Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

Without electricity or heat, some people apparently turned to portable generators, which can fill a home with carbon monoxide exhaust. With winter already upon us, can we prevent similar catastrophic consequences and be better prepared for the next storm? When a severe storm hits and causes widespread outages, this home will stay lit.

Carbon Monoxide 231

Carbon Monoxide Cooling Clean Energy Electricity 231

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 293

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 293

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 12, 2024

To meet our climate goals and reach net zero emissions by 2050, most studies show that we need to dramatically reduce gas use for generating electricity, heating homes and businesses, and running industrial processes. It’s worth delving into because it has some important implications for our clean energy future.

Fossil Fuels 236

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 236

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 22, 2023

As demand rises, grid operators turn for extra capacity to power plants that they don’t use frequently. Using more of these more expensive sources means higher wholesale electricity costs, which translates to higher retail rates for customers. Even plants with the same fuel might use it differently.

Electricity 224

Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Cooling 224

Academy of Natural Sciences

APRIL 22, 2024

Pledge to be plastic-free Plastic-free Philly, Philly’s solution to plastic pollution, is a volunteer effort aimed at reducing single-use plastic water bottles and replacing them with environmentally healthier options, such as drinking tap water and using refillable bottles. Exploring the option of solar power could be for you.

Earth Day 105

Earth Day Solar Power Natural Sciences 105

Legal Planet

JANUARY 8, 2024

In addition, the Energy Commission adopted a new “virtual power plant” rule, allowing consumer-owned batteries to be aggregated and treated as power plants when they deliver power to the wholesale electricity market. State climate policy is a big deal. The industry agreed not to challenge the standards.

Climate Change 271

Climate Change Clean Energy 2030 Renewable Energy 271

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 31, 2022

Rising prices of methane gas used for power and heating, exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are contributing to soaring electric and heating bills across the country. Over the past 30 years, the use of gas in the power sector has more than tripled, now responsible for 37 percent of the power sector’s net generation.

Clean Energy 231

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 231

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 7, 2024

Last week’s narrowly-missed collision between a climate-related event and nuclear weapons—two of the planet’s greatest existential threats—highlights the dangerous games humanity is playing with each and serves as a potent reminder of why action to reduce the risks associated with each is so critical. What role is climate change playing?

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Climate Change 2011 Sea Level Radiation 323

Legal Planet

MAY 1, 2023

Soon after taking office, Biden issued an executive order on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” The more recent Inflation Reduction Act provides upwards of $370 billion in incentives for clean energy projects. Download as PDF The post The Energy Transition and the Working Class appeared first on Legal Planet.

Clean Energy 245

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Politics Law 245

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 16, 2024

Much of our electricity system is 50 to 70 years old, yet current plans for domestic manufacturing, electric vehicle fleets, community solar gardens and more clean energy all depend on a modern grid. New demands for electricity and the need to reduce climate-changing emissions are driving new grid planning efforts.

Electricity 208

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 208

Enviromental Defense

APRIL 16, 2024

A windfall tax on their profits could have been used to support Canadians and fund climate solutions across the country. Instead, Minister Freeland caved to fossil fuel lobbying, putting the interests of wealthy fossil fuel executives ahead of the rest of us.”

Fossil Fuels 136

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Government Greenhouse 136

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 1, 2024

The entrance to Mariposa Grove, home to Yosemite’s majestic giant sequoias. The maps use color gradations to indicate the depth of snow in inches. That day, Governor Brown signed an Executive Order mandating a 25% water use reduction across the state. Photo credit: J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida. feet—over 200% above the average!

Fossil Fuels 317

Fossil Fuels Climate Change 2015 2023 317

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 29, 2023

Most trucks will charge at home base A sensible place to start—and indeed where most truck and bus charging will take place—is at the vehicles’ home base (aka depot). Even one-third of tractor-trailers do the kind of shorter, local or regional freight hauling that allows them to return to base each day.

