Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 12, 2024

Fossil gas power plants currently provide the largest source of electricity generation and capacity in the United States. However, as we replace fossil fuels with clean electricity for heating and transportation to meet our climate goals, these peak demands will increasingly shift to the winter in many parts of the country.

Fossil Fuels 310

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2030 Clean Energy 310

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 23, 2025

Diablo Canyon is now Californias last operational nuclear power plant, but its currently slated to shut down by 2030. It depends on the costs The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) represents the average cost to build and operate a generating resource per unit of electricity generated. economy to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Nuclear Power 240

Nuclear Power Clean Energy Technology Technology 240

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 22, 2022

Minnesotans are facing concurrent crises of climate change, high energy prices and inflation, and the inequitable public health impacts of fossil fuel air pollution. Most Minnesotans are familiar with their local electricity utility, since that’s who bills them for electricity they provide.

Renewable Energy 363

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 363

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2021

We need to quickly transition to a clean energy future in Illinois to prevent additional negative public health impacts from fossil fuel plants. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) HB 0804/ SB1718 is the only bill that puts Illinois on a path to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Fossil Fuels 261

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 2030 261

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) sets a bold goal for the state—no carbon pollution from electricity generation by 2045, which means zero global warming emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants. PowerGEM , an independent consulting firm, conducted the analysis for us, using the same data and process PJM uses.

Electricity 246

Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Waste 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 28, 2022

And, in between, Consumers Energy—an investor-owned utility that provides electricity to nearly 2 million customers—submitted a proposed settlement agreement on its integrated resource plan pending before the Michigan Public Service Commission. Our modeling for our 100-percent report included Consumers’ coal plant commitments.

Clean Energy 279

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2030 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

There’s good news in the recently released official data on electricity generation in the United States in 2022: renewable energy has continued to grow, coal power has continued to drop, and renewables are now firmly ahead of coal for the first time ever. percent of the country’s electricity supply (up 1.1 It supplied 10.5

Clean Energy 307

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Solar Power 307

Legal Planet

MARCH 31, 2022

It turns out that most of them are 50-60% reliant on fossil fuels, with a lot of the remainder coming from nuclear and hydro. This table shows how much power is generated from fossil fuels by the top ten utilities (ranked by market value). There was more fuel oil in use in some places than I expected. Carbon Goal.

2030 246

2030 Natural Gas Fossil Fuels 2007 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 25, 2022

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Without power grid modeling tools, the transition to clean electricity would be an absolute mess. Luckily, we don’t have to resort to guesswork because we have sophisticated grid modeling tools that help guide the transition to clean electricity. Surely that would not end well.

Electricity 279

Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

This marked a career shift toward direct climate and equity advocacy, where I could use my background in electrical engineering to more directly tackle the climate challenges threatening our planet’s critical resources, including the glaciers I would soon visit.

Climate Change 244

Climate Change 2030 Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions 244

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 21, 2023

How would that change if I hopped on the electric bus route at the end of my block? The situation would indeed be much better if our gifts were delivered by a team of flying reindeer fueled by magic and apples instead of trucks running on polluting diesel fuel.

Nitrogen Oxides 308

Nitrogen Oxides Electricity Fossil Fuels Air Pollution 308

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 27, 2022

There is still much we can do to bend that emissions curve sharply within this decade—but only if world leaders, especially leaders of richer countries and major emitting nations, take responsibility to act together quickly and fossil fuel companies are held accountable for their decades of obstruction and deception.

Fossil Fuels 253

Fossil Fuels 2030 Clean Energy Climate Change 253

PA Environment Daily

MAY 2, 2025

Most of the projects, or 90%, are expected to be online by 2030. Bringing More Generation Online As new generation comes online more efficiently through these reforms, the demand for electricity and retirement of generators continues to outpace the addition of new generation. All are projected to be online by 2031.

Electricity 86

Electricity Natural Gas 2026 2025 86

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2022

First and foremost, despite some fossil fuel interests swinging for the fossil fuel-favored fences, the Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. What the Supreme Court decided in West Virginia v. That’s for two reasons.

Fossil Fuels 280

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Clean Energy Greenhouse 280

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 25, 2022

This week, the Midwest’s regional electric grid operators approved nearly $10.5 Allowing for more cheap renewable energy to meet demand, and addressing areas where the grid is vulnerable will provide fuel savings, avoided risk of controlled blackouts, and reductions in fossil fuel pollution. million homes. million homes.

Renewable Energy 264

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 264

A Greener Life

JULY 7, 2021

New research from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) confirms renewables are continuing to outpace fossil fuels on cost. They found that the share of renewable energy that achieved lower costs than the most competitive fossil fuel option doubled in 2020. With record-low auction prices of $1.1

Fossil Fuels 98

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 2010 2020 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

They just released their 2022 “Annual Energy Outlook” (AEO), which is a big deal: it tells us where electricity is headed over the next 30 years. Here are five key takeaways from this year’s AEO, focused primarily on the electricity sector: 1. Relying on market trends is nowhere near enough to do the job. Carbon emissions remain high.

Natural Gas 291

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 291

Legal Planet

JUNE 13, 2022

The national electricity plan projected that renewables will exceed coal in 2027. But given the growth of the economy, carbon emissions were projected to continuing growing steadily through 2030. The roadmap calls for Mumbai to get half its electricity from renewables by 2030 and 90% by 2050. As in the U.S.,

2030 246

2030 Carbon Emissions Sea Level 2027 246

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 9, 2021

It attempted to move away from fossil fuels and toward zero-carbon sources like solar power to supply electricity. Fossil fuel plants — coal-fired power plants in particular — cause serious air pollution problems. My last post argued that EPA should immediately repeal the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Carbon Emissions Renewable Energy 246

Legal Planet

AUGUST 22, 2024

To address these dual needs, UC Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy and the Environment (CLEE) and the UCLA Law Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment are today releasing the new report Fueling & Financing: Addressing the Urgent Challenges Facing Electric Heavy-Duty Vehicle Deployment.

