{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"geography":["Midwestern United States"]},"warnings":[{"code":"facet_value_not_in_vocabulary","message":"Value 'Midwestern United States' for facet 'geography' is not in the controlled vocabulary."}]},"total":{"value":99,"relation":"eq"},"page":2,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=Midwestern+United+States&page=2","next":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=Midwestern+United+States&page=3","stability":"beta","ai_marking":{"digital_source_type":{"uri":"http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/trainedAlgorithmicMedia","name":"Created using Generative AI"},"notice":"Summary and key insights are generated using artificial intelligence."},"results":[{"id":"climcent-000221","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/climcent-000221","title":"Surging Weather-related Power Outages","publisher":{"name":"Climate Central","organization":"climate-central"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2022-09-14","source_url":"https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/surging-weather-related-power-outages","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Between 2000 and 2021, the U.S. experienced 1,542 major weather-related power outages, with 83% of all reported major outages attributed to weather. The average annual number of these events increased by approximately 78% in the 2011-2021 decade compared to 2000-2010. Severe weather, winter weather, and tropical cyclones were the primary drivers, with the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast regions most affected. To address these vulnerabilities, the document suggests solutions such as microgrids, smart grid technologies, grid hardening, and bidirectional charging for electric vehicles.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000221#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Between 2000 and 2021, weather-related events accounted for approximately 83% of all reported major power outages in the U.S., where a major outage is defined as one affecting at least 50,000 customers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000221#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The frequency of weather-related power outages rose significantly in the second decade of the study, with the average annual number of outages increasing by roughly 78% from 2011-2021 compared to the 2000-2010 period.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000221#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Of the 1,542 weather-related major power outages recorded from 2000-2021, 58% were caused by severe weather (such as high winds, rain, and thunderstorms), 22% by winter weather (including snow, ice, and freezing rain), and 15% by tropical storms and hurricanes. Extreme heat and wildfires caused approximately 5% of these outages.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000221#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Geographically, the Southeast region had the highest number of weather-related major outages (474), followed by the Midwest (363) and the Northeast (346). The states with the highest number of reported weather-related outages were Texas (180), Michigan (132), California (129), North Carolina (97), and Pennsylvania (82).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000221#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To enhance electricity security and resilience against climate-driven stresses on aging infrastructure, the document identifies several solutions: microgrids, smart grid technologies, grid hardening (such as burying transmission lines and tree trimming), bidirectional charging for electric vehicles, and demand-reduction incentives.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000221#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["electrical grid","extreme weather event","climate change","tropical cyclone","wildfire","extreme heat","Resilience (power system)","microgrid","smart grid","electric vehicle"],"geography_discussed":["Southeast","Midwestern United States","Northeastern United States","Texas","Michigan","California","North Carolina","Pennsylvania"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["statistical analysis","trend analysis","policy recommendation"]},{"id":"commyale-000046","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/commyale-000046","title":"More educational outreach on extreme heat needed in the Midwest and Southwest","publisher":{"name":"Yale Program on Climate Change Communication","organization":"yale-program-on-climate-change-communication"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2022-08-16","source_url":"https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/more-educational-outreach-on-extreme-heat-needed-in-the-midwest-and-southwest/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Analysis of FEMA heat data and Yale Climate Opinion Maps reveals a positive correlation (r = 0.12) between extreme heat exposure and worry about global warming in the U.S. However, a specific group of 217 counties—primarily in the Midwest and South—exhibit high exposure but lower-than-average worry. These counties, representing 6.4 million people, are characterized by higher proportions of white residents, rural populations, and 2020 Republican voters compared to the national average. The authors argue that these gaps in risk perception increase vulnerability to heat-related illness and death, necessitating tailored educational outreach and policy responses.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000046#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"There is a positive population-weighted correlation (r = 0.12) between past exposure to extreme heat and worry about global warming across 2,293 U.S. counties, indicating that residents in areas with more extreme heat days generally report higher levels of worry.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000046#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A critical group of 217 counties, representing approximately 6.4 million people (2.6% of the U.S. population), are characterized by high exposure to extreme heat but lower-than-average worry about global warming. These counties are located almost exclusively in the Midwest and the South.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000046#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Residents in the 'Higher Exposure, Lower Worry' counties are more likely to be white, live in rural areas, and have voted Republican in the 2020 presidential election compared to the general U.S. population. Their median household income is approximately $57,000, which is about 9% below the U.S. median of $62,000, though SNAP benefit receipt (11%) is similar to the national average (12%).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000046#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Regional variations exist in the relationship between heat and worry: counties in the West tend to have both high exposure and high worry, while many in the Northeast show high worry despite lower historical heat exposure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000046#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["extreme heat","climate change","climate change adaptation","public health","climate change communication"],"geography_discussed":["Midwestern United States","Southwest","Northeastern United States","South","West"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["correlation analysis","demographic analysis","spatial analysis"]},{"id":"wwf-000779","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wwf-000779","title":"No Grain Left Behind","publisher":{"name":"WWF International","organization":"wwf-international"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2022-07","source_url":"https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/182/86p3hcgb56_No_Grain_Left_Behind_Technical_Report_final2.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The study found that actual harvest losses for corn (4.7%) and soybeans (4.5%) significantly exceed industry goals (1% and 3% respectively). These losses are primarily driven by combine settings and operator error, with smaller farms using less sophisticated equipment experiencing the highest losses. The report argues that reducing these losses could significantly decrease the pressure to convert natural prairies to cropland in the Northern Great Plains.