Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 4, 2024

A new dataset released by InfluenceMap provides information on heat-trapping emissions traced to the 122 largest investor and state-owned fossil fuel companies in the world. Fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change and the terrifying effects of it that we see happening across the world.

Fossil Fuels 278

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Paris Agreement Carbon Dioxide 278

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

In an important win for climate accountability in the United States, the US Supreme Court decided that lawsuits filed in Colorado, Maryland, California, Hawai’i, and Rhode Island against fossil fuel companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Suncor, and others will remain in state courts.

Fossil Fuels 312

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Government Carbon Dioxide 312

Legal Planet

AUGUST 18, 2022

Production and combustion of fossil fuels imposes enormous costs on society, which the industry doesn’t pay for. A more promising alternative might be a clean-up tax on the fossil fuel industry. A carbon tax could cover the economy without the need for scores of regulations tailored to each industry.

Fossil Fuels 278

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Politics Air Pollution 278

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

The world’s biggest fossil fuel companies recently released their 2022 earnings reports, revealing record-breaking profits last year; just five companies–ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, and TotalEnergies–reported a total of nearly $200 billion in profits.

Fossil Fuels 320

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Sea Level 2022 320

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 24, 2024

This month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a ban on advertising by fossil fuel companies, invoking the ban on tobacco ads as a relevant precedent. So what can we learn from the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship that may be relevant to tackling the fossil fuel industry-driven climate crisis?

Fossil Fuels 318

Fossil Fuels 2009 2008 Climate Change 318

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. The 2021 law allows, but does not require, PJM to plan ahead because various fossil fuel plants must reduce and then cease emissions by a specific date.

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Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 264

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.

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Fossil Fuels Electricity Cooling Waste 230

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.

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Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 216

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

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Fossil Fuels Climate Change Electricity Regulations 220

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 24, 2023

Utilities and grid operators prepared for the storm as it was coming down the pike, but they still underestimated the energy demand it would trigger, as well as the number of outages at fossil fuel power plants—mainly natural gas-fired, plus some coal-fired plants.

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Fossil Fuels 2014 Climate Change Electricity 257

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 Regulations 279

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 348

Climate Change Regulations Fossil Fuels 2022 348

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 6, 2025

As the year kicks off with a very cold January weather forecast, US power grid operators and the regulators who oversee them are paying close attention to ensure that the grid failures of several past extreme winter storms dont happen again. and would greatly facilitate transmission development on a reasonable timeline.

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Fossil Fuels Electricity Wind Power Solar Power 276

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.

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Fossil Fuels Recycling Clean Energy 2004 211

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 23, 2023

And fossil fuel power plants may not stick to their retirement schedules for a variety of reasons. The bottom line: There’s still a long way to go, and the clean energy transition must move quicker than it has been—despite the fossil fuel industry’s self-serving claims to the contrary. A bit more on those reasons later.

Fossil Fuels 216

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 216

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 107

Regulations Fossil Fuels 2014 Climate Change 107

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 292

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Nitrogen Oxides 292

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 114

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 114

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.

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Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Technology 261

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

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 357

Regulations Fossil Fuels Environmental Protection Clean Air Act 357

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.

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Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Climate Change 2030 310

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.

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Fossil Fuels Regulations Clean Energy Renewable Energy 299

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

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.

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Politics Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Climate Change 108

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 258

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 258

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 137

Regulations Fossil Fuels 137

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 265

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2020 Politics 265

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.

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Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 252

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 23, 2024

Prompted by a state law, California’s utility regulator has proposed to change the way electricity is billed by adding a fixed monthly charge to all rate plans and making a corresponding reduction to the cost for each unit of electricity used. We’re at a critical moment in California.

Electricity 282

Electricity Fossil Fuels 2026 Climate Change 282

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 31, 2022

Many of my colleagues have already described the various ways we’ve gotten into this elevated fuel price mess, why doubling down on fossil fuels at this moment is a horrible idea, and why doing so would not improve our current or future economic, geopolitical or environmental problems. How Did We Get Here?

Clean Energy 244

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 244

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

Legal Planet

APRIL 3, 2023

EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) A. Nuclear power regulation D. FERC pipeline regulation (natural gas and hydrogen). Rules relating to renewable and fossil fuel development on public lands and offshore. California authority to regulate new vehicles D. Co-benefits E.

Law 246

Law Endangered Species Act Clean Air Act Biofuels 246

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.

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Fossil Fuels Regulations Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 306

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 12, 2024

While municipalities may have some flexibility in how they zone or regulate oil and gas operations – provided they do not exceed limitations in state or federal law – doing so in an unreasonable manner which prevents future natural gas development should render the municipality ineligible for state collected and distributed impact fees.

Natural Gas 109

Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Law 2019 109

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 359

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 359

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.

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Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2030 Climate Change 278