UCS recently released a new analysis on the costly effects of how electric utilities operate their coal-fired power plants.
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Is Your Minnesota Electric Cooperative Still Losing Money on Coal Power?
James Gignac, lead Midwest energy analyst
June 24, 2020 11:13 AM EDT
Cost of Hiding Energy Supplies
Mike Jacobs, Senior energy analyst
May 20, 2020 4:09 PM EDT
Planning for reliability is increasingly watchful of times other than the summer peak. That planning, and the policies, prices, and market responses that follow, are all better served by having more information about actual conditions, rather than less. Read more >
Why Congress Must Invest in Environmental Justice and Equity in the Next Recovery Package
Adrienne Hollis, Senior Climate Justice and Health Scientist
May 5, 2020 4:15 PM EDT
People of color. The elderly. Women and LGBTQ people. Low income families. These are some of the most vulnerable among us. As such, they must be the focus of Congressional attention.
A recent report by nonprofit Kresge Health has drawn a straight line from these most vulnerable people to the likelihood of living near hazardous waste facilities. They are more likely to lack economic stability, education, housing and transportation options and even safe drinking water. Congress has it in its hands to change this as it crafts its next recovery package. Read more >
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Two Clean Energy Programs from the Past that can Help Build to the Future
Sam Gomberg, senior energy analyst
April 27, 2020 9:00 AM EDT
A sustained downturn in clean energy industries puts hundreds of thousands of jobs and tens of billions of dollars in investment at risk. Wind, solar, battery storage, and energy efficiency industries are all expecting significant job losses as projects are threatened by supply chain, financing, and workforce issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. When we emerge from the pandemic’s immediate public health impacts, clean energy industries will need to rapidly ramp back up to get people working, support local economies, modernize our infrastructure, and keep us marching towards a truly clean and equitable energy future. Two powerful tools can help with that. Read more >
Photographer: Ari Lindquist/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Congress: Clean Energy Manufacturing and Building Is Our Future. Fund It.
Mike Jacobs, Senior energy analyst
April 21, 2020 4:52 PM EDT
The COVID-19 outbreak has created a public health crisis unseen in the age of modern medicine, and an economic crisis on the scale of the Great Depression. America’s ability to respond and recover with investments that improve public health and job security will shape this country for years. These investments should recognize the breadth and diversity of people and places in this country.
One industry that can help now save skilled jobs in rural areas and improve everyone’s health over the years while meeting society’s needs is clean, renewable energy. Often, new renewable energy facilities are the largest new construction or manufacturing projects in the counties that host them. Read more >