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000779#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Measured corn harvest losses averaged 4.7%, which is 3.7% higher than the 1% loss level encouraged by extension agents. When scaled to the national level based on 2019 production, this overage represents a loss of 503 million bushels of corn valued at $2.07 billion.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000779#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Measured soybean harvest losses averaged 4.5%, exceeding the accepted industry loss of 3% by 1.5%. This overage is estimated to result in a national loss of $0.53 billion.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000779#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Corn losses are highly concentrated among a minority of farmers; 31.3% of corn farmers are responsible for 74.3% of the total loss. Similarly, 27% of the highest-loss soybean farms account for 44.4% of total soybean losses.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000779#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Technological sophistication of the combine has a more significant impact on reducing corn losses than operator experience, although operators with over 30 years of experience also show lower loss rates.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000779#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"For soybeans, row spacing significantly affects harvest efficiency; fields planted at 15-inch row spacing experienced a loss rate of 2.81%, which is roughly half the 5.75% loss rate seen in fields with 30-inch spacing.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000779#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The total national land area associated with corn and soy loss rates is approximately 8 million acres. This is roughly 16 times the amount of land converted to cropland annually in the Northern Great Plains (NGP).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000779#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Corn farmers prefer selling to ethanol plants over grain elevators because ethanol plants allow for a higher moisture content (17%) before docking prices, compared to 15.5% at grain elevators.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000779#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report identifies a lack of protection for prairie lands compared to wetlands; while the Clean Water Act and Swampbuster program protect wetlands, the Grassland Reserve Program was repealed in 2014, leaving prairies more susceptible to conversion.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000779#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["land-use change","biofuel"],"geography_discussed":["Northern Great Plains","Iowa","Missouri","Nebraska","Africa","Cameroon","People's Republic of China","Brazil","European Union"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["field study","economic analysis","spatial analysis"]},{"id":"climcent-000258","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/climcent-000258","title":"Wetter Rainfall Hours in a Warming Climate","publisher":{"name":"Climate Central","organization":"climate-central"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2022-04","source_url":"https://ccimgs-2022.s3.amazonaws.com/2022HourlyRainfall/2022HourlyRainfall_Report.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Climate Central's analysis of 150 U.S. weather stations shows that 90% experienced an increase in hourly rainfall intensity between 1970 and 2021, with an overall average increase of 13%. This trend is linked to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, where warmer air holds more moisture, increasing the frequency and intensity of heavy downpours. Such extremes contribute significantly to flash flood risks, accounting for approximately one-third of U.S. flood damages ($73 billion) from 1988 to 2017. Future projections suggest that U.S. flash floods could intensify by 8% by 2100 under high-emission scenarios, with the Southwest and central U.S. identified as high-risk areas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000258#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Between 1988 and 2017, increases in rainfall were responsible for approximately one-third of all flood damages in the United States, totaling about $73 billion of the $210 billion in total damages.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000258#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The relationship between air temperature and water vapor is governed by the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, which dictates that for every 1 °F of warming, the air can hold an additional 4% of moisture. Since 1970, the U.S. has warmed by 2.6 °F, allowing the atmosphere to hold roughly 10% more moisture.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000258#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"From 1958 to 2016, the heaviest 1% of rainfall events became significantly wetter in the Northeast (55%) and Midwest (42%), while other regions of Alaska and the contiguous U.S. saw increases between 9% and 29%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000258#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"An analysis of 150 U.S. weather stations from 1970 to 2021 found that 90% of stations saw an increase in hourly rainfall intensity. The average increase across these stations was 13%, with 63% of stations experiencing an increase of 10% or more.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000258#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The highest increases in hourly rainfall intensity were observed in Fairbanks, Alaska (49%) and El Paso, Texas (40%). Most of the top 10 locations with the greatest increases have mean annual precipitation below the national average of 31.3 inches.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000258#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Under a high-emissions scenario, U.S. flash floods could intensify by approximately 8% by the year 2100, with the Southwest projected to see the greatest increase and the central U.S. potentially becoming a new hotspot.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000258#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Future flood risks are expected to be distributed inequitably; while poorer, predominantly white populations currently face the brunt of risk, future risks are projected to disproportionately affect Black communities along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000258#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["extreme rainfall","flash flood","climate change","flood risk","climate justice"],"geography_discussed":["Australia","Netherlands","Alaska","Northeastern United States","Midwestern United States","Southwest"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["trend analysis","risk assessment","projection"]},{"id":"rmi-000461","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/rmi-000461","title":"Reality Check: More EVs Can Mean Fewer Emissions","publisher":{"name":"RMI","organization":"rmi"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2022-03-08","source_url":"https://rmi.org/resources/reality-check-more-evs-can-mean-fewer-emissions/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document asserts that EVs in the US already produce 60–68 percent fewer emissions than internal combustion engine vehicles. It highlights that 'smart charging'—specifically Automated Emissions Reduction (AER) technology—can further lower emissions by aligning charging with periods of cleaner energy. The text claims that if 70 million EVs are on the road, emissions-optimized charging would be equivalent to removing an additional 5.73 million internal combustion engine vehicles from the road.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000461#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Electric vehicles in the United States currently generate approximately 60–68 percent fewer emissions compared to vehicles powered by gas and diesel.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000461#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Smart charging, such as Automated Emissions Reduction (AER), can reduce emissions by an additional 18 percent by syncing charging with times of cleaner energy and avoiding dirtier energy, a benefit applicable across all US regions regardless of grid cleanliness.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000461#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"If the US reaches a fleet of 70 million EVs, the use of emissions-optimized smart charging would provide an emissions reduction equivalent to removing 5.73 million internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles from the road.