Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 12, 2023

Three decades of deregulation allowed private companies, as opposed to public regulators, to make critical decisions about reliability. In many places state and federal utility regulators delegated decisions about energy supplies to the market. These changes have dramatically reduced the amount of fossils fuels burned for energy.

Fossil Fuels 232

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 232

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 16, 2023

But this new study from my colleagues working on climate change and fossil fuel accountability couldn’t be ignored. In short, the study concludes that fossil fuel companies are in part to blame for the extraordinary damages resulting from western wildfires (including those sparked by utilities). That equates to 19.8

Fossil Fuels 236

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Electricity Regulations 236

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

You or someone you know needs clean backup power Walking my dog the day after Hurricane Milton swept through my Orlando, FL neighborhood, the rumble of fossil fuel-powered generators interrupted what would have been a welcome quiet after the storm. I don’t blame them. Drivers buying used EVs have less control.

Fossil Fuels 240

Fossil Fuels Electricity Cooling Waste 240

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 17, 2024

Policymakers and regulators must act quickly because the market is not going to solve this problem on its own, and its definitely not going to do it in a way that protects low- and middle-income people. State insurance regulators sought more than 70 data points. An anonymized subset of the data was shared with FIO.

Climate Change 258

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Regulations 2024 258

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 17, 2024

The weakening of these regulations equate to an abandonment of the Prime Ministers promise to Canadians of a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. The weakening of these regulations equate to an abandonment of the Prime Ministers promise to Canadians of a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.

Electricity 113

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 113

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 19, 2024

As another summer Danger Season gets underway with extreme floods in Texas and Florida , wildfires in California , and an above-average hurricane season predicted, it’s time for policymakers and regulators to get serious about real solutions to address the insurance crisis.

Climate Change 358

Climate Change Regulations Fossil Fuels 2022 358

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Special session takes on big oil and wins The transition to clean transportation and away from fossil fuels is here. Policies like this will be critical to ensure that the fossil fuels phaseout is equitable and Big Oil doesn’t squeeze every dollar out of California consumers on the way out the door.

Fossil Fuels 227

Fossil Fuels Recycling Clean Energy 2004 227

Legal Planet

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

We progress despite regular cries of impending doom from regulated industries and their enablers. Over its short lifetime, the program has already transformed many segments of the fuels market. If CARB approves amendments to the program, the shift to clean fuels in California will only accelerate. But it’s never easy.

Air Pollution 279

Air Pollution Fossil Fuels Greenhouse 2010 279

Enviromental Defense

FEBRUARY 14, 2025

The regulator can only be effective if it is independent from the industries it oversees. The regulator can only be effective if it is independent from the industries it oversees. The AER has consistently failed to fulfill its mandate to ensure safe, environmentally responsible energy development.

Regulations 110

Regulations Fossil Fuels 2014 Climate Change 110

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 20, 2025

Yet, reaching net zero also means phasing out polluting fossil fuel energy, so the government developed rules to impose a pollution limit on electricity producers. The rules, known as the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER), were finalized in December 2024. So, do they do the job? Lets have a look. GW in 2023.

Electricity 102

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 102

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.

Electricity 127

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 127

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The multiple perspectives in the fuller picture have to be on the minds of electricity sector decision makers, from the prospective project proponents to the public utility commissioners and environmental regulators in charge of assessing a project on behalf of the public. And we don’t need to have all the answers to make a difference.

Renewable Energy 301

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Nitrogen Oxides 301

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 9, 2025

To underscore the negative impacts of fossil fuels on our grid, I also pointed to key research around resilience. With a robust climate plan, Wisconsin utilities would have to look beyond their legacy preference for fossil fuels and consider cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable alternatives.

Fossil Fuels 213

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Natural Gas Clean Energy 213

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Although the country’s federal energy regulator has had a disconcertingly nonchalant attitude towards these events.) Even with the clean energy transition well underway, gas plants will be around for a while as we phase out fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels 275

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Technology 275

Enviromental Defense

AUGUST 23, 2024

How often does the fossil fuel industry try to influence the government’s climate policy decisions? It highlights the most active fossil fuel companies and industry associations, as well as the ministries and ministers most targeted for lobbying. The report compiles data from the Federal Registry of Lobbyists.

Fossil Fuels 144

Fossil Fuels 2023 Climate Change Natural Resources 144

Enviromental Defense

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

If passed into law, the bill would be a valuable step toward limiting misinformation about fossil fuels and countering greenwashing. The fossil fuel industry has a long and well documented history of denying climate science and funding advertising campaigns to greenwash oil and gas.

Fossil Fuels 144

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Regulations Government 144

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 26, 2023

CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) seeks to incentivize the production and sale of alternative, lower emissions transportation fuels in order to displace conventional fossil fuels. To identify which fuels should be promoted, CARB calculates the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels.

Regulations 312

Regulations Greenhouse Clean Air Act Politics 312

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 23, 2025

It is not the job of impacted communities and their allies to police the regulator. Albertans need a regulator that lives up to its mandate: protecting the environment and public health rather than working for corporate interests. Yet, this enforcement does not change the need for urgent regulatory reform in Alberta.

