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5 Powerful Facts for Global Wind Day

Union of Concerned Scientists

We at the Union of Concerned Scientists think a lot about wind power. In honor of Global Wind Day , here’s a roundup of what we’re seeing and what we’ve been thinking—five facts about wind energy to keep in mind as you celebrate, or at least make note, on June 15. Wind power is big, and getting bigger.

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

Union of Concerned Scientists

Last year, Congress passed the most ambitious climate bill ever enacted, the Inflation Reduction Act. 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.

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The EIA Just Released a 30 Year Energy Outlook. It’s… Not Great

Union of Concerned Scientists

It’s widely viewed as the “gold standard” for energy projections, even though there’s much debate in the energy community about the validity of the assumptions behind these projections. These projections show that without additional policies or incentives, the US is very much in danger of not meeting our climate goals.

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Good News—and Bad—about Fossil Fuel Power Plants in 2023 

Union of Concerned Scientists

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). GW record from 2021.

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Three Reasons Why Spring is a Great Time for Renewable Energy

Union of Concerned Scientists

While solar, wind and hydro win on price (their marginal cost is zero), they sometimes get pushed out of the market, or “ curtailed ,” when demand is lower. Solar and wind generation grew by an average of 16 percent a year over the past decade and was 18 percent higher in 2022 than in 2021.

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Building a Better Power Grid for Minnesota

Union of Concerned Scientists

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.

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Ask a Scientist: Two Dozen States Can Meet 100 Percent of Electricity Demand with Renewables by 2035

Union of Concerned Scientists

To help avoid the worst possible consequences of climate change, however, the alliance states need to reach that 100-percent objective much more quickly. What job opportunities would this clean energy transition create? EN: Energy prices have gone up dramatically in the last year.