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000461#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Emissions can be further minimized by optimizing charging based on local grid mixes—such as evening charging in the Midwest for wind power and daytime charging in California for solar power—and by utilizing faster charging to increase flexibility in timing.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000461#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Smart charging helps balance the electric grid and reduces costs for utilities and owners by utilizing excess renewable energy that would otherwise be curtailed due to production exceeding demand or transmission constraints.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000461#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["electric vehicle","carbon dioxide emissions","electrical grid","renewable energy"],"geography_discussed":["Midwestern United States","California"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["fact sheet"]},{"id":"wwf-000591","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wwf-000591","title":"Public Opinion Surrounding Plastic Consumption and Waste Management of Consumer Packaging","publisher":{"name":"WWF International","organization":"wwf-international"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2022","source_url":"https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/477/5k1qyg7hor_CI_Public_Opinion_Research_to_WWF_FINAL.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The 2022 update of this public opinion study reveals that while Americans are increasingly concerned about plastic pollution and supportive of producer responsibility, they express significant skepticism regarding the efficacy of recycling. A majority of respondents believe businesses are most responsible for reducing plastic waste and show strong support for positive-incentive regulations, such as beverage container refund programs, over taxes or fees. The report also highlights disparities in recycling access and behavior based on geography, housing tenure, and income.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000591#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Public priority for addressing plastic waste pollution in the U.S. Congress increased from 16% in 2020 to 23% in 2022, with Hispanic and Democratic-leaning respondents more likely to prioritize the issue.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000591#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is a widespread belief that national plastic recycling is ineffective, with over 75% of respondents stating that none or only a small portion of U.S. plastic waste is actually recycled.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000591#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"While a large majority of Americans are willing to reduce their plastic waste and prefer reusable or minimal packaging, more than 50% believe their individual actions will not impact the overall amount of plastic waste.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000591#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Public perception of responsibility has shifted toward producers; 53% of respondents believe businesses that produce and sell plastic are most responsible for reducing waste, up from 47% in 2020.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000591#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Returnable container programs are viewed positively by nearly 50% of respondents, and a majority would likely try such a program if available at a frequent store or restaurant, though only 15% currently have access to one.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000591#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Recycling behavior and access vary significantly by region and demographics: 75% of respondents in the Northeast and Pacific regions recycle most or all plastic waste, compared to 51% in the South and 56% in the Mountain region.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000591#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Americans strongly support positive-frame regulations, such as credits for reusable bags (90%) and beverage container refund programs (88%), but generally oppose additional taxes or fees on plastic containers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000591#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Local trash and recycling collection companies are identified as highly trusted and well-liked entities, with 94% of respondents holding a positive opinion of their local trash collector.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000591#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["recycling","single-use plastic","climate change"],"geography_discussed":["Northeastern United States","South","Pacific","Mountain","Midwestern United States"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["public opinion survey"]},{"id":"ucs-000822","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000822","title":"Losing Ground","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2021-04","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/losing-ground-final-4-15-21.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report analyzes the trend of farmland consolidation—the shift toward larger, fewer farms—and its role in hollowing out rural communities. It finds that consolidation creates significant barriers for new farmers, particularly in the Midwest, and has disproportionately harmed Black farmers through a combination of market pressures and systemic racism. The author argues that reversing this trend is essential for rural revitalization and social equity, recommending national initiatives for land transition and the redress of historical land theft from BIPOC farmers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000822#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Farmland consolidation in the United States is characterized by a steady decrease in the number of farms and an increase in average farm size, driven by capital-intensive agriculture and government policies that favor large operations. Between 1978 and 2017, harvested cropland on large farms (1,000 acres or larger) nearly doubled nationally, while in rural Midwest counties, it more than quintupled.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000822#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 'hollowing out' of US agriculture is evidenced by the drastic loss of midsize farms (50 to 999 acres). Nationally, midsize crop farms decreased by approximately half in both number and acreage, losing over 690,000 farms and more than 96 million acres.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000822#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Farmland consolidation is strongly associated with increased barriers for new farmers in the rural Midwest. In counties with faster consolidation, the share of new farmers (those with less than five years of experience) declined 56 percent faster than in counties with slower consolidation. Additionally, average farmer age rose 26 percent faster and average years of experience increased 34 percent faster in these high-consolidation areas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000822#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Black farmers have been disproportionately affected by consolidation and systemic racism, experiencing a 98 percent reduction in their numbers between 1920 and 2017, compared to a 65 percent decline for White farmers. The report notes that land theft has robbed the Black community of an estimated $3.7 to $6.6 billion in property and income.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000822#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Analysis of state-level data from 1978 to 2017 shows that states with higher levels of farmland consolidation tended to drop in rank regarding their proportion of Black farmers, while states with less consolidation tended to rise in rank.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000822#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The cost of farmland rose an average of 67 percent nationally between 1978 and 2017 after inflation adjustments. In the Midwest, farmland value in rapidly consolidating counties crashed 118 percent faster than in slower consolidating counties between 1978 and 1997, but then rose 21 percent faster between 1997 and 2017.