energy 279

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 279

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

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). Transmission planning could be vastly more efficient.

Clean Energy 306

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2018 306

Circle of Blue

JULY 19, 2022

In her opinion, Judge Brownlee referenced the omnibus bill, writing that the Florida Legislature holds the power to set environmental policy and preempt county and local laws. With less water in reservoirs, generators crank out fewer megawatt-hours, raising the cost of electricity and increasing the risk of summer blackouts.

2022 299

2022 Regulations Environmental Protection Politics 299

Circle of Blue

OCTOBER 26, 2022

Weeks before the November 8 election, national political debate centers on control of Congress. Wilce is the treasurer of Arizona Water Defenders, the political action committee that brought the question to the ballot. While state-level decisions this year are about money, local initiatives focus on law and policy.

Regulations 264

Regulations 2022 Politics Electricity 264

Legal Planet

MAY 9, 2022

Texas and a number of other states have passed laws banning what they call “boycotts of fossil fuel companies.” Besides being fundamentally misguided and difficult to implement, these blacklist laws are incompetently drafted and quite likely unconstitutional. Is this as opposed to a political purpose on the part of the managers?

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Law Carbon Emissions Politics 246

Circle of Blue

MAY 31, 2022

Utilities warn of blackouts and rising electricity rates across the Great Lakes region this summer. The New York State Assembly is considering some of the most ambitious packaging reduction laws in the country, Grist reports. The storm took 10 lives and plunged thousands into electrical blackouts. Looking Ahead.

Electricity 130

Electricity Carbon Dioxide 2022 2020 130

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. That law created the state’s Community Air Protection Program focused on reducing exposure in communities most impacted by air pollution.

Electricity 306

Electricity Fossil Fuels Air Pollution Renewable Energy 306

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 26, 2023

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else-- -- Gov. Energy Firms Use Ukraine War To Lock In Long-Term Natural Gas Contracts -- The Guardian: U.S.

Politics 106

Politics Natural Gas 2020 Electricity 106

Circle of Blue

MARCH 28, 2022

The nearly 23,000-member Gila River Indian Community is modernizing: adding to its group of casinos, preparing to expand its irrigated farm acres, and elevating its influence in Arizona’s politics and economy. Regulatory changes in water policy and practice are some of the steepest cliffs in Arizona’s political landscape.

2022 362

2022 Law Politics 2014 362

Circle of Blue

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

“There were families who did not know about it, because they were living without electricity, so they didn’t hear the story,” Smith recalls. And political power with it. Just lack of political capital. It was our way of confronting those laws and those systems. Children who could not bathe.”.

2014 359

2014 2022 Climate Change Politics 359

Circle of Blue

AUGUST 10, 2021

They’re in that dangerous, dangerous place because of colonial politics, but of course they’ve developed relationships with that land, and practiced their culture there,” Palmer said. Still, these are the country’s poorest areas, ones that have only recently enjoyed the arrival of electricity. The name embraces St.

Rainforest 328

Rainforest Deforestation Politics Climate Change 328

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

One of the CFR-600s may have reached criticality in mid-2023, though whether it is connected to the electricity grid remains unclear. Russian export laws and bilateral agreements with China explicitly prohibit the use of supplied materials for military purposes.

Nuclear Power 351

Nuclear Power 2016 2017 2018 351

Legal Planet

JULY 15, 2021

The delays were apparently due to gaps in emissions data along with political maneuvering. China has been talking about launching this trading system for years, but now it finally seems to be ready to pull the trigger. The system is designed to reduce carbon intensity, the amount of emissions per unit of energy.

2030 290

2030 Carbon Emissions Clean Energy Greenhouse 290

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

This post was originally published on the Law and Political Economy blog as part of a symposium on inflation. To understand the scale and scope of these price increases, in other words, we also need to look at the rules that have been adopted to govern the specific ways of price making in natural gas and electricity markets.

Natural Gas 130

Natural Gas Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 130

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 84

Climate Change Politics 2022 2030 84

Legal Planet

APRIL 10, 2025

This week saw a flurry of stories at the intersection of federal actions, tariff policy, and rule of law concerns How Trumps on-again, off-again tariff threats will raise the costs of building renewable energy projects in the U.S. Energy stories that caught my eye Puerto Rico has the least reliable energy system of any place in the U.S.

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