Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 17, 2022

The clean energy industry is continuing to deploy significant amounts of storage to deliver a low-carbon future. Having enough energy storage in the right places will support the massive amount of renewables needed to add to the grid in the coming decades. Currently only 4 percent of US electricity comes from solar.

Clean Energy 278

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Technology Technology 278

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

Critics of wind and solar routinely raise concerns about how much land would be required to decarbonize the US power sector. And when wind and solar projects are responsibly sited, the environmental and public health impacts would be far less harmful than those from extracting, producing, and burning fossil fuels.

Electricity 345

Electricity Fossil Fuels Solar Power 2030 345

A Greener Life

JUNE 30, 2023

Solar panels in the Bavarian Holledau region in Au, Germany. By Anders Lorenzen The renewable energy sector experienced record growth in 2022 of 1%. But despite this, it did not shift the dominance of fossil fuels. The energy data Excluding hydropower, renewables accounted for 7.5%

Fossil Fuels 52

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Paris Agreement 2022 52

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 291

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 291

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, with climate and clean energy majorities in both chambers, Minnesota is poised to join other leading states in updating its clean energy policies equitably with benefits for all residents.

Electricity 222

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 222

A Greener Life

JUNE 15, 2023

By Anders Lorenzen The electricity grid in New York , US has just set a new record for the level of renewable energy flowing through its local grid. On the 18th of May, a record amount of solar power of 3,330 megawatts (MW) moved through the grid meaning that it sourced 20% of its electricity from a singular clean energy technology.

Renewable Energy 52

Renewable Energy Solar Power Clean Energy Fossil Fuels 52

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 4, 2024

PECO submitted its latest energy procurement proposal, also known as a “default service supply plan” to the Pennsylvania PUC in February. The People’s Energy Plan calls for three key changes to PECO’s short-sighted procurement planning process: -- Fix the Mix: Engage in long-term contracts with renewable energy providers.

Renewable Energy 72

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 72

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 13, 2022

We already have so many of the foundational technological building blocks of the clean energy transition at hand: renewables, energy efficiency, energy storage, and pathways to electrifying a vast array of energy end uses. Now we need to rapidly accelerate the clean energy momentum already underway.

Technology 234

Technology Technology Climate Change Fossil Fuels 234

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 29, 2024

Later in the hour, Tillerson told Rose that the federal government should end subsidies for renewable energy. “I It was a bogus argument that fossil fuel proponents would repeat ad nauseum over the next 10 years, so when Rose failed to provide some needed context, I jumped in. His reply ?

Fossil Fuels 338

Fossil Fuels Climate Change 2007 Carbon Emissions 338

Enviromental Defense

JUNE 21, 2021

In a remarkable new report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) finds that in order to limit warming to 1.5 The IEA is the world’s foremost authority on energy, relied upon by governments and the private sector around the world. That includes: 1 Stop approving fossil fuel projects, and plan for their phase out.

Fossil Fuels 98

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Clean Energy Climate Change 98

A Greener Life

MAY 20, 2022

Perched at 3,730 metres above sea level in the community of Ancotanga, the Oruro solar power plant is one of the flagship projects in Bolivia’s energy transition. When its second phase was inaugurated in February 2021, President Arce highlighted the importance of the project for the country’s energy transition. “We

Solar Power 98

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Radiation Natural Gas 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 12, 2024

But gas power plants have also played an important role in helping to maintain the overall reliability of the electricity grid by meeting peak power demands, such as on hot summer days when people turn on their air conditioners. It’s worth delving into because it has some important implications for our clean energy future.

Fossil Fuels 237

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 237

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 25, 2022

Today, the regional entity overseeing much of the electric power grid in the Midwest—the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)—approved a set of major new transmission system upgrades that will bring billions of dollars in benefits to the region while better enabling states and utilities to pursue transitions to clean energy.

Solar Power 267

Solar Power Clean Energy Carbon Emissions Electricity 267

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 11, 2023

The Pennsylvania Solar Center hosts an August 18 Renewable Energy Policy Webinar - Time To Take Action -- from 12:30 to 1:30. Their agendas are filling up fast, and we need you to keep the sun shining bright on Pennsylvania solar policy! We’ll be joined by Rep.

Renewable Energy 61

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Solar Power 61

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

AUGUST 31, 2022

Solar energy production starts to dwindle by September. Solar power peaks earlier in the summer when the days are longer. By September, the sun sets earlier in the evening, and solar power production tapers off when people are still using substantial amounts of electricity in the evening. heat pumps !).

Solar Power 252

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 252

Law Columbia

APRIL 3, 2024

Achieving the United States’ ambitious emissions reduction goals depends in large part on the rapid adoption of wind and solar energy and the electrification of consumer vehicles. However, misinformation and coordinated disinformation about renewable energy is widespread and threatens to undermine public support for the transition.

