{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"geography":["North Carolina"]},"warnings":[{"code":"facet_value_not_in_vocabulary","message":"Value 'North Carolina' for facet 'geography' is not in the controlled vocabulary."}]},"total":{"value":291,"relation":"eq"},"page":9,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=North+Carolina&page=9","next":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=North+Carolina&page=10","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":"eninnova-000045","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eninnova-000045","title":"MAKING THE MOST OF THE POWER PLANT MARKET: BEST PRACTICES FOR ALL-SOURCE ELECTRIC GENERATION PROCUREMENT","publisher":{"name":"Energy Innovation","organization":"energy-innovation"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-04","source_url":"https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/All-Source-Utility-Electricity-Generation-Procurement-Best-Practices.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report examines the procurement processes of vertically integrated utilities in the United States, highlighting how monopsony power and financial incentives often lead to the over-procurement of capacity and a bias toward self-built, gas-fired generation. Using Xcel Colorado as a model, the authors recommend five best practices for regulators: determining technology-neutral needs through resource planning, requiring competitive all-source bidding with robust evaluation, conducting advance review of procurement terms, ensuring utility ownership does not conflict with competitive bidding, and upholding rules for fairness and transparency. The report analyzes case studies from Colorado, New Mexico, Georgia, Minnesota, Indiana, Texas, California, Virginia, and North Carolina to illustrate the effectiveness of all-source RFPs in reducing costs and increasing renewable energy deployment.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Vertically integrated utilities often act as monopsonies, using their market power to control information, impose biases on procurement, and force sellers to accept below-market prices, which can lead to the procurement of uneconomic resources.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Financial incentives, such as the Averch-Johnson effect, drive utilities to over-procure capacity and prefer self-built generation to increase capital investment and shareholder returns, even when clean energy alternatives are more cost-effective.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Xcel Colorado's all-source procurement process resulted in \"shockingly\" low prices for wind and solar, with median bid prices of $18 per MWh for wind and $30 per MWh for solar in its 2018 Clean Energy Plan.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Regulators should determine procurement needs based on load forecasts and plant retirements rather than specific numeric capacity targets or technology specifications to ensure a technology-neutral process.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"All-source procurements are more effective than single-source RFPs because they use system planning models to evaluate a diverse mix of bids simultaneously to create optimal portfolios, rather than ranking bids individually.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Advance regulatory review and approval of procurement assumptions, contract terms, and bid evaluation criteria are essential to prevent utilities from biasing the process or excluding emerging technologies.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In Georgia, the use of comprehensive single-source RFPs and a \"firm\" capacity requirement effectively limited the ability of renewable energy and storage to compete for capacity needs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Minnesota Power's procurement of the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) gas plant was criticized for using unreasonable modeling assumptions and constraints that biased the result in favor of a utility affiliate.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"NIPSCO's 2018 all-source RFP revealed that wind and solar were significantly less expensive than new gas-fired generation, leading to a projected cost reduction of $1.1 billion compared to its 2016 scenario.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000045#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["power purchase agreement","renewable energy","wind power","solar energy","battery energy storage system","Coal phase-out","Integrated resource planning","climate finance","Levelized cost of energy"],"geography_discussed":["World","Colorado","Georgia","New Mexico","Minnesota","Indiana","Texas","California","Virginia","North Carolina","Florida"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","case study","best practices guide"]},{"id":"wri-001731","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wri-001731","title":"Manufacturing Electric School and Transit Buses: Creating Jobs and Economic Growth","publisher":{"name":"World Resources Institute","organization":"world-resources-institute"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2020-04","source_url":"https://files.wri.org/s3fs-public/expert-note-electric-buses.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The briefing argues that expanding the U.S. electric bus fleet would create manufacturing jobs, reduce carbon emissions by 7 million tons annually, and improve public health by replacing diesel engines. It proposes utilizing $20 billion in federal grants to replace 60,000 buses—approximately 10% of the national fleet—through existing programs like Clean Cities and the Low and No Emission Vehicle Program.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001731#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The author proposes a federal investment of $20 billion to replace approximately 60,000 school and transit buses, which represents about 10% of the national fleet. This funding would be allocated as $12.5 billion for 50,000 electric school buses and $7.5 billion for 10,000 electric transit buses, including necessary charging infrastructure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001731#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Transitioning to electric buses offers significant operational cost savings. An electric transit bus can achieve 25 mpg compared to 5 mpg for a diesel hybrid, and a California Air Resources Board analysis indicates a potential lifetime saving of over $300,000 in fuel and maintenance per bus. In the school sector, the Twin Rivers school district in California reported annual savings of approximately $15,000 per electric bus over diesel alternatives.