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

Union of Concerned Scientists

GW record from 2021. And fossil fuel power plants may not stick to their retirement schedules for a variety of reasons. Note: this is adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars and is based on the amount those plants emitted in 2021, the EIA’s most recent year of finalized data. A bit more on those reasons later.

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Storm Elliott Knocked Out Fossil-Fuel Power. We’ve Been Here Before.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Utilities and grid operators prepared for the storm as it was coming down the pike, but they still underestimated the energy demand it would trigger, as well as the number of outages at fossil fuel power plants—mainly natural gas-fired, plus some coal-fired plants.

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Western Wildfires are Burning Through Local and State Budgets 

Union of Concerned Scientists

For years, fossil fuel companies have socialized the costs of their pollution while privatizing the benefits. Since local and state governments are on the frontlines of paying for worsening wildfires, they should also be on the leading edge of holding fossil fuel companies accountable.

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What’s Up With Water – September 20, 2021

Circle of Blue

Unless fossil fuel use declines steeply and swiftly, it will be necessary to pursue options such as removing carbon from the air or growing crops as a fuel stock. But carbon removal and fuel crops have significant tradeoffs for water supply and water quality. More water news and analysis await you at circleofblue.org.

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South Korea and Climate Change

Legal Planet

According to the Energy Information Agency , South Korea’s power sector is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Two thirds of generation capacity is based on fossil fuels, split evenly between coal and natural gas, with 17% nuclear, and 14% hydro and other renewables. 50% coal, 26% gas, and 25% nuclear.

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2021-2022 California Environmental Legislation: What’s Been Enacted?

Legal Planet

The Governor approved a notable slate of climate legislation with a package that includes more stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets and measures designed to reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels. Lawmakers have accordingly sought ways to conserve water, particularly in urban areas. Ecological Conservation.

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Climate Reality vs. Public Perception: Will Toxic Haze and the 2023 Danger Season Make a Difference?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017, and Hurricane Irma in 2021 were all accompanied by the same question. That means they are a conservative estimate of how much extreme weather costs the United States each year.” A 2021 analysis of more than 88,000 studies since 2012 now finds 99.9