Electricity 131

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Radiation 131

Enviromental Defense

APRIL 26, 2024

I had to figure out how to bridge the silos that existed in our society – between the renewable energy sector, climate organizations, government policy-makers, project financers, utilities, labour, engineers – the list goes on. to usher in the inevitable and desperately needed transition to renewable energy.

Renewable Energy 120

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 2013 Solar Power 120

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. It’s a big deal.

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

A Greener Life

OCTOBER 18, 2023

Fossil fuels and conflicts These events just illustrate how big a role fossil fuels play in conflicts and aiding them. This is of course not to suggest that wars and conflicts would go away with a clean energy system, but it would eliminate some of the weaponry elements that could deployed.

Clean Energy 52

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Scientist Renewable Energy 52

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 10, 2023

PJM is a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, including Pennsylvania.

Fossil Fuels 72

Fossil Fuels Technology Technology Clean Energy 72

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

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 8, 2023

When you think of solar power , California undoubtedly comes to mind. The state’s strong climate goals paired with abundant sunshine have helped California reach record rooftop and utility-scale solar buildout. Out of the 5,700 megawatts of installed community solar in the country, less than 1% of that is in California.

Clean Energy 234

Clean Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels Solar Power 234

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

“Today Pennsylvanians have the ability to get their energy straight from their rooftops,” said Ellie Kerns, Climate and Clean Energy Associate with PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center. Solar energy stands as an abundant and affordable solution crucial to America's transition to renewable sources.

Solar Power 70

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 70

Legal Planet

MARCH 30, 2023

Which seems a little hard to square with the state’s reliance on renewable energy. It’s not as if the state’s extensive use of wind power is just a historical fluke, either. Instead, Texas is doubling down on renewables. The state will soon get more power from renewables than natural gas.

Wind Power 130

Wind Power Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Natural Gas 130

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

APRIL 25, 2022

These models are essentially designed to determine what resources need to be added to the grid to meet certain goals, such as clean energy or emissions reduction goals. Capacity expansion modeling helps determine how many clean resources, such as solar and wind, need to be added to the grid to meet clean energy goals.

Electricity 246

Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 246

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 27, 2022

On March 25, the United States and the European Commission came to an agreement on how to address Europe’s need for natural gas through the next two winters by diversifying liquefied natural gas supplies “in alignment with climate objectives” to end Europe’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Read more here. Read more here.

Natural Gas 77

Natural Gas Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 77

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 9, 2023

Congress is investing huge sums in agriculture, and this money should be directed to help farmers mitigate and adapt to climate change by paying farmers to reduce emissions, on-farm renewable energy, and research on soil health. As the Farm Bill is negotiated, climate change must be a priority.

Fossil Fuels 60

Fossil Fuels Solar Power Climate Change Renewable Energy 60

Acoel

MAY 18, 2021

Yet Mainers are questioning whether to accept a new 145-mile electric transmission line that will bring hydropower from Quebec into the New England power grid, removing 3.0 Million tons of regional CO2 per year, and providing energy cost savings to Mainers ($40 million per year in savings) and others in New England. What gives?

Renewable Energy 76

Renewable Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels Wind Power 76

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. 16 Webinar: Why Should We Care About, Advocate For A Climate-Friendly Federal Farm Bill?

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

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 26, 2022

Food For Thought Here are some articles from last week that discuss various aspects of True Energy Independence and continuing down the same path-- -- NYT: No True Energy Independence As Long As U.S.

Fossil Fuels 109

Fossil Fuels Natural Gas Solar Power Renewable Energy 109

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 17, 2022

On March 17, the Community College of Allegheny County officially “flipped the switch” to solar power. The extensive new 543-kilowatt solar installation will produce enough electricity to power 30–40% of CCAC North Campus’s electrical energy needs. Solar (Galvanizing our Energy Transition) program.

Renewable Energy 98

Renewable Energy Solar Power Electricity 2030 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

Our national overreliance on gas is evidently undermining energy access, not strengthening it, as some fossil fuel industry players would want you to believe. Likewise, pipeline giant Williams Companies now refers to its gas projects as “clean energy” projects. Don’t believe the industry spin.

Fossil Fuels 277

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Electricity Natural Gas 277

A Greener Life

DECEMBER 28, 2022

A solar power field in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. Last week, regulators in the local assembly of Tokyo , the capital of Japan , ruled that all new homes constructed by large-scale homebuilders after April 2025 must install solar panels to cut emissions. Poor solar uptake. Photo credit: Reuters / Toru Hanai. By Anders Lorenzen.

2025 52

2025 Solar Power Fossil Fuels 2011 52