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000822#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["agroforestry","climate justice","land tenure"],"geography_discussed":["Illinois","Indiana","Iowa","Michigan","Minnesota","Missouri","Ohio","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["statistical analysis","longitudinal study","policy assessment"]},{"id":"rmi-000460","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/rmi-000460","title":"How to Build Clean Energy Portfolios","publisher":{"name":"RMI","organization":"rmi"},"document_type":"guide","language":"en","date_published":"2021-03-10","source_url":"https://rmi.org/resources/how-to-build-ceps/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document argues that the US power sector faces a critical investment window between 2020 and 2030, with an estimated 420 GW of resource procurement needed. It advocates for a shift toward 'all-source', 'objective-aligned', and 'least-regrets' procurement practices to move away from legacy processes that reflect past conditions rather than emerging trends. The guide provides specific actionable recommendations for legislators, state commissions, and utilities to increase transparency, engage stakeholders, and better integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) into the planning and procurement cycle.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000460#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Vertically integrated utilities in the US have a significant investment opportunity between 2020 and 2030, with an estimated need for at least 420 GW of resource procurement. The total capital required for this deployment is estimated to range from $420 billion for low-capital cost technologies to over $750 billion for clean energy portfolios.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000460#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The guide proposes three core principles for next-generation procurement: 'All-Source' to capture the value of interacting utility-scale and distributed resources; 'Objective-aligned' to address jurisdiction-specific values like decarbonization and resilience; and 'Least-regrets' to minimize cost risks through competition and technology cost declines.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000460#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To unlock competitive procurement, legislators should implement participative planning processes, incentivize the use of distributed energy resources (DERs) including energy efficiency, and establish statutes that require utilities to conduct all-source solicitations.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000460#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"State commissions are encouraged to ensure that the need for new resources is transparent and linked to vetted planning, allow all resource providers to bid all their capabilities, and employ third-party independent evaluators to supervise the bid selection process.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000460#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Utilities should move away from internal cost estimates and instead use actual cost and operational data from competitive bids to inform their planning and procurement activities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000460#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document identifies specific regional drivers for procurement in the US, noting that the Southeast, Midwest, and West have the highest potential due to load growth, asset retirement, and renewable energy potential. For example, Virginia's procurement is driven by a goal to be 90% clean by 2035, while Colorado and Texas are primarily driven by the retirement of uneconomic fossil fuel plants.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000460#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["distributed generation","energy efficiency","decarbonization","renewable energy","Integrated resource planning","renewable energy commercialization","Resilience (power system)"],"geography_discussed":["Southeast","Midwestern United States","West","Virginia","Colorado","Washington","Texas","California","New Mexico"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy recommendations","practical guide"]},{"id":"commyale-000141","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/commyale-000141","title":"How does the American public perceive climate disasters?","publisher":{"name":"Yale Program on Climate Change Communication","organization":"yale-program-on-climate-change-communication"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2020-08-24","source_url":"https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/how-does-the-american-public-perceive-climate-disasters/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Based on 2018 and 2019 survey data, the study finds that 64% of Americans believe global warming affects U.S. weather. Risk perceptions are heavily influenced by local geography, with residents in the West fearing droughts and wildfires, those in the Midwest fearing flooding, and those in the East and Southeast fearing hurricanes. While 56% of Americans view extreme weather as a high or moderate risk to their community over the next decade, the specific concerns vary by state, often reflecting local experiences with 'Billion Dollar Disaster Events'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Approximately 64% of Americans believe that global warming is affecting weather in the United States, with 32% stating it affects it 'a lot', 25% 'some', and 7% 'a little'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Public risk perceptions of extreme weather are strongly tied to geographic region: residents in the Midwest are most concerned with flooding, those in the East and Southeast with hurricanes, and those in southern and western states with heat-related events such as wildfires, droughts, and water shortages.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Specific state-level data shows high concentrations of concern: 85% of California respondents are most worried about droughts, 76% of North Carolina respondents about hurricanes, and 96% of Floridians about hurricanes.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A majority of Americans (56%) perceive extreme weather as posing a 'High' or 'Moderate risk' to their community over the next 10 years, while 37% perceive it as a 'Low' (31%) or 'No' (7%) risk.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change","extreme weather event","drought","wildfire","flood","hurricane","water scarcity","extreme heat"],"geography_discussed":["California","Washington","Michigan","Illinois","North Carolina","Virginia","Florida","Midwestern United States","Southwest"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["public opinion survey"]},{"id":"ucs-000994","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000994","title":"Reviving the Dead Zone","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-06","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/reviving-the-dead-zone.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report analyzes the link between synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use in the Midwest and the formation of a hypoxic 'dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico. It estimates that agricultural nitrogen losses have caused between $552 million and $2.4 billion in annual damages to Gulf fisheries and marine habitat ecosystem services since 1980. The authors argue that shifting to sustainable agricultural practices—such as cover cropping and conservation tillage—can reduce these losses, providing a significant return on investment by restoring marine productivity and improving soil resilience for farmers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Between 60 and 80 percent of the nitrogen loading that fuels the Gulf of Mexico dead zone originates from farming and livestock operations in the Midwest, with over 40 percent coming specifically from synthetic fertilizers used for crops like corn.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report estimates that agricultural nitrogen losses from the Midwest have caused annual damages to Gulf fisheries and marine habitat ecosystem services ranging from $552 million to $2.4 billion (in 2018 dollars) between 1980 and 2017.