Regulations 87

Regulations Fossil Fuels Government Waste 87

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 13, 2023

On this final day of COP28, just a few hours after countries of the world agreed on the need to move away from fossil fuels, I’m overcome with a mix of emotions. Inspired by the unstoppable momentum to secure a fast, fair, full and financed fossil fuel phaseout. And let’s be real, I’m also exhausted.

Fossil Fuels 142

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Government Regulations 142

Legal Planet

APRIL 14, 2025

First, unlike the government, which can spread costs to all taxpayers, utilities may not be able to spread costs broadly among the public, because regulators may force some of the costs to be placed on shareholders. Current liability rules, particularly in California, have been criticized on several grounds.

Government 217

Government Electricity Fossil Fuels 2019 217

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 8, 2025

Electric vehicle (EV) sales are increasing , and these vehicles are important to reduce fossil fuel use and air pollution. In the 2024 California legislative session, both houses passed SB 615, but it was vetoed by Governor Newsom, due to concerns related to administrative costs of implementing the regulation.

Recycling 174

Recycling Fossil Fuels 2026 Air Pollution 174

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2024

This decision , reached with a 6-3 majority led by Chief Justice John Roberts, marks a significant shift in administrative law and has profound implications for environmental regulations and climate accountability. Successful court cases could limit the scope of future regulations. Worse, agencies may decide not to even try.

Regulations 359

Regulations Fossil Fuels Environmental Protection Clean Air Act 359

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

New science has shown that the largest fossil fuel, dairy, and waste methane super-emitters contribute a sizeable fraction of the total methane emissions in the regions the study authors monitored. Their use of these tactics underlie the calls to hold both the fossil fuel and meat and dairy industries accountable for their actions.

Fossil Fuels 317

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Climate Change 2030 317

Enviromental Defense

FEBRUARY 8, 2025

The fossil fuel industry has known that its products are fueling the climate crisis for decades. Since their launch in 2012, the organisation has dedicated itself to encouraging Canadians to pledge support for the fossil fuel industry.

Fossil Fuels 103

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Climate Change 2012 103

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. 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.

Politics 113

Politics Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Climate Change 113

Enviromental Defense

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Statement from Aly Hyder Ali, Oil and Gas Program Manager, Environmental Defence Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – We welcome the Government of Canada’s Oil and Gas Greenhouse Gas Pollution Cap draft regulation, which aims to curb pollution from the oil and gas industry.

2030 140

2030 Fossil Fuels Climate Change Regulations 140

Legal Planet

AUGUST 5, 2021

A big shift to renewables could leave stranded assets — existing fossil fuel plants that the utility will no longer get paid for using. In much of the country, those wholesale transactions are under the control of regional transmission organizations established by federal power regulators, but that’s not true everywhere.

Fossil Fuels 299

Fossil Fuels Regulations Clean Energy Renewable Energy 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 26, 2024

And we know that as our climate warms further—driven by burning fossil fuels—the risk of large wildfires will only grow. This alarming finding clarifies the significant role and responsibility of fossil fuel companies to not only stop their harm moving forward, but also to address damage they have already done.

Climate Change 269

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 269

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2022

That’s because the case, which was about the nature and scope of EPA authority in regulating carbon emissions from existing power plants, turned on a rule that does not exist. Because while this decision does still recognize EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, it simultaneously sharply curtails the agency’s ability to do so.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Clean Energy Greenhouse 279

Inside Climate News

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

Scientists launch a new research center to study what they say is now a leading disease risk factor: corporations. By Liza Gross Theres been a marked shift in the types of diseases causing the most harm around the world over the past few decades.

Regulations 142

Regulations Fossil Fuels 142

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 13, 2024

Paul Arbaje is an energy analyst in the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists and an expert on electricity policies and reforms that reduce fossil fuel use and reliance. The energy enthusiast who owns their own homes can take further steps toward making their homes completely free of direct fossil fuel use.

Fossil Fuels 267

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 267

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 4, 2022

Now the reports driven by these resolutions are beginning to roll in, and while they certainly provide some insight into the fossil fuel industry’s investment in political influence, a sleight of hand is preventing investors from seeing the companies’ full strategy. The organization received between $2.5

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2020 Politics 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

California’s transportation fuel policy is knee deep in cow poop, and it’s not a good look. 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.

Fossil Fuels 319

Fossil Fuels Regulations Carbon Dioxide Renewable Energy 319

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.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Carbon Emissions Renewable Energy 246

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 28, 2025

This may seem like a setback for climate progress in Canada, but it simply underscores the limits of voluntary initiatives and the need for the government to enforce climate-aligned financial regulations. Surely, according to their own logic, their withdrawal from this alliance indicates that it is the perfect time for regulation?

Climate Change 117

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Regulations Government 117

Environment + Energy Leader

FEBRUARY 11, 2022

Specifically, the motion would require new buildings to be constructed to source their power from the city’s energy grid — which is anticipated to be carbon-free by 2035 — rather than from fossil fuels. The post Los Angeles Considers Zero-Carbon Requirement for All New Buildings appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

Fossil Fuels 311

Fossil Fuels Regulations 311

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Methane emissions come from two main sources : fossil fuels and agriculture—primarily animal-based agriculture. Despite the obvious dangers of fossil fuel production and the multi-decade climate disinformation campaigns fossil fuel producers have perpetrated, the industry still holds political sway.

Fossil Fuels 293

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2030 Climate Change 293