Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

The simple fact is that ditching fossil fuels for low-cost clean energy resources is good for the planet, good for the US economy, and good for public health. UCS) UCS’s findings are consistent with the conclusions of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Transmission Needs Study , which it released last October.

Clean Energy 292

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2030 292

Law and Environment

AUGUST 3, 2023

On July 31, 2023, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signed an executive order ending the use of fossil fuels in new construction and major renovations of city-owned buildings. Covered buildings and projects will require heating, ventilation, air conditioning, hot water, and cooking systems that do not use fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels 243

Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Clean Energy Law 243

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 28, 2024

At this year’s annual general meetings, major investor-owned fossil fuel corporations are facing fewer climate-related shareholder proposals than at any time since the adoption of the Paris climate agreement in 2015. Department of Justice to investigate the fossil fuel industry’s decades-long history of engaging in deceptive practices.

Fossil Fuels 234

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Climate Scientist 2015 234

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 17, 2023

The fabulous growth of wind and solar builds on states’ clean energy policy and corporate decarbonization targets. However, great opportunities for more new clean energy supplies to replace fossil fuel energy need supporting grid investments. Where do we go for that modern infrastructure?

Clean Energy 233

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Regulations 233

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 10, 2023

This year has brought new evidence of what major fossil fuel companies knew and when about the role their products play in climate change, as well as what they did in spite of what they knew. The House Oversight Committee investigation came to the same conclusion as the 2022 study: Accusations of greenwashing appear well-founded.

Fossil Fuels 353

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Renewable Energy 353

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Michigan legislators recently passed a series of energy-related bills that Gov. It adds Michigan to the growing list of states, including Illinois and Minnesota , that have adopted standards to increase renewable energy on the grid and move toward 100-percent decarbonization of the power sector.

Clean Energy 218

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 218

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

By expanding renewable power, phasing out fossil fuels, electrifying as much of the economy as possible, and deploying other technologies, the U.S. But vehicles are energy-intensive. Building substantial amounts of clean energy to power the electrification of transportation (and other sectors like buildings and industry).

Clean Energy 342

Clean Energy Biofuels Electricity Renewable Energy 342

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 12, 2022

Earlier this year, The Guardian ran a powerful article exposing the ties of Elsevier, one of the world’s largest academic publishing companies, to the fossil fuel industry. The article caught my attention because I’d never considered the ways in which an academic publisher might be perpetuating and enabling a fossil fuel economy.

Fossil Fuels 343

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Energy Paris Agreement 343

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 30, 2023

One notable example is in Michigan, where utilities are phasing out coal plants and momentum is building for legislation that would support an equitable clean energy transition. In 2022, the MPSC similarly approved a revised version of utility Consumers Energy’s long-range energy plan following settlement negotiations.

Clean Energy 213

Clean Energy Electricity Renewable Energy 2028 213

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

Alarmingly, this proposed legislation would abandon recent investments in renewable energy while boosting fossil fuel production, alongside other potentially harmful provisions. So-called “permitting reform” for energy infrastructure is included as well. 1: The Lower Energy Costs Act, on a largely party-line vote.

Fossil Fuels 241

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 241

Environment + Energy Leader

APRIL 3, 2023

As the world shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy, Australia’s lithium sector is poised to match thermal coal’s importance within the next five years. Read more » The post Lithium Mining Boom Continues in Australia as Demand for Clean Energy Grows appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

Clean Energy 189

Clean Energy 2028 Fossil Fuels Government 189

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 286

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Government Carbon Dioxide 286

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 19, 2022

Minnesota needs substantial investments now to build toward an equitable clean energy future. The bad news is, they have to find a compromise between two vastly different clean energy bills—by Monday. Minnesotans are already experiencing the climate crisis, as well as health impacts, from burning fossil fuels.

Clean Energy 228

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity 228

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 292

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Sea Level 2022 292

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 31, 2022

This is exacerbating a crisis in energy insecurity that has only worsened during the pandemic, leaving many more families struggling to pay their bills, facing disconnection, or already shut off from their utility service. And such action cannot be influenced by fossil fuel interests and their policy proposals that we are seeing in Congress.

Clean Energy 238

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 238

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 22, 2024

When it comes to the transition to clean energy, 2023 was quite a year for progress: record-breaking amounts of solar installed in the United States, a solid drop in carbon emissions from the US power sector, more than one million electric vehicles sold in the country for the first time, “breakneck” growth in renewable energy globally, and more.

Clean Energy 161

Clean Energy Renewable Energy 2024 Electricity 161

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 28, 2022

Last week was a big one for clean energy in Michigan. First, Union of Concerned Scientists and the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition released a new report on how Michigan and other states can achieve 100-percent renewable energy standards that benefit all communities. No new gas plants.

Clean Energy 253

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2030 253

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 23, 2023

With the clean energy transition already under way, the US electricity mix is set to continue changing this year. Solar power is expected to make up about half of all additions of US electric generating capacity in 2023, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). I’ll start off with the good.

Fossil Fuels 187

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 187

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 17, 2022

gigawatts (GW), according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The clean energy industry is continuing to deploy significant amounts of storage to deliver a low-carbon future. The clean energy industry is continuing to deploy significant amounts of storage to deliver a low-carbon future.