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Since 1990, corn and soybean farmers in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River basins applied approximately 114 million tons of fertilizer nitrogen, costing $37 billion (2018 dollars), with nearly 31 million tons of that nitrogen flowing into rivers and feeding the dead zone.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Gulf fishing industry is a major economic driver, with commercial fishing generating between $17 billion and $57 billion in economic impacts and 200,000 jobs in 2016, while recreational fishing and coastal tourism added another $57 billion and nearly 500,000 jobs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Hypoxia negatively impacts marine life by reducing the abundance of bottom-dwelling species like crustaceans and mollusks, and can cause populations of Atlantic croaker to decline by up to 25 percent if not significantly reduced.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The shrimp industry is particularly vulnerable to the dead zone; in Texas, two-thirds of shrimper licenses have been repurchased by the state since the mid-1990s, and the number of boats going offshore has dropped by one-fourth since 2010.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate change exacerbates the problem by increasing the frequency of heavy rains and floods in the Midwest, which washes more nitrogen into the Gulf, while rising ocean temperatures further worsen pollution effects.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Adopting soil-health practices—such as cover cropping, conservation tillage, riparian buffers, and perennial plantings—could avert between $34.4 million and $990 million in annual damage costs to Gulf fisheries.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Nitrogen runoff also harms human health upstream, causing acute conditions like 'blue baby syndrome' and chronic issues such as cancer and thyroid disease through contaminated drinking water.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["sustainable agriculture","ecosystem service","climate change","nitrous oxide","water quality"],"geography_discussed":["United States","Louisiana","Texas","Iowa","Illinois","Indiana","Minnesota","Baltic Sea","North Carolina"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic impact assessment","policy analysis"]},{"id":"wwf-000934","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wwf-000934","title":"PUBLIC OPINION SURROUNDING PLASTIC CONSUMPTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT OF CONSUMER PACKAGING","publisher":{"name":"WWF International","organization":"wwf-international"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020","source_url":"https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/69/CI_Public_Opinion_Research_to_WWF_2021_01_26.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report finds that while Americans are concerned about the impact of plastics on marine life and water quality, they often feel unable to avoid plastic packaging or believe their individual actions are insignificant. There is strong public support for producer responsibility, with businesses ranked as the most responsible party for reducing plastic waste and the entity that should pay for recycling infrastructure. While there is broad support for positive regulations like credits and refund programs, Americans are more divided on taxes and fees.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000934#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Pollution from plastic waste is viewed as a mid-tier priority compared to other environmental and national issues. It ranks behind water pollution, air pollution, and climate change among environmental concerns, and only 16% of respondents consider it a \"top 5\" priority for the U.S. Congress, trailing behind healthcare, the economy, and racial injustice.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000934#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is significant public concern regarding the negative effects of plastics on the environment, particularly marine life and water quality. However, the American public is evenly split on whether plastics overall do more good or more harm.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000934#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Many Americans express a desire to reduce plastic use and increase recycling but feel constrained by systemic factors. A majority believe they cannot avoid plastic packaging and worry that their individual actions will not impact the overall amount of waste. Barriers to recycling include uncertainty about what is accepted and a lack of access, particularly in non-metro areas where over 25% reported no access to recycling.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000934#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"While two-thirds of Americans believe individuals, businesses, and government share responsibility for reducing plastic waste, businesses are ranked as the most responsible. Furthermore, 68% of respondents believe companies that produce or use plastics should pay for the collection, sorting, and recycling of those materials.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000934#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Public support is high for regulations framed as positive incentives, such as credits for reusable bags or nationwide container refund programs. Conversely, support is lower and more polarized for negative framing, such as taxes or fees for plastic consumption.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000934#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is widespread support for specific legislative mandates, including a law requiring new plastic to contain recycled material (86% support), a law requiring verification before shipping plastic waste to other countries, and a law phasing out non-recyclable single-use plastics (80% support).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwf-000934#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["waste management","recycling","single-use plastic","water pollution","climate change","environmental policy","circular economy"],"geography_discussed":["Northeastern United States","Midwestern United States","South","Mountain","Pacific"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["public opinion survey"]},{"id":"ucs-000365","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000365","title":"Clean Fuels for the Midwest","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2019-12","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/CleanFuelsforMidwestFactSheet.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document advocates for a transition to cleaner transportation fuels in the US Midwest, highlighting the region's leadership in biofuels and wind energy. It proposes clean fuels standards as a mechanism to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation, promote higher ethanol blends, and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000365#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The US Midwest is a primary producer of biofuels and wind energy, yet over 90 percent of its transportation energy needs are still met by petroleum-based fuels imported from other regions and countries.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000365#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Six Midwestern states—Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, and South Dakota—produce 70 percent of the domestic ethanol supply. Life cycle emissions for ethanol from a typical production facility are approximately 20 percent lower than those of gasoline.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000365#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Agricultural practices significantly impact biofuel emissions; for corn ethanol, fertilizer use and application account for about 25 percent of total life cycle emissions. Sustainable practices like cover cropping and improved nutrient management can reduce nitrous oxide and nitrate pollution.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000365#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Electric vehicles (EVs) in the Midwest currently have emissions roughly half those of typical gasoline vehicles. While the region's grid is carbon-intensive due to coal, the share of coal-fired power in the largest Midwestern grid region dropped from 74 percent in 2005 to 52 percent in 2016, while wind energy rose from 2 percent to 21 percent.