We Need a Clear Signal that the Obama Administration Will Issue Power Plant Carbon Standards Soon

More than a year after the EPA issued its draft carbon standards for new power plants, and subsequently received over 3.2 million comments in support of them, it has yet to finalize the standards. Meanwhile last week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report saying the U.S. experienced $110 billion in damages from extreme weather in 2012, with Sandy ($65 billion) and the drought ($30 billion) being the two most costly events. We need President Obama to show that his administration is committed to continued, ambitious action to cut carbon emissions, delivering on his Inaugural Address promise. Read More

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News on Energy Alternatives—Wind, Efficiency Are In, Small Nukes Are Out

Investors working with utilities are making clear and clean choices for meeting our energy needs.  Two big announcements show wind and energy efficiency are financeable and attractive, and new small nuclear reactors are not.  Recently MidAmerican Energy chose to add more wind energy to its supply, dump a “modular” nuclear plant proposal,and decline to follow the trend toward burning natural gas. Read More

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New IEA Report Shows (Yet Again!) that We Have the Tools to Cut Global Warming Emissions; Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency are Critical

Today the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a new climate and energy report that highlights the inexorable growth in our heat-trapping emissions and reiterates the urgent need for a rapid ramp-up of renewable energy and energy efficiency resources to help address climate change. Cutting fugitive methane emissions and reducing fossil fuel subsidies are other important recommendations. Read More

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Russia Torpedoes Cleaner Shipping

Echoing back to classic Cold War struggles, Russia has blocked Western European and U.S. efforts by apparently scuttling international plans to reduce hazardous pollution from ships starting in 2016. The “Tier III” amendment to the International Maritime Organization’s MARPOL standards would have required new engines that power the largest ships to include pollution control devices. These devices — such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) — dramatically reduce the amount of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide (collectively known as NOx) gases leaving a ship’s funnels. Read More

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Labor and Environment: “Joined at the Hip”

Since its launching in 2006, the Blue-Green Alliance (BGA) has united some of the largest and most impactful unions, environmental, and science-based organizations in an effort to accelerate the transition to a clean and prosperous energy economy. As proud members of the BGA, the Union of Concerned Scientists was well represented at their annual Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference in Washington, DC last week. My colleague and UCS Kendall Fellow Jeremy Richardson was an active participant and logged the following report: Read More

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Georgia, Alabama Customers Benefit from Wind by Wire

Again this week, a coal-burning utility announced that a significant purchase of wind power will benefit ratepayers. This is the third contract to deliver over 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Oklahoma and Kansas wind farms to  benefit the Southeast states. Alabama was first, now Georgia will see lower and more stable electricity prices through wind power purchases. Both utilities Georgia Power and Alabama Power report that the wind power contracts provide cost-savings for their customers. Read More

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Master Limited Partnerships: Lowering Financing Costs for Renewable Energy Projects

On April 24, Senators Coons (D-DE), Moran (R-KS), Stabenow (D-MI) and Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Master Limited Partnerships (MLP) Parity Act, a bipartisan bill that would give renewable energy projects access to billions of dollars of lower cost capital that has been available to the fossil fuel industry for decades. Read More

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A Welcome Voice of Corporate Leadership

A theme that I have been writing and speaking about a lot recently is the obligation of industry CEOs to lead their companies in reducing heat-trapping emissions and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy – not only because of the essential societal benefits but because it’s good for business. Read More

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Zombies, Glee, and Coal on Earth Day: New Mashup Report on Coal’s Water Dependence

In the fine tradition of mashups that have produced zombie-enhanced classic novels and cutting-edge high school music efforts, a new UCS mini-report is a stimulating amalgamation of two exciting areas of UCS research, pointing to additional bonuses from closing old coal plants. This Earth Day, you can celebrate water savings, too. Read More

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A Trivial (and Fun) Way to Celebrate Earth Day

Are you looking for an entertaining and engaging way to make a difference this Earth Day? Consider hosting a Cooler Smarter trivia event! It will put you on the path of being a low-carbon leader, and help challenge, inform, and inspire your family and friends to lower their carbon footprint. Read More

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