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. Here’s how. That’s the supply part.

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Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Cooling 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Electricity is necessary for reading this blog, phoning your family, and buying milk at the store. Most every modern public health, safety and security system we rely on also depends on the electric grid. To expand and modernize the nation’s electric infrastructure, the federal government recently announced new funding.

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Electricity Government Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 312

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2022

Nearly all of the alliance members have a renewable electricity standard (RES), which requires utilities in their jurisdiction to increase their use of renewable energy to a particular percentage by a specific year. Our analysis also demonstrates renewables’ power. EN: What were your top findings?

Electricity 279

Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nitrogen Oxides 279

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.

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Law Renewable Energy Clean Energy Fossil Fuels 321

Green Bang

OCTOBER 15, 2024

In the US alone, consumers spend around $350 billion annually on electricity, with three-quarters of this energy going to waste. As energy consumption rises, the inefficiencies in current systems are becoming a visible challenge. SMRs offer several advantages over traditional nuclear reactors.

Technology 52

Technology Technology Renewable Energy Electricity 52

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 13, 2022

I was invited to speak at a panel discussion last Wednesday as part of The Economist ’s annual Sustainability Week, titled “What technologies are needed to avert a climate disaster?” True to the theme, I was asked about which technological innovations would be necessary to save our planet. Clean energy on hold.

Technology 264

Technology Technology Climate Change Fossil Fuels 264

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 312

Electricity Recycling Fossil Fuels Climate Change 312

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.

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Renewable Energy Electricity Wind Power 2009 105

Environmental News Bits

NOVEMBER 5, 2021

by Lisa Sheppard, Prairie Research Institute As renewable energy is poised to replace fossil fuels long term in Illinois, the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) is delving into a looming issue: what to do with solar modules, wind turbines, and electric vehicle batteries that are no longer used.

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Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Waste Electricity 104

A Greener Life

AUGUST 2, 2023

The country will also target 5,000 kilometres of new transmission lines, an 8% reduction in overall energy demand, and one gigawatt (GW) of distributed generation, with the government putting the plan’s estimated costs at US$86.6 These targets represent a potentially significant shift in Argentina ’s energy mix.

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Renewable Energy 2030 Fossil Fuels Electricity 95

Environment + Energy Leader

DECEMBER 11, 2022

(Credit: Canva) The 2022 Standard Scenarios, a collection of forward-looking scenarios for the electricity sector in the United States, have been made available by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The post NREL Releases Eighth Edition of Annual Standard Scenarios appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Renewable Energy Electricity Technology Technology 279

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.

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Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 363

Environment + Energy Leader

OCTOBER 1, 2022

The coalition's mission is to accelerate the deployment and use of sustainable aviation fuel technologies to reach 10% of the global jet aviation fuel supply by 2030. The post Air Canada Aims to Decarbonize Using Electric-Hybrid Aircraft and Sustainable Aviation Fuels appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

Electricity 246

Electricity 2030 Technology Technology 246

Environment + Energy Leader

OCTOBER 1, 2022

The coalition's mission is to accelerate the deployment and use of sustainable aviation fuel technologies to reach 10% of the global jet aviation fuel supply by 2030. The post Air Canada Aims to Decarbonize Using Electric-Hybrid Aircraft and Sustainable Aviation Fuels appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

Electricity 246

Electricity 2030 Technology Technology 246

Environment + Energy Leader

DECEMBER 11, 2022

(Credit: Canva) The 2022 Standard Scenarios, a collection of forward-looking scenarios for the electricity sector in the United States, have been made available by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The post NREL Releases Eighth Edition of Annual Standard Scenarios appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

Renewable Energy 246

Renewable Energy Electricity Technology Technology 246

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 13, 2024

On March 7, the Independent Fiscal Office issued its latest Pennsylvania Electricity update that reports the electricity grid is dependent on one fuel for 59% of the state’s electricity generation-- natural gas-- followed by nuclear power-- 31.9%, coal-- 5.4% In 2010, the mix was 48% coal, 34% nuclear, 15% gas and 2% renewables.

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Electricity Natural Gas Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 99

PA Environment Daily

JULY 30, 2024

On July 30, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of more than $15 million in grants to electric distribution companies to improve electric grid reliability and resilience through 2024 Pennsylvania Grid Resilience Grant funding. Another grant round will open in Fall 2024. This project will result in 7.5

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Electricity Technology Technology Climate Change 74

PA Environment Daily

MAY 31, 2024

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the June 1 PA Bulletin making available the final policy statement establishing guidelines for the use of electricity storage by electric distribution companies (EDC). Photo: Pittsburgh-based EOS energy storage facility paired with solar energy.) M-2020-3022877.