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000365#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Replacing diesel transit buses with electric models can reduce life cycle carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent and lower tailpipe pollution in densely populated areas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000365#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Clean fuels standards are proposed as a technology-neutral, performance-based policy that uses life cycle carbon intensity to encourage fuel producers to reduce emissions. Such standards could support the transition to higher ethanol blends (beyond E10), which is necessary because ethanol demand may otherwise fall as gasoline demand declines.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000365#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["biofuel","biodiesel","renewable natural gas","electric vehicle","wind power","emission intensity","sustainable agriculture","air pollution"],"geography_discussed":["Iowa","Nebraska","Illinois","Minnesota","Indiana","South Dakota","United States"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","technical assessment"]},{"id":"rmi-000457","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/rmi-000457","title":"How Many Hours-of-Safety Do Our Homes Have in Extreme Weather?","publisher":{"name":"RMI","organization":"rmi"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2019-07-24","source_url":"https://rmi.org/resources/how-many-hours-of-safety-do-our-homes-have-in-extreme-weather/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The briefing introduces 'hours-of-safety' to measure how long a home remains at a comfortable temperature after power is lost during extreme weather. It highlights the life-threatening risks of heat waves and polar vortexes, particularly for vulnerable populations in poorly insulated housing. The author advocates for passive design strategies—such as improved insulation, tighter envelopes, and cool roofs—combined with islandable solar PV and battery storage to increase passive survivability and community resilience.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000457#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The author proposes the concept of 'hours-of-safety' to quantify the duration a home can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature before it matches extreme outdoor conditions during a power outage, noting that the difference between 5 and 20 hours can be critical for the survival of vulnerable populations.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000457#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and magnitude, with the National Resource Defense Council projecting nearly 30,000 annual heat-related deaths in the United States by 2100 if carbon dioxide emissions persist at current levels.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000457#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Power outages during extreme weather are a significant risk; between January and June 2019, severe weather caused over 2.9 million customers to lose power for a combined total of 684 hours.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000457#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Passive survivability—the ability of a building to remain livable without electricity, water, or fuel—is primarily determined by the home's insulation and air leakage. Effective strategies to increase hours-of-safety include tighter envelopes, thicker walls, cool roofs, lower window-to-wall ratios, and natural ventilation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000457#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In warm climates, applying white paint can reduce roof temperatures by up to 30°C (86°F) and indoor temperatures by 3.6°F to 9°F. Additionally, combining an efficient building envelope with battery storage and islandable solar PV systems can maintain power during outages.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000457#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["extreme heat","extreme cold","building insulation","energy efficiency","Resilience (power system)","photovoltaics","battery energy storage system","carbon dioxide emissions"],"geography_discussed":["Quebec","Montreal","Chicago","New York City","Midwestern United States","Brooklyn"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy briefing"]},{"id":"mearth-000053","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/mearth-000053","title":"Spring Floods Exacerbate Raw Sewage from Factory Farms Washing into Gulf of Mexico","publisher":{"name":"Mighty Earth","organization":"mighty-earth"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2019-06-06","source_url":"https://mightyearth.org/article/spring-floods-exacerbate-pollution-from-factory-farms-washing-into-gulf-of-mexico/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Mighty Earth analyzed EPA and industry data to determine that the top U.S. meat companies discharge nearly 220 million tons of manure and facility waste annually. The analysis highlights that these pollutants, which include toxins and pathogens, are often stored in flood-prone earthen impoundments or discharged directly into waterways. In the Mississippi Watershed, this resulted in an estimated 16 million lbs of direct facility sewage and 128 million tons of manure from livestock and poultry production. The report links these pollution levels and the exacerbation caused by climate-driven flooding to the creation of dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000053#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The largest meat companies in the U.S. discharged nearly 220 million tons of manure and facility waste, with JBS identified as the top polluter, generating approximately 80 million tons of sewage.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000053#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Facilities within the Mississippi Watershed, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico, discharged an estimated 128 million tons of manure from livestock and poultry production and 16 million lbs of sewage directly from facilities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000053#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Industrial meat waste contains dangerous pathogens and toxins, such as E. coli, lead, nitrates, and antibiotic resistant bacteria, and unlike human waste, it is not required to be treated before release.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000053#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate-exacerbated flooding and the use of earthen impoundments increase the risk of waste overflowing into waterways; Cargill had the most facilities in NOAA 'high risk' flood regions for spring 2019, while Tyson had the highest overall exposure to flood risk areas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000053#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Run-off pollution from the meat industry washing down the Mississippi River is a primary cause of the annual dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, which NOAA predicted would be larger than the annual average following the 2019 Midwest floods.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000053#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["water pollution","environmental regulation"],"geography_discussed":["Midwestern United States","Mississippi Watershed","North Carolina","New York City"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["quantitative analysis","geographic mapping"]},{"id":"earjust-000016","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-000016","title":"Serving as President of Earthjustice Has Been the Greatest Honor of My Life","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":"2018-09-18","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/article/passing-the-torch","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Trip Van Noppen announces that Abigail Dillen, formerly vice president of litigation for climate and energy, will become president of Earthjustice on October 1. Van Noppen highlights the organization's growth to over 120 litigators and its success in challenging the Trump administration's environmental policies, including wins on pesticide bans and smog standards. He also notes the expansion of the organization's international program, the opening of a Chicago office to serve the Midwest, and the election of Fern Shepard as chair of the board of trustees.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000016#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Abigail Dillen, the former vice president of litigation for climate and energy, is appointed as the next president of Earthjustice effective October 1.