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001731#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Replacing the U.S. fleet of school and transit buses with electric versions would reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 7 million tons. Currently, electric buses reduce net carbon emissions by about 50% compared to diesel buses based on the national average electricity mix.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001731#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Electric buses can enhance grid resilience through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, acting as mobile electricity storage. A fleet of 60,000 buses with 150 kWh batteries would provide 9 GWh of capacity, which is nine times the stationary battery energy storage capacity installed in the U.S. in 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001731#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The transition addresses public health risks associated with diesel exhaust, which is classified as a carcinogen. Diesel pollution is noted to impair lung function and aggravate asthma, particularly in children, and may increase vulnerability to respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001731#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The U.S. has an established manufacturing base for electric buses and components across several states, including Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Key manufacturers include Blue Bird (Georgia), Thomas Built (North Carolina), BYD (California), New Flyer (Alabama, Minnesota, New York), and Proterra (California, South Carolina).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001731#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Existing federal programs that could be scaled to support this transition include the Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program, the EPA's Clean School Buses Program (under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act), and the Department of Transportation's Low and No Emission Vehicle Program.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001731#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["zero-emissions vehicle","carbon dioxide emissions","battery energy storage system","air pollution","climate finance","public transport"],"geography_discussed":["Virginia","California","Los Angeles","Alabama","Georgia","Indiana","Minnesota","New York","North Carolina","South Carolina","Washington","Quebec","Canada"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy proposal","economic assessment"]},{"id":"eesi-000412","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000412","title":"Coastal Resilience in the Southeast","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2020-03","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_031320.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document is a transcript of a virtual briefing featuring experts from NOAA, the North Carolina Coastal Federation, Wetlands Watch, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The discussion focuses on the implementation of natural infrastructure, such as living shorelines and coral reef restoration, to combat sea level rise and storm surge in the Southeast. Key topics include the use of NOAA's Digital Coast tools, the effectiveness of oyster-based shorelines in North Carolina, the impact of nuisance flooding and sea level rise in Virginia, and the threat of stony coral tissue loss disease in Florida. The panelists also discuss regulatory barriers, the need for improved cost-benefit analysis for nature-based solutions, and the importance of coordinated funding and permitting processes to enhance regional resilience.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"NOAA provides a suite of visualization and data tools through the Digital Coast partnership to help coastal decision-makers address hazards. These include the Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper for visualizing high-tide flooding and storm surge, and the Sea Level Rise Viewer, which applies National Climate Assessment scenarios to specific communities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), jointly administered by NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, invests in restoring natural features like coastal marshes, wetlands, dunes, and coral reefs. In FY20, Congress appropriated 3 million dollars for the fund, which saw high demand with over 170 pre-proposals requesting 99.6 million dollars in 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Living shorelines are presented as cost-effective, resilient alternatives to hard infrastructure like bulkheads and seawalls. In North Carolina, these projects often use recycled oyster shells in mesh bags to dissipate wave energy and recruit oysters, which helps prevent the 'scouring' effect caused by reflected wave energy from hard bulkheads.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Regulatory barriers to nature-based solutions have been reduced in North Carolina. As of April 1, 2019, small-scale living shorelines can be permitted as easily as bulkheads through a streamlined process involving the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) permit, following collaboration between state and federal agencies.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Coastal Virginia, particularly the Hampton Roads region, is experiencing some of the highest rates of sea-level rise on the East Coast, with recent rates reaching 5.4 millimeters per year. This has led to increased 'nuisance flooding' (sunny day flooding) and a significant strain on stormwater systems, which are unable to convey water during high tide events.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Virginia is implementing several high-level resilience strategies, including joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to generate approximately 100 million dollars annually for flood preparedness and energy efficiency. Additionally, Executive Order 24 mandated the development of a Coastal Master Plan and a state flood risk management standard for state-owned buildings.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Local governments in Virginia are adopting unified planning standards; for example, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) agreed to plan for 1.5 feet of sea level rise by 2050, 3 feet by 2080, and 4.5 feet by 2100 for long-term infrastructure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Florida's coral reefs provide significant economic and protective value, including over 330 million dollars annually in shoreline protection and over 1 billion dollars in flood reduction during severe storms. They also support 71,000 jobs and generate 6 billion dollars annually (based on 2001-2004 data).