Electricity 233

Electricity Environmental Protection Greenhouse 2024 233

Environmental and Urban Economics

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

This blog post will sketch out some optimistic economics 101 lessons for how to reduce the risk of future Texas power blackouts without building a single new power plant. Rolling blackouts injure energy consumers because a key input in daily life (electricity) is unavailable at random times and this causes pain and inconvenience.

Climate Change 264

Climate Change Electricity 2011 Regulations 264

Legal Planet

JUNE 20, 2023

Los Angeles’ ambitious “Green New Deal” calls for, among other things, eliminating or offsetting building emissions and reducing building energy use by 44%, both by 2050. Image dedicated to the public domain (CC0 1.0) The report is inspired by the work of Environmental Law Clinic partner Strategic Actions for a Just Economy.)

Electricity 130

Electricity Government Law Climate Change 130

Legal Planet

APRIL 4, 2024

I thought it would be helpful to provide some kind of objective measure of how much various candidates focus on energy and climate. My measure is simple if maybe a little crude: I counted the number of words on the campaign website in the energy and environment tabs dealing with these issues. Also surprisingly, RFK Jr.

Clean Energy 201

Clean Energy Climate Change Fossil Fuels Natural Gas 201

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

The grid is well-equipped to supply energy to EVs at current adoption levels. We need electric utilities and regional grid operators to invest in more energy capacity and robust transmission and distribution infrastructure. Let’s pick apart these two questions. rooftop solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles).

Electricity 346

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Cooling 346

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 17, 2022

This blog presents the state of the drought in the Western US and some solutions that must be carried out on a large scale to lessen its impacts and increase resilience. . According to the US Drought Monitor , 63 percent of the country—an area that’s home to more than 80 million people–is experiencing some degree of drought (Figure 1). .

Climate Change 257

Climate Change Technology Technology Fossil Fuels 257

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 8, 2023

Replacing gasoline vehicles with electric can reduce emissions that cause climate change and illnesses. We are specifically looking at the social and environmental impacts of mining and processing the minerals that are used in the batteries powering these vehicles, buses, bikes, and scooters. Wind turbine: 2.75

Electricity 254

Electricity Recycling Fossil Fuels Climate Change 254

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 27, 2023

From a national perspective, the land use needed to reach our clean energy goals is modest. But for states like California, with large populations, an ambitious and necessary clean energy timeline , and ongoing natural resource issues , where to actually build these projects will require thoughtful planning.

Solar Power 235

Solar Power Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 235

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 10, 2023

According to the science, over the next 7 years we must focus on reducing emissions of heat-trapping gases significantly to halve emissions by 2030 and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Rhetoric in these speeches is often used to unify, heal wounds from the campaign season and place markers down. Happy New Year! Rhode Island

Climate Change 186

Climate Change Clean Energy Renewable Energy 2030 186

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 22, 2024

On April 22, Dickinson College, Haverford College, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College and Swarthmore College announced they have joined with three colleges in North Carolina as a part of an innovative, large-scale solar energy facility in western Kentucky.

Renewable Energy 87

Renewable Energy 2026 Carbon Emissions 2025 87

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 31, 2022

For a lot of folks, September brings to mind the end of summer, the time to go back to school and get back into the swing of work and home routines, and of course the classic Earth, Wind & Fire song. Solar energy production starts to dwindle by September. But not for me. It’s during the evening hours, around 6 to 8 p.m.,

Solar Power 250

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Electricity 2020 250

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 12, 2023

My commute now mostly consists of the distance from my bedroom to the laptop in my home office (with a short detour to the kitchen for coffee) because I’m fortunate enough to have a job and employer that allows me to work from home. And for people in apartments that have to pay for car parking, there can be savings at home too.

Electricity 292

Electricity Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Recycling 292

Academy of Natural Sciences

APRIL 18, 2024

April is Earth Month, a time when many are considering how they can make changes to their homes and their lives to be more sustainable. When Academy of Natural Sciences members Chris and Alysia Fostek saw that their first energy bill for their then-new home was more than $500, they knew there had to be a better, greener way.