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Electricity Solar Power Radiation Renewable Energy 101

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

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Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Solar Power 306

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.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 30, 2023

And, long-duration storage is particularly important for the power grid’s transformation to clean energy and what I’m focusing on here. Long-duration refers to the amount of time a power system can discharge electricity. This results in a deliberate reduction of electricity output. How long is long-duration?

Renewable Energy 279

Renewable Energy Clean Energy Technology Technology 279

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.

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Electricity Clean Energy Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 289

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 22, 2024

When it comes to the transition to clean energy, 2023 was quite a year for progress: record-breaking amounts of solar installed in the United States, a solid drop in carbon emissions from the US power sector, more than one million electric vehicles sold in the country for the first time, “breakneck” growth in renewable energy globally, and more.

Clean Energy 247

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2024 247

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. To meet our climate goals and reach net zero emissions by 2050, most studies show that we need to dramatically reduce gas use for generating electricity, heating homes and businesses, and running industrial processes.

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Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 317

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 28, 2024

A milestone on the PA Turnpike’s journey to becoming America’s First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040, the showcase will place wireless electric vehicle charging technology at up to 20 parking spaces, which will be located beneath a solar canopy. “We This is one the PA Turnpike’s ongoing investments in renewable energy solutions.

Electricity 45

Electricity Renewable Energy Technology Technology 45

Environmental News Bits

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

by Kerry Rippy (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) In recent decades the cost of wind and solar power generation has dropped dramatically. Department of Energy projects that renewable energy will be the fastest-growing U.S. energy source through 2050. And since renewable… Read more →

Renewable Energy 104

Renewable Energy Solar Power Technology Technology 104

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 22, 2022

The renewable energy transition involves harnessing epic forces of nature. Sleek solar panels forged from silver and silica from the depths of the Earth translate the sun’s blindingly fiery light energy into electricity. Source: UniEnergy Technologies / Wikimedia Commons. Batteries help store surplus energy.

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Wind Power Renewable Energy Electricity Clean Energy 292

Circle of Blue

AUGUST 3, 2021

utilities have been slower to adopt the energy- and emissions-saving technologies than those in other parts of the world. Wastewater-to-energy systems start with a process called anaerobic digestion, which treatment plants have been using for ages to reduce the volume of sewage waste. Photo © Richard Webb / Wikimedia Commons.

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Carbon Emissions Waste Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 317

Green Bang

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

The University of Texas at Dallas announced that it will lead a new initiative funded by the Department of Defense (DOD), receiving $30 million over three years to develop and commercialize advanced battery technologies.

Technology 52

Technology Technology Renewable Energy Electricity 52

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 4, 2024

A new North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) review of power outages and gas industry failures reveals the potential for prolonged and deadly power outages. What Happened in Texas?

Electricity 299

Electricity 2021 Renewable Energy Natural Gas 299

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. The electric power system is trapped by gas-dependent power plants that cannot obtain gas when it needs it to keep the lights on.

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Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 274

Environmental Leader

AUGUST 9, 2022

It has done so using energy efficiency and renewable energy. The post Procter & Gamble Is Well On Its Way to Using 100% Green Electricity appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader. Procter & Gamble has cut emissions at all of its global operations by 52% from 2010 to 2020.

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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. In other words, technological solutions are necessary but not sufficient. On the technology side, decarbonization is the key. How do we make this transformation happen?

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Electricity Biofuels Technology Technology 290

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 4, 2023

And, while renewable energy is growing fast too, it’s not happening fast enough—and can never happen fast enough if its outpaced by fossil fuel expansion. The amount of electricity needed to power these technologies would be greater than the entire world’s electricity demand today.” Particulate matter (PM2.5)

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Fossil Fuels Nitrogen Oxides Clean Energy Paris Agreement 328

A Greener Life

MAY 23, 2024

Two-way charging could give vehicles like these the potential to stabilise power supplies by discharging stored electricity back to the grid. Across 30 minutes, 50 electric vehicles (EVs) discharged almost one megawatt-hour into the grid – enough electricity to meet the needs of 133 households for a day.

Electricity 52

Electricity Solar Power Renewable Energy Carbon Emissions 52

Environmental News Bits

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

by Kerry Rippy (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) In recent decades the cost of wind and solar power generation has dropped dramatically. Department of Energy projects that renewable energy will be the fastest-growing U.S. energy source through 2050. And since renewable… Read more →

Renewable Energy 105

Renewable Energy Solar Power Technology Technology 105

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.

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Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290