Clean Energy 290

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Technology Technology 290

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 26, 2024

Something I really care about is to make sure the benefits of clean energy are reaching everyone in our society,” García said. She wanted her technical expertise to inform venues where decisions about the clean energy transition are being made at both large and local scales.

Renewable Energy 272

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 272

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Earlier this month at COP28 countries committed to transitioning off of fossil fuels and massively scaling up renewable energy instead. So you’re excused if, like me, you’re baffled by Minister Freeland’s first move in the wake of COP28: a giant new fossil fuel subsidy, via the new Canada Growth Fund.

Fossil Fuels 128

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Clean Energy Solar Power 128

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 19, 2023

Quickly and sharply tapering down the use of fossil fuels, which are the main driver of human-caused climate change, is just as crucial if we are to have any chance of keeping climate extremes from spiraling further out of control. We must also demand that fossil fuel companies be held accountable for the harms they are causing.

Fossil Fuels 245

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Energy Carbon Emissions 245

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 27, 2023

Fossil fuel power plant owners are facing increased accountability for their air and water pollution, including from a new round of environmental and public health protections that are being rolled out by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We’ve heard these lazily disingenuous narratives before.

Fossil Fuels 210

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2014 Climate Change 210

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 12, 2023

In many places state and federal utility regulators delegated decisions about energy supplies to the market. The same scenario has played out with the power plants that use fossil fuels, predominantly methane (“natural”) gas, delivered by pipelines. It’s a vicious feedback loop. Can we fix this?

Fossil Fuels 183

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 183

Environment + Energy Leader

MAY 26, 2023

Solar energy investment in particular is leading this growth and is expected to surpass oil production.

Fossil Fuels 130

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 21, 2022

The most consequential vote to advance a clean energy future won’t be happening in Washington, D.C., billion in new transmission investments to accommodate a shift to clean energy. billion in new transmission investments to accommodate a shift to clean energy. or your state capital next week. Source: MISO.

Clean Energy 268

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels 268

Cresforum

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Modeling Pathways to Net Zero: A Case Study on Energy Security as the U.S. Decarbonizes The United States’ energy security has changed dramatically since U.S. need to deploy clean energy technologies to achieve net zero emissions? biofuels, and fossil fuels. biofuels, and fossil fuels.

Clean Energy 85

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Biofuels 2007 85

Law and Environment

AUGUST 11, 2022

5060 ), titled An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, into law on Thursday August 11, 2022. Reduction of Fossil Fuels. Other provisions include a ban on incentives and rebates from Mass Save related to fossil fuel powered systems, except as backup for electric heat pumps.

Clean Energy 147

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2027 147

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. MISO’s planning has struggled to keep up with the pace of change since large amounts of wind energy became available beginning in 1999.

Fossil Fuels 248

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 248

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

Deputy Policy Director Julie McNamara urges policymakers to see calls from the fossil fuel industry to invest more in their operations--in response to market instability because of the war in Ukraine--as an opportunistic attempt to lower their costs and increase their profits, at great cost to us.

Fossil Fuels 288

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 288

Enviromental Defense

MARCH 27, 2024

New analysis from Environmental Defence reveals that despite federal government promises, funding to the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries remains high Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – New analysis released today by Environmental Defence reveals Canada’s federal government provided at least $18.6

Fossil Fuels 129

Fossil Fuels Government Renewable Energy 2024 129

Environmental News Bits

AUGUST 4, 2022

2 renewable energy producer in the country after California. In fact, more than … Continue reading Who benefits from renewable energy subsidies? In Texas, it’s often fossil fuel companies that are fighting clean energy elsewhere.

Fossil Fuels 98

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Clean Energy 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

New UCS study shows how we can accelerate US clean energy ambition An interdisciplinary team of UCS experts set out to explore how the US can meet its goals to cut heat-trapping emissions 50%-52% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions no later than 2050.

Fossil Fuels 277

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 Climate Change 277

Energy and Climate Law

NOVEMBER 2, 2020

For almost two year now the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is under revision and negotiations shall finish in 2021. The aim of the EU is to try to stop fossil fuel companies suing states over climate action. The EU now ratched up its position on the reform of the ECT during recent negotiation rounds.

Fossil Fuels 207

Fossil Fuels Natural Gas Electricity 2020 207

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

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. It also will save US consumers money because they will spend less on fossil fuels.

Carbon Emissions 303

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 303

A Greener Life

DECEMBER 13, 2023

By Anders Lorenzen Whether or not to include the language stating ‘fossil fuels must be phased out’ rather than ‘phased down’ became the key contentious issue at this year’s UN climate talks. A draft text released Friday, with just under a week for the summit to conclude included the key fossil fuel language as an option.

Fossil Fuels 105

Fossil Fuels Climate Change 2023 2009 105

New Scientist

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

An old idea to use ocean heat to generate clean electricity has long failed to gain traction, but the technology – known as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) – is seeing a resurgence of interest from islands dependent on fossil fuels

Ocean 138

Ocean Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 138