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000016#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Earthjustice has expanded its legal capacity to more than 120 litigators to defend environmental protections.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000016#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The organization has achieved legal victories against the Trump administration, specifically regarding the ban of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, chemical-disaster prevention rules, and the strengthening of smog standards.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000016#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Earthjustice is expanding its geographic reach by opening an office in Chicago to serve the Midwest and growing its international program.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000016#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Fern Shepard, president of Rachel’s Network and a former Earthjustice staff attorney, has been elected as the chair of the board of trustees.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000016#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["energy transition","environmental protection"],"geography_discussed":["Chicago","Midwestern United States","Washington, D.C."],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["organizational update"]},{"id":"catf-000513","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/catf-000513","title":"New US Tax Incentives for CCUS (The FUTURE Act)","publisher":{"name":"Clean Air Task Force","organization":"clean-air-task-force"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2018-08-30","source_url":"https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/21094109/45Q_New_Tex_Incentives_CCUS.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The FUTURE Act provides tax credits for CO2 captured from power plants, industrial sources, and direct air capture, with rates ramping up to $50/ton for saline storage and $35/ton for enhanced oil recovery by 2026. The credits are available for 12 years to projects that commence construction within a six-year window. Assessments by the IEA and DOE suggest the act could increase capture capacity or reduce emissions by 10 to 30 million tons by 2030, with significant interest from industrial sources and companies like Occidental Petroleum.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000513#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The FUTURE Act amends section 45Q of the US Tax Law to provide credits for CO2 captured from direct air capture, industrial sources, and coal and gas power plants, provided the CO2 is securely stored geologically or reduces emissions through utilization.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000513#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Tax credit values will increase linearly from 2017 to 2026, reaching $50/ton for saline storage and $35/ton for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and other utilization, after which they will increase at the inflation rate.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000513#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Eligible projects must commence construction within a six-year window from the date of enactment and can receive the tax credit for a period of 12 years.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000513#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The credit is assigned to the owner of the carbon capture equipment and can be transferred to the storage operator.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000513#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) both estimate that the act could lead to 10 to 30 million tons of increased capture capacity or emissions reduction by 2030.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000513#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Industry interest is emerging in the Midwest, Interior West, and South Central US, including a proposed trans-Texas pipeline CCUS corridor by Occidental Petroleum that could connect 100 sources to oil fields to store over 80 million tons per year.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000513#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["carbon capture and utilization","tax incentive","direct air capture","industrial emission","coal-fired power station","gas-fired power station"],"geography_discussed":["Texas","Midwestern United States","Mountain States","South Central US","North Dakota"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy briefing","impact assessment"]},{"id":"ucs-000636","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000636","title":"Heat Waves and Climate Change","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2018-08","source_url":"https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/08/extreme-heat-science-fact-sheet.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document details the rising trends of heat waves and heat stress in the US, attributing recent increases to human-caused climate change and projecting more severe events by 2100 unless emissions are stabilized.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000636#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The United States has seen an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves over the last several decades, with the Southeast experiencing the largest increase in the frequency of heat wave days since the late 1970s.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000636#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Since the late 1970s, the number of days with record high temperatures in the US has increased, and there have been more record-breaking hot days than record-breaking cold days.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000636#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The area of the US experiencing unusually hot summer nights is increasing at a faster rate than the area experiencing unusually hot summer days.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000636#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Human-caused climate change has been linked to recent extreme heat; for example, the risk of the spring heat during the 2012 US heat wave was likely increased 12-fold, and the July 2012 extreme heat was four times more likely due to human activity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000636#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"By mid-century, most of the US could see 20 to 30 more days per year with maximum temperatures exceeding 90°F if carbon emissions increase considerably, with the Southeast potentially seeing 40 to 50 more such days.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000636#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Stabilizing global carbon emissions to keep atmospheric carbon dioxide below 550 parts per million by 2100 could reduce the frequency of mid-century US heat waves by approximately 50% compared to a high-emissions scenario (RCP8.5).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000636#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"By 2100, the hottest daily temperatures in the US are projected to increase by at least 10°F under high-emissions scenarios, but this increase could be limited to approximately 3.6°F if the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global warming below 3.6°F is met.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000636#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["heat wave","extreme heat","climate change","greenhouse gas emissions","heat stress","Paris Agreement","carbon dioxide","public health","energy efficiency"],"geography_discussed":["Southeastern United States","Midwestern United States","Great Plains","Alaska","Southwest United States","Hawaii"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["trend analysis","attribution study","climate projection"]},{"id":"ucs-000742","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000742","title":"Climate Change, Extreme Precipitation, and Flooding: The Latest Science","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2018-06","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/07/gw-fact-sheet-epif.