Union of Concerned Scientists
AUGUST 20, 2024
As the electricity grid continues to evolve with more solar and wind power displacing coal and natural gas, an EV school bus purchased today will get even cleaner over its lifetime. But lower climate emissions aren’t the only benefit.
Union of Concerned Scientists
MAY 12, 2022
The shift from fossil fuels in the 100-percent RES scenario reduces the amount of toxic power plant air pollution much more than what we called a “no-new-policy,” or business-as-usual, scenario. Emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from power plants in alliance states drop 88 percent and 77 percent respectively by 2040.
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Union of Concerned Scientists
NOVEMBER 16, 2023
IRA clean energy investments also will protect public health by cutting key toxic air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, by more than 50 percent by 2050, and drastically reduce fine particulate matter, which will save hundreds of billions of dollars in 2035 alone from avoided premature deaths.
Union of Concerned Scientists
MARCH 23, 2023
In 2021 alone, the plants slated for retirement emitted more than 28,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides (NO x ), 32,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and 51 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), according to EIA data. GW of gas capacity set to retire, but also slightly outpacing the planned additions of wind power.
Union of Concerned Scientists
APRIL 3, 2025
An electrolyzer powered by electricity with the average carbon intensity for the US grid (roughly equal to that from a gas plant) could produce hydrogen with a carbon intensity that is 70% more than that of SMR-produced hydrogenand more than 45 times what low-carbon options would produce. Is green hydrogen carbon-free?
Legal Planet
MARCH 6, 2023
Critically, and as we’ll discuss in greater depth shortly, hydrogen combustion (as opposed to its use in fuel cells) also leads to greater emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a toxic group of pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act. Inefficient end uses for hydrogen can further exacerbate this problem.
Union of Concerned Scientists
JANUARY 17, 2025
Reducing carbon emissions is another significant benefit of avoiding the burning of fossil fuels with offshore wind. Dozens more ships are being built or retrofitted to be part of the offshore wind revolution. Offshore wind projects can have high capacity factors a measure of the portion of the year a project generates.
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