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A globally unprecedented outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease is affecting Florida's reefs and spreading into the Atlantic Caribbean. The disease is highly infectious, waterborne, and affects over 22 reef-building coral species with high mortality rates.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A major challenge for local resilience projects is the inconsistency and inequity of federal cost-benefit analysis (CBA) methodologies. For instance, the Army Corps of Engineers calculates benefits based on avoided flood losses, which can disadvantage low-to-moderate income communities where property values are lower, resulting in lower benefit-cost ratios (BCR).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000412#insight-10","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coastal management","sea level rise","coral reef restoration","storm surge","nature-based solutions","climate finance","environmental justice"],"geography_discussed":["North Carolina","Virginia","Florida","Hampton Roads","Q49231","Virginia Beach","Tybee Island","Netherlands"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy assessment","technical briefing","case study"]},{"id":"foe-000041","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/foe-000041","title":"Fighting for My Community","publisher":{"name":"Friends of the Earth","organization":"friends-of-the-earth"},"document_type":"other","language":"en","date_published":"2020-02-26","source_url":"https://foe.org/blog/fighting-for-my-community/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"An activist describes their arrest during a protest at the Supreme Court to oppose the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). The author argues that the pipeline would disproportionately harm African American, Indigenous, and low-income communities, generate 67 million metric tons of global warming pollution annually, and lock the region into 30 years of fracked gas use.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"foe-000041#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is described as an environmental and human rights disaster that disproportionately impacts African American, Indigenous, and low-income communities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"foe-000041#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"If constructed, the ACP would produce over 67 million metric tons of global warming pollution every year, which is equivalent to the emissions of 20 coal plants.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"foe-000041#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The pipeline project would affect 30,000 Native peoples along its proposed route and involves the construction of a fracked gas compressor station in Union Hill, a historically and culturally significant African American community in Virginia.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"foe-000041#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The development of this fossil fuel infrastructure would commit the region to 30 years of fracked gas usage, thereby hindering the transition to renewable energy.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"foe-000041#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["greenhouse gas emissions","renewable energy","environmental justice","indigenous rights"],"geography_discussed":["Union Hill","Washington, D.C."],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["advocacy"]},{"id":"ucs-000331","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000331","title":"Endangering Generations","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-02","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/childrens-health-report-appendix.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document outlines the technical approaches used to estimate children's exposure to chlorpyrifos and PFAS, the process for tracking children's product recalls, and the use of EPA Regulatory Impact Analyses to quantify the health benefits lost when air pollution standards were weakened or repealed.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000331#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"To estimate the number of children exposed to chlorpyrifos, the authors combined US Geological Survey land use data and 2016 county-level chlorpyrifos use data to identify contaminated farmland, then applied Census Bureau data for children under five to those specific geographic areas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000331#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used GIS software to draw one, three, and five-mile radii around contaminated facilities to identify the number of schools, childcare facilities, and women of reproductive age (15-49) living nearby.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000331#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The study quantified the potential health benefits for children that would have been achieved if air pollution policies were fully implemented, citing that the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (2011) would prevent 130,000 asthma exacerbations in children aged six to 18 and 80,000 lower respiratory symptoms in children aged seven to 14 annually.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000331#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Strengthening the ground-level ozone standard from 75 to 70 parts per billion was estimated to prevent 230,000 asthma exacerbations in children aged six to 18 nationwide (excluding California) and 160,000 lost school days for children aged five to 17 nationwide each year.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000331#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Clean Power Plan, which was repealed and replaced by the Affordable Care Act, was projected to prevent between 74,000 and 90,000 asthma exacerbations in children aged six to 18 and 130,000 to 140,000 school absence days for children aged five to 17 annually by 2030.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000331#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Nitrogen Oxides State Implementation Plan (OAR 1998), which covered the District of Columbia and 20 states, was weakened by the Trump administration by making the most stringent air pollution monitoring non-mandatory.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000331#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 2012 Passenger Vehicle Fuel Economy and Emissions Standards were estimated to prevent 3,500 asthma exacerbations in asthmatic children aged six to 18 and 2,100 lower respiratory symptoms in children aged eight to 12 annually by 2030.