March 17, 2021 10:47 AM EDT
Xcel Energy made a huge splash when, in 2018, it announced that it would be charting a path to 100 percent carbon-free electricity. But they didn’t necessarily win over everyone, including us at UCS. That’s because we know that goals (ambitious or otherwise) have to be judged by actions. The evidence so far is that Xcel isn’t as committed to its climate goals as it would like you (and the media) to think.
December 20, 2018 10:57 AM EDT
There is a growing trend amongst coal plant operators: save customers money by switching to seasonal operation and operating less. Operators can secure those savings for customers because other resources (like wind, solar and other resources) are often available at lower cost. Reduced operations also translate to reduced emissions.
August 20, 2018 10:07 AM EDT
Changes to an important state air pollution standard are being considered by the Illinois Pollution Control Board this summer. My colleagues and I found striking differences among the Dynegy plants that would be affected by the proposed rule change to be decided on as soon as Thursday August 23. Under the current Illinois Multi-Pollutant Standard (MPS), the Dynegy coal plants that cause the most harm to Illinois residents are the ones more likely to be closed or be upgraded with air pollution control technology. But if the Pollution Control Board adopts Dynegy’s proposal to change how state air pollution limits are calculated, it could result in the company closing its cleaner plants and keeping its dirtiest plants open because it would no longer need the cleanest plants in its fleet to comply with the state requirements. My colleague James Gignac, lead analyst in the Midwest Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), further reflects on the impacts of the proposed change to the MPS, below. Read more >