Natural Sciences 52

Natural Sciences Cooling Environmental Protection Electricity 52

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 22, 2023

Energy choices are key to climate resilience—but there’s resistance within state government Science tells us the extent and degree of future flooding depends on how fast we can reduce heat trapping emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. Insurers use data—not ideology—when making decisions.

Fossil Fuels 211

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Government 2014 211

Circle of Blue

JANUARY 6, 2023

Hughes’ plan is to turn 37,000 acres of Sonoran Desert west of Phoenix, nearly 60 square miles, into 100,000 homes and 55 million square feet of commercial space where 300,000 people will live and 450,000 will work. . That is putting more pressure to supply homes and businesses from finite water reserves held in aquifers. .

Recycling 299

Recycling 2022 Law Climate Change 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 13, 2023

Last year, renewables generated more electricity in the United States than coal for the first time, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). US electric car sales, meanwhile, jumped 65% compared to 2021, while overall car sales last year declined from the previous year. of total auto sales.

Electricity 305

Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Change 305

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

The most impacted are outdoor workers and the many families in low-income rural communities across the Valley that don’t have air conditioners or can’t afford to pay for their use. The heat keeps rising, and you may need to choose between going home and not getting paid or risking your health when it is too hot to work.

Cooling 331

Cooling Climate Change Electricity Radiation 331

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 19, 2022

Today, there is enough solar capacity in the US to power the equivalent of 23 million homes , according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The US solar industry was valued at $33 billion in 2021, employed more than 230,000 people, and continued to grow in power capacity at an average rate of 33 percent per year.

Carbon Monoxide 274

Carbon Monoxide Electricity Carbon Dioxide Renewable Energy 274

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 7, 2022

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) had tallied up hundreds of projects cancelled or delayed, totaling more than 50 gigawatts—more than twice what the US solar industry installed during 2021. And it had warned of 100,000 jobs at risk, meaning almost half the US solar workforce. What’s next. Where does it go from here?

Solar Power 311

Solar Power Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 311

Enviromental Defense

APRIL 8, 2024

Toronto, ON or via livestream: [link] Brooks and Elson will speak to the decision of the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to end the subsidy for methane gas pipelines in new residential developments and reduce spending on gas pipelines generally. The government also plans to issue a Natural Gas Policy Statement.

Natural Gas 79

Natural Gas Government 2024 Electricity 79

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 11, 2023

Communities coping with tragedy are assessing the damage, which so far includes at least 72 destroyed homes in one Tennessee county alone, and dozens more homes elsewhere. million US utility customers without power. About 70 percent of US coal is transported at least part of the way by trains.

Fossil Fuels 202

Fossil Fuels 2011 Climate Change Nuclear Power 202

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 1, 2022

This month, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is holding a public hearing on DTE Energy’s plans for Michigan’s energy future. These types of long-term energy plans include forecasting the amount of electricity customers will need and examining different options for supporting that need. What’s in DTE’s proposed plan?

Clean Energy 256

Clean Energy 2028 2025 Electricity 256

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 11, 2023

To significantly reduce the land sinking process, there needs to be a significant increase in groundwater levels. Agriculture is the main water user in California by far, accounting for 80% of the water use in the state. In other words, is there a way to reduce water use and keep everyone happy?

2012 233

2012 Greenhouse 2016 Carbon Dioxide 233

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Thirty-six different power plants failed to deliver promised energy, and grid operator ISO-New England (ISO-NE) was forced to implement emergency operating procedures, stopping just a few steps short of asking the public to help by voluntarily cutting back on electricity use. Emphasis added.)

Electricity 307

Electricity Solar Power Wind Power 2022 307

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 17, 2022

gigawatts (GW), according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). From 2018 to 2019, US capacity increased from 234 to 402 megawatts (MW), mostly in California. The clean energy industry is continuing to deploy significant amounts of storage to deliver a low-carbon future.

Clean Energy 278

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Technology Technology 278