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document examines how a warming atmosphere increases the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation, contributing to higher inland flood risks in parts of the United States, particularly the Midwest and Northeast. It highlights that while climate change is a driver, land-use changes—such as development in floodplains and the removal of wetlands—significantly exacerbate flood risk. The report argues that current FEMA flood maps are inadequate because they rely on historical data rather than future projections. To mitigate these risks, the authors recommend reforming the National Flood Insurance Program, increasing funding for river gauge networks and flood mapping, and implementing nature-based infrastructure and stricter zoning regulations to discourage floodplain development.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000742#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Inland flood frequency has increased over the last century in the Mississippi River valley and the Midwest, and over the last 50 years in the Northeast, specifically in New York, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania. Conversely, flood frequency has decreased in the Southeast, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific Northwest.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000742#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Extreme precipitation events have become more frequent and intense in many U.S. regions since the early to mid-1900s. The eastern half of the country has seen frequency increases of 50 percent or more, while the western half has seen smaller increases or decreases.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000742#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Global warming increases the atmosphere's capacity to hold moisture, with a potential moisture content increase of approximately 7 percent for every 1°C (1.8°F) rise in temperature. This mechanism contributes to more intense rainfall events.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000742#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Human-induced climate change has been linked to specific extreme events; for example, it made the record-breaking rainfall of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 15 percent more intense and three times more likely to occur.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000742#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Land-use changes significantly increase flood risk by reducing the land's ability to absorb water. In the Mississippi River, engineering and agricultural expansion are estimated to be responsible for up to 75 percent of increased flood risk.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000742#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Investment in riverine flood risk reduction is highly cost-effective, with the potential to save seven dollars in future disaster costs for every one dollar invested.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000742#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change","land use","hurricane","climate finance","climate change adaptation"],"geography_discussed":["Mississippi Valley","Midwestern United States","Northeastern United States","New York","New Jersey","Pennsylvania","Pacific Northwest","Rocky Mountains","Southwest","Southeast","Texas","Puerto Rico","California"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["scientific synthesis","policy recommendation"]},{"id":"rmi-000174","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/rmi-000174","title":"Making Customer Battery Storage Work for a Cleaner, Less Expensive Grid","publisher":{"name":"RMI","organization":"rmi"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2018-01-04","source_url":"https://rmi.org/resources/making-customer-battery-storage-work-cleaner-less-expensive-grid/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The briefing examines how commercial electricity rate designs, specifically noncoincident demand charges, incentivize customers to flatten their load profiles using battery storage. While this reduces individual bills, it often conflicts with the needs of grids with high renewable penetration, where flexible demand is required to match variable generation. The author suggests transitioning to peak-coincident demand charges, time-of-use rates, or real-time pricing to better align customer behavior with system-wide costs and grid stability.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000174#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Falling battery costs have made storage economically viable for millions of U.S. commercial customers to manage demand charges. Estimates on the threshold for economic viability vary: NREL and Clean Energy Group identify over five million customers with charges above $15/kW, GTM Research suggests a threshold of $11/kW by 2021 across 19 states, and McKinsey suggests it could be as low as $9/kW.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000174#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Most current demand charges are noncoincident, meaning they are based on a customer's maximum monthly power draw regardless of when the broader grid experiences peak costs. This encourages customers to flatten their load profiles, which can be detrimental in regions with high solar penetration because it may lead customers to reduce midday demand exactly when low-cost solar energy is most available.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000174#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To better support high-renewable grids, the document recommends replacing noncoincident charges with time-varying rates. Options include peak-coincident demand charges, which target times of highest marginal system costs; time-of-use rates, based on predetermined schedules; and real-time pricing, which varies hourly based on actual conditions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000174#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The value of battery storage is maximized when customers can 'stack' multiple services. Beyond energy cost reduction, utilities can provide incentives for grid support services such as regulation, contingency reserves, and fast frequency response, as seen in the proposed demand-response portfolio from Hawaiian Electric Companies.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000174#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["battery energy storage system","wide area synchronous grid","solar energy","wind power","grid flexibility","demand response"],"geography_discussed":["California","Hawaii","Texas","Midwestern United States"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","economic assessment"]},{"id":"mearth-000127","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/mearth-000127","title":"Statement on today’s EPA Biofuels: Administration “can’t even do the right thing for the wrong reasons”","publisher":{"name":"Mighty Earth","organization":"mighty-earth"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":"2017-11-30","source_url":"https://mightyearth.org/article/statement-todays-epa-rvos-administration-cant-even-right-thing-wrong-reasons/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Rose Garr of Waxman Strategies criticizes the EPA's Renewable Fuel Volume Obligations for maintaining a reliance on corn ethanol and soy biodiesel while failing to increase the use of cellulosic fuels, arguing that this approach exacerbates pollution in the Gulf of Mexico and the Midwest.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000127#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The EPA's volume rule continues the use of corn ethanol and soy biodiesel while keeping cellulosic fuel levels below the previous year's figures, contradicting an October proposal to reduce food-based biofuels.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000127#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The current biofuels policy is linked to environmental degradation, specifically nitrate pollution and algal blooms in the Midwest, a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, and climate pollution resulting from the conversion of native ecosystems into crop production.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000127#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is a call for Congressional leaders to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard to prioritize environmentally beneficial biofuels over harmful ones.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"mearth-000127#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["biofuel","land-use change"],"geography_discussed":["Gulf of Mexico","Midwestern United States"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy critique"]}]}