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

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

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

Last spring, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) , which operates the electricity grid serving 45 million people across the central United States, found o ut it was at a higher risk of power outages than it believed. The result, as I explain below, was skyrocketing electricity bills for thousands of people.

Electricity 264

Electricity Clean Energy Natural Resources 2022 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 5, 2022

Reliance on fossil natural gas and the slow adoption of renewable energy contributed to electricity bills in New England in the first nine months of 2022 that are $5 billion higher than the prior year. Renewable energy policies are how we manage risks. Prices elsewhere in the country doubled.

Natural Gas 277

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Electricity 2022 277

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 14, 2025

At the top of the list of key climate regulations that need to be finalized before March 24th is the governments cap on pollution from the oil and gas industry. The results were clear: the majority of people across Canada want to see governments in Canada tackle the climate crisis by prioritizing renewable energy and phasing out fossil fuels.

Politics 110

Politics Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Climate Change 110

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 12, 2023

What happens when promise of electricity reliability fails in bad weather? We know that consumers pay for electricity reliability and bear the cost when supplies are tight. Three decades of deregulation allowed private companies, as opposed to public regulators, to make critical decisions about reliability.

Fossil Fuels 266

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 266

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. Here we go! Capacity Expansion Modeling.

Electricity 279

Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 22, 2022

Lithium-ion batteries are essential for decarbonizing transportation through electric vehicles and building a resilient, renewable energy grid through energy storage batteries. Nearly every part of a renewable energy grid can be circular, with all outputs circulating back as inputs in a regenerative cycle.

Recycling 284

Recycling Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 284

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 10, 2023

electricity to about one-fifth today. The decline probably wasn’t due to environmental regulation. In fact, there was a surge in construction of new coal plants after 1970 due to high electricity demand. Regulation may have made a difference, since coal requires more extensive pollution controls than competing fuels.

2012 278

2012 2008 Clean Air Act Renewable Energy 278

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 23, 2025

Route 220 in Bedford Township is being built for a facility that provides liquid natural gas as fuel for electricity generation, transportation and heat. The renewable energy source has generated more than 959,000 kilowatt-hours of energy, or 76% of the facilitys total electricity. And Going Higher?

Natural Gas 107

Natural Gas Electricity Renewable Energy 2025 107

Legal Planet

JUNE 6, 2022

Our electricity system will be crucial to decarbonization efforts, both because much of our current energy comes from electricity, and because decarbonizing sectors like transportation will require significant electrification. Restructuring generally addresses one of two parts of the electricity industry: generation and retail.

Electricity 130

Electricity Renewable Energy Politics Government 130

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. It’s widely viewed as the “gold standard” for energy projections, even though there’s much debate in the energy community about the validity of the assumptions behind these projections.

Natural Gas 290

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 11, 2025

Joining The Meeting The meeting will be held in Room 60 East Wing starting at 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net.

Regulations 75

Regulations Waste Renewable Energy Natural Resources 75

Legal Planet

APRIL 3, 2023

EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) A. Energy efficiency standards for new appliances and lighting sources. Nuclear power regulation D. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules bearing on electricity transmission E. FERC pipeline regulation (natural gas and hydrogen).

Law 246

Law Endangered Species Act Clean Air Act Biofuels 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 27, 2022

As electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to increase, questions about how these cars and their batteries will be disposed of have been top of mind for current owners, future buyers, policymakers, and many experts in the automotive industry. This is not unlike how mattress, paint, and carpet disposal is currently regulated within California.

Recycling 362

Recycling Electricity Renewable Energy Technology 362

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 17, 2023

States should be heard on transmission When regulators make policy, utilities listen. States’ roles in electricity decisions stem from their authority over public health, safety, and consumer protection. State regulators can call meetings for utilities to work on the modernization and decarbonization of the grid.

Clean Energy 246

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Regulations 246

Legal Planet

AUGUST 5, 2021

electricity. With some notable exceptions, they’ve tended to drag their feet on the energy transition. The proposed Clean Energy Standard is one effort to deal with this problem. In those states where rates are regulated, regulators can do some things to shift these incentives. There are other possible sticks.

Fossil Fuels 299

Fossil Fuels Regulations Clean Energy Renewable Energy 299

Environmental Leader

JULY 16, 2021

Hawaiian Electric, the state’s largest utility, has adopted a new Performance Based Regulation (PBR) Framework based on a recent order from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approving a portfolio of new Performance Incentive Mechanisms (PIMs), Scorecards, and Reported Metrics. Read more ». Read more ».

Regulations 120

Regulations Electricity Renewable Energy 120

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 9, 2021

It attempted to move away from fossil fuels and toward zero-carbon sources like solar power to supply electricity. Here are the options going forward for regulating existing power plants. Switch to another legal basis for regulation. At best, however, EPA regulation will only be one part of the package. Download as PDF.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Carbon Emissions Renewable Energy 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

There are a lot of moving pieces, but it starts with decarbonizing the electricity sector and powering the economy with a diverse combination of clean energy resources—primarily wind, solar, and battery storage—connected with a modernized bulk transmission system that can reliably deliver electricity to consumers all 8,760 hours of the year.