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000331#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances","air pollution","greenhouse gas emissions","environmental impact of mercury","environmental regulation","Clean Power Plan"],"geography_discussed":["California","District of Columbia","Alabama","Connecticut","Delaware","Illinois","Indiana","Kentucky","Maryland","Massachusetts","Michigan","New Jersey","New York","North Carolina","Ohio","Pennsylvania","Rhode Island","South Carolina","Tennessee","Virginia","West Virginia","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["methodology","quantitative analysis","regulatory impact assessment"]},{"id":"ucs-001225","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-001225","title":"The Future of Extreme Heat across US Military Bases","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"policy brief","language":"en","date_published":"2020-01","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/US%20Military%20on%20the%20Front%20Lines%20of%20Extreme%20Heat%20Policy%20Memo.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The Union of Concerned Scientists projects that without reductions in carbon emissions, US military installations will face a significant increase in days with a heat index above 100°F by midcentury, potentially increasing the rate of heat-related illnesses (HRIs). The report highlights that basic training recruits are particularly vulnerable and that installations in Florida are projected to be among the most affected. To address these risks, the memo recommends increased funding for HRI research, the establishment of an expert working group, improved training on acclimatization, and a transition toward renewable energy to limit future warming.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001225#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"In 2018, the US military recorded nearly 2,800 cases of heat-related illness (HRI), with the majority occurring at domestic installations. Over the previous five years, approximately 40 percent of these cases were concentrated at five populous bases in the Southeast: Fort Benning (Georgia), Fort Campbell (Kentucky), Fort Polk (Louisiana), Fort Bragg (North Carolina), and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune/Cherry Point (North Carolina).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001225#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate projections indicate that if carbon emissions are not reduced, nearly every populous US military installation will see a major increase in dangerously hot days within 20 to 40 years. On average, installations will experience an additional month of extreme heat per year by midcentury, with some seeing increases of two to three and one-half months, leading to some bases having nearly four months per year with a heat index above 100°F.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001225#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Basic training facilities are at high risk because recruits experience HRI at six times the rate of other enlisted personnel. Without emissions reductions, the frequency of days with potentially lethal heat at these facilities is projected to quadruple by midcentury.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001225#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Florida is projected to be disproportionately affected by extreme heat; four of the five bases with the largest projected increases in days with a heat index above 100°F by midcentury are located there.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001225#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The number of major US military installations experiencing 30 or more days per year with a heat index above 100°F is projected to grow from nine historically to 100 by midcentury if no action is taken to reduce emissions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001225#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["extreme heat","carbon dioxide emissions","renewable energy","energy storage","energy efficiency","climate modeling","fossil fuel"],"geography_discussed":["Florida","Georgia","Kentucky","Louisiana","North Carolina","Mississippi","Texas"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["climate projection","policy recommendation"]},{"id":"commgmu-000240","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/commgmu-000240","title":"Voters in Upcoming Primary States Support Climate Action","publisher":{"name":"Center for Climate Change Communication","organization":"center-for-climate-change-communication"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2020","source_url":"https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Voters-in-Upcoming-Primary-States-Support-Climate-Action-Climate-Nexus.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"A February 2020 survey of 1,934 registered voters across 26 U.S. primary states reveals strong support for government action on climate change and a preference for renewable energy over fossil fuels. A majority of respondents support the Green New Deal and specific policies such as a 100% national renewable portfolio standard by 2050. Climate change is a top-tier voting issue for Democrats in these states, and voters indicate they are more likely to support candidates who favor stronger pollution and fuel efficiency standards.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commgmu-000240#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"A significant majority of voters in the surveyed 26 states support government action to address climate change, with 69% in support and 39% strongly supporting such action. Additionally, approximately 70% believe the federal government, state government, and their member of Congress should do more to address the issue.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commgmu-000240#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate change is a primary consideration for Democratic voters in these states, ranking as the second most important issue (29%) behind health care (43%). Overall, 18% of all voters in these states identify climate change as one of the two most important issues for their presidential vote.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commgmu-000240#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Voters show a strong preference for renewable energy over other sources, with 68% stating that developing wind and solar should be the most important priority for the country and 64% for their state. In contrast, natural gas and nuclear energy received significantly lower support (between 6% and 11%