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In the Race for Clean Energy, the United States is Both a Leader and a Laggard—Here’s How

Union of Concerned Scientists

The new global record in the generation of renewable energy was powered primarily by solar and wind. Solar power has been the fastest growing source of electricity in the world for 19 years in a row according to Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2024. More on that shortly. But first, the undeniably good news.

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How Much Land Would it Require to Get Most of Our Electricity from Wind and Solar?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Acknowledging that the United States is a leading contributor to carbon emissions, the Biden administration has committed to cutting US emissions 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

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Morocco targets 80% renewables by 2050?

A Greener Life

Against a backdrop of new solar and wind projects, the country has increased its renewable energy target to 52% by 2030, 70% by 2040 and 80% by 2050. GW by 2030 at an annual growth rate of 9.3% during the decade 2020-2030. Wind power will become the largest renewable energy source in the country overtaking hydro.

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Renewables Have Pulled Ahead of Coal. What’s Next?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Here’s a taste: Wind power , the largest single source of renewable electricity in the country, grew the most of any renewable energy source in overall generation from 2021 to 2022. Solar power increased the most among renewable electricity sources in percentage terms, up 24 percent. Large solar provided 3.5

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Boosting Michigan’s Energy Future with Regional Transmission Upgrades

Union of Concerned Scientists

This much-needed set of 18 projects will improve electricity reliability, address overloaded wires , and help unlock more lower-cost wind and solar power to replace costly, polluting fossil fuel plants in Michigan and many other states in the Midwest (including Illinois and Minnesota ). Source: MISO. What’s in it for Michigan?

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Ask a Scientist: The US Has to Do More to Meet Its Carbon Emissions Reduction Goals

Union of Concerned Scientists

The legislation committed nearly $400 billion to support, among other things, wind and solar power, battery storage, electric vehicles, and other clean energy technologies that will make a significant dent in US heat-trapping emissions. How is that going to happen? Below is an abridged version of our conversation.

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Building a Better Power Grid for Minnesota

Union of Concerned Scientists

These investments will help accommodate accelerating amounts of low-cost renewable energy like wind and solar power, laying the groundwork for a cleaner, cheaper grid. Southwest Minnesota and the Dakotas have a lot of wind power—and the potential for even more. That’s not a Minnesota utility…is it?