Clean Energy 338

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2030 338

Energy and Climate Law

OCTOBER 22, 2020

By Ceciel Nieuwenhout, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Groningen Centre of Energy Law and Sustainability; Lead Author of WP 1 T1.2 Report to the H2020 POCITYF-project A substantial part of energy in the EU is consumed by households , for powering electric appliances and for heating and cooling.

Electricity 246

Electricity Renewable Energy Law Regulations 246

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 299

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 299

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 18, 2025

These bills on the agenda, but saw no action-- -- Notice Of Oil & Gas Permits: House Bill 43 (Conklin-D-Centre) require publication of newspaper notice of oil and gas well permits; and -- Regulating Food Processing Waste: House Bill 586 (Friel-D-Chester) requires a DEP permit to spread food processing residuals.

Renewable Energy 53

Renewable Energy Natural Resources Waste 2025 53

Enviromental Defense

OCTOBER 6, 2022

Ontario recently re-contracted four gas-fired power plants to generate electricity for the province and appears poised to contract more in the near future. . Yes, Ontario needs new electricity generation. This is a national-level policy being developed to decarbonize electricity systems across the country.

Renewable Energy 101

Renewable Energy Electricity Wind Power 2005 101

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

Solutions considered in isolation can often appear to yield steady progress in curbing carbon pollution and yet, when those same solutions are considered within the full context of the energy transition, their actual contributions can turn out to be insufficient or, worse, entirely misaligned, resulting in a system-wide increase in emissions.

Clean Energy 264

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Renewable Energy 264

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 13, 2021

But Nebraska has a unique approach to supplying electricity that provided a different pathway to climate action. Unlike any other state, Nebraska decided not to have private electric utilities. In 2019, the Utah State Legislature passed the Community Renewable Energy Act (HB 411).

Renewable Energy 246

Renewable Energy 2030 Wind Power Politics 246

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 287

Electricity Clean Energy Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 287

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is considering amendments to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) regulation, but indicated they have no plans to address the problems caused by counter-productive subsidies for manure biomethane. California’s transportation fuel policy is knee deep in cow poop, and it’s not a good look.

Fossil Fuels 331

Fossil Fuels Regulations Carbon Dioxide Renewable Energy 331

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Replacing petroleum with renewable electricity as the primary source of transportation energy will leave us all much better off. To achieve net-zero emissions in 2050 we must have 100% of new sales of light-duty passenger vehicles be electric by 2035, and of medium- and heavy-duty trucks at the latest by 2040.

Electricity 290

Electricity Biofuels Technology Technology 290

Law and Environment

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

The amendments are intended to accelerate progress towards decarbonization of the electricity sector and further ensure the state meets its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The CES, first enacted in 2017, requires retail sellers of electricity in Massachusetts to provide increasing quantities of clean electricity over time.

Clean Energy 130

Clean Energy Electricity Renewable Energy 2030 130

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

The Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management will host a free March 19 webina r on PJM Interconnections role as the Mid-Atlantic regional electric transmission organization in meeting increasing electric demand and ensuring reliable service while the amount of available generation capacity continues to tighten.

Electricity 65

Electricity Natural Gas 2025 Fossil Fuels 65

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 30, 2023

One notable example is in Michigan, where utilities are phasing out coal plants and momentum is building for legislation that would support an equitable clean energy transition. With new Democratic majorities in the Michigan Legislature, lawmakers are considering several clean energy and climate bills, and the momentum is building.

Clean Energy 264

Clean Energy Electricity Renewable Energy Climate Change 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 19, 2022

It is more like a straight line from silica mine, to refining factory, to shimmering batch of shining polysilicon ingots, to panel assembly , to a couple decades generating clean electricity—and then, far too often, to a landfill. Use regulation to increase solar panel reuse. German company SolarWorld recyling decades-old solar panels.

Recycling 299

Recycling Government Renewable Energy Regulations 299

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 288

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 288

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 19, 2025

By Matthew Carroll, Penn State News Moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind and solar will require better ways to store energy for use when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing. The researchers recently published their findings in the Journal of Energy Storage.

Technology 70

Technology Technology Renewable Energy Clean Energy 70

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 2, 2023

At the global level, however, Germany has its own claim to a leadership role, particularly in its early support for renewable energy. Although its track record has some complexities, this timeline of German actions shows just its early and sustained attention to clean energy policy: 1990. Renewables are 6% of power.

Nuclear Power 203

Nuclear Power Renewable Energy Carbon Emissions 2030 203

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 30, 2022

Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy from wind and solar will depend on upgrading the electric power grid, which is currently plagued by planning delays and gridlock. PJM Takes a Look at Renewable Planning. Midwest (Sort of) Continues a Proud Tradition. Looking to FERC For Planning Reforms.

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 264