Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 14, 2023

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new power plant carbon pollution standards that, if strengthened, would go a long way to help meet the Biden administration’s goal of slashing carbon emissions in half from 2005 levels by the end of this decade. Last year, wind generated 10.2 Not even close.

Fossil Fuels 206

Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Nitrogen Oxides Clean Air Act 206

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 29, 2024

In my retelling of the show, I quickly pointed out that the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had by then concluded that “most” of the increase in average global temperatures since 1950 was “very likely” due to the increase in human-made carbon emissions. His reply ? ExxonMobil is still funding those folks, big time.”

Fossil Fuels 338

Fossil Fuels Climate Change 2007 Carbon Emissions 338

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 346

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 346

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 30, 2023

On January 26, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed House File 7 —the 100% Clean Energy Bill. Now it’s on to the state Senate, where the question is: Will this be the year Minnesota sets a path toward 100-percent carbon-free electricity?

Electricity 222

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 222

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 9, 2021

My last post argued that EPA should immediately repeal the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan. 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.

Clean Air Act 211

Clean Air Act Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Renewable Energy 211

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 20, 2023

All across the country, coal- and gas-fired power plants are still running, still polluting, and still showing signs of staying relentlessly online. Through the Clean Air Act , and as affirmed—and reaffirmed—through multiple legal sagas, EPA is statutorily obligated to address carbon pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants.

Clean Air Act 196

Clean Air Act Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Clean Energy 196

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 3, 2022

The majority 6–3 decision sharply curtails the EPA’s authority to set standards based on a broad range of flexible options to cut carbon emissions from the power sector—options such as replacing polluting fossil fuels with cheap and widely available wind and solar power coupled with battery storage.

Climate Change 228

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Nitrogen Oxides 228

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 8, 2022

To get an assessment of the progress thus far, as well as an idea if what has to happen next, I turned to two of my colleagues in the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Climate & Energy Program: Principal Climate Scientist Rachel Licker and Transmission Policy Manager Sam Gomberg.

Clean Energy 265

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Climate Change 265

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 31, 2022

The US House Oversight and Reform Committee kicked off its investigation of the fossil fuel industry’s decades-long climate change disinformation campaign last fall by inviting top executives from BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell to testify about their role and subpoenaing their companies for internal documents.

Climate Change 359

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2018 359

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 20, 2021

This winter, however, is expected to bring higher than usual energy prices that could hit U.S. And it reveals how American families and businesses bear the brunt of wild price fluctuations in fossil fuels and deserve more stable, cleaner sources of energy. And the costs of clean energy continue to rapidly fall.

Clean Energy 93

Clean Energy Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Electricity 93

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 19, 2023

That timing makes it a hugely important potential resource when winter hits hard and fossil fuels fail. It also makes offshore wind an important seasonal complement to the region’s abundant and growing solar power capacity. Power everywhere. The US offshore wind map.

Electricity 219

Electricity Fossil Fuels Wind Power Renewable Energy 219

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 9, 2023

On August 9, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority announced it would be committing to the purchase of wind power and the use of clean energy to support the production and operations of water services. Visit the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority website for more information.

Wind Power 73

Wind Power Clean Energy 2029 Fossil Fuels 73

Enviromental Defense

MARCH 22, 2022

We all know that to successfully address climate change we need to phase out fossil fuels and switch to electric power. A s we transition our homes and vehicles to electric power, it’s imperative that the electricity sector be clean. Take Action: Tell Ontario to phase out polluting gas power.

Solar Power 113

Solar Power Wind Power Renewable Energy Electricity 113

Enviromental Defense

MAY 18, 2021

The decision to ditch coal was the biggest single action of its time to cut carbon emissions in North America. But what you probably haven’t heard is that our grid is getting dirtier again, with fossil fuels increasing in our electricity supply from burning natural gas. Ontario Energy Output by Fuel Type: 2020 .

Electricity 52

Electricity Natural Gas Carbon Emissions Renewable Energy 52

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 19, 2024

Embrace political advocacy Photo by Kempton via Flickr Creative Commons Political action and advocacy is crucial to climate action, because changing the larger system is the greatest opportunity to reduce emissions, and changing the way our economy and society operate requires government action.

Climate Change 70

Climate Change Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Politics 70

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 18, 2024

19 EarthTalks Webinar: The Economic Impact Of Carbon Emission Trading Scheme On Building Retrofits [PaEN] -- PA Solar Center, Partners Host Feb. 19 EarthTalks Webinar: The Economic Impact Of Carbon Emission Trading Scheme On Building Retrofits [PaEN] -- PA Solar Center, Partners Host Feb.

Natural Gas 82

Natural Gas Recycling Climate Change Solar Power 82

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 11, 2021

The Pennsylvania Climate Change Act of 2008 requires the state Department of Environmental Protection to provide the Legislature and governor every three years a report on current and projected climate change impacts, and a plan of actions to reduce carbon emissions. DEP published Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan 2021 in September.

Carbon Emissions 52

Carbon Emissions Climate Change Electricity Renewable Energy 52

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 18, 2024

Proposal To Construct 2 Solar Energy Facilities To Provide Electricity To Compressor Stations In Columbia, Wyoming Counties [PaEN] -- PA Solar Center, Partners Host Feb. 23 Webinar On Solar Energy For Municipalities And Water Authorities [PaEN] -- Penn State Hosts Feb.

Conservation 104

Conservation Natural Gas Clean Energy 2024 104

Law Columbia

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

Here in New York, for example, we already have three forms of more or less direct carbon pricing. The most direct of these is imposed on certain fossil fuel power plants by requiring them to purchase carbon dioxide emissions allowances as part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Electricity 40

Electricity Carbon Dioxide Fossil Fuels Greenhouse 40

Law Columbia

FEBRUARY 10, 2020

The Ninth Circuit further concluded that even if the first prong was satisfied, the plaintiffs did not “surmount the remaining hurdle” of establishing that the relief they sought was within the power of Article III courts. Oregon Court Reinstated Clean Energy Ballot Initiatives. Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance v.

2020 40

2020 Fossil Fuels Climate Change Greenhouse 40

Environmental Progress

APRIL 20, 2021

9] That $50 billion, and future money, is money that could have gone to making the grid more resilient to extreme weather events, whether from climate change or not, but instead went into subsidizing the integration of variable renewable energy sources. We can see the same impact of variable energies in Germany. GW from its 4.9

2021 113

2021 Renewable Energy Electricity Natural Gas 113

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 26, 2021

Comitta To Introduce Bill Investing RGGI Proceeds In Helping Communities & Workers In Clean Energy Transition, Environmental Justice Areas, Promote Energy Efficiency -- Rep. -- Natural Lands, Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership Host Feb.

Conservation 62

Conservation 2021 Natural Gas Climate Change 62