Electricity 147

Electricity Climate Change Fossil Fuels 2009 147

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 13, 2022

It means committing to incentives and standards that clearly align with the trajectory we need to be on across all sectors of the economy—both valuing the beneficial aspects of clean energy resources, and accounting for the negative effects of polluting fossil fuels. to 80 percent of electricity from zero-carbon resources by 2030.

Technology 265

Technology Technology Climate Change Fossil Fuels 265

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 313

Solar Power Clean Energy Carbon Emissions Electricity 313

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

It is overwhelmingly produced by a process known as steam methane reforming (SMR), which is heavily carbon-polluting, and the resulting hydrogen is primarily consumed as a feedstock for industrial purposes, such as oil refining and fertilizer production, not as a way to displace fossil fuels. And this isn’t just hypothetical.

Clean Energy 264

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Renewable Energy 264

Legal Planet

JULY 29, 2021

These laws ban new fossil fuel plants and set aggressive targets for the state’s two major utilities, requiring emission cuts of 80% by 2030, 90% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. House Bill 2165 addresses electrical charging for vehicles. On Wednesday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a package of four clean energy bills.

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Renewable Energy 2010 264

Legal Planet

MAY 5, 2022

Mexico’s climate commitment for 2030 under the Paris Agreement calls for cutting emissions 22%, cutting black carbon by half, and achieving net-zero deforestation. AMLO has come under criticism for his commitment to fossil fuel production and refining in Mexico. As always, the poor will be the most vulnerable to climate change.

Paris Agreement 264

Paris Agreement Carbon Emissions Climate Change Rainforest 264

Legal Planet

MAY 9, 2022

Texas and a number of other states have passed laws banning what they call “boycotts of fossil fuel companies.” ” More precisely, they ban state investment or contracting with firms that “boycott” fossil fuel companies. That’s generally — but not always — going to be firms “utilizing” fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Law Carbon Emissions Politics 246

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

Meanwhile, it remains profoundly cheaper to produce electricity from solar than from new fossil fuel sources. Thats almost three times the amount of projected data center load growth nationally by 2030.

Natural Gas 62

Natural Gas Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 62

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 18, 2021

North Carolina today gets over half of its power from fossil fuels, about 25% from coal and 33% from natural gas. Perhaps the most controversial portion of the bill changes the mechanism for setting electricity rates. Nuclear accounts for another third, and renewables are only 11% including hydro and biomass.

Solar Power 246

Solar Power Carbon Dioxide Fossil Fuels 2005 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 17, 2024

In the electric utility industry, this conflict is on display in the debate over who makes decisions on new electric transmission and how to include policies set by state laws. PJM directs the revenues and operation of the largest fossil fuel power plant fleet (124 gigawatts), making it the largest utility in the US.

Electricity 262

Electricity Fossil Fuels Climate Change Sea Level 262

A Greener Life

APRIL 21, 2025

2025 The theme “Our Power, Our Planet” calls for tripling renewable energy by 2030. Reduce the dependency on fossil fuels It urges governments, companies, and individuals to reduce fossil fuel dependency and scale up sustainable alternatives. 1990 Earth Day expanded globally to 141 countries.

Earth Day 54

Earth Day Renewable Energy 2025 Fossil Fuels 54

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Last November, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released an interdisciplinary study exploring the various pathways to meeting US goals to cut heat-trapping emissions economywide 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The good news? How are we doing on that?

Clean Energy 335

Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 2030 335

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 296

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Nitrogen Oxides 296

Circle of Blue

AUGUST 3, 2021

Like all other industries, the clock is ticking for the sector to cut its carbon pollution, given President Joe Biden’s goal to halve the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. By generating its own energy, the facility cuts its electricity bill, or even turns a profit by selling the surplus.

Carbon Emissions 317

Carbon Emissions Waste Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 317

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Senate Bill (SB) 271 requires utilities to achieve, at a minimum, renewable energy-generated electricity sales of 50 percent in 2030 and 60 percent in 2035. percent of electricity sales, but at a lower level than the 2 percent clean energy advocates proposed and that utilities have previously achieved. What’s In the Bills?

Clean Energy 272

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 272

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 16, 2024

I work in the electric utility sector, specifically on the grid issues that shape our energy supply choices. I heard some early warnings of data center growth running into grid limits first from tech companies and then from electric utility planners. This growth is a jolt to the usually slow-moving electricity sector.

Electricity 273

Electricity Clean Energy Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 273

A Greener Life

AUGUST 2, 2023

billion of hydropower investments by 2030. Fossil fuels currently account for around 60% of electricity generation , a share that it aims to reduce to 35% by 2030 through the expansion of renewables, including hydropower, and in particular wind and solar. The Agua del Toro dam in Mendoza, Argentina.

Renewable Energy 95

Renewable Energy 2030 Fossil Fuels Electricity 95

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

It doesn’t make financial sense for many coal plants stay open due to competition from more affordable clean resources —such as wind and solar—as well as from other fossil fuel power plants, such as those fired by methane gas. That would be outrageous, wouldn’t it? But that’s exactly what’s happening right now.

2020 353

2020 Electricity 2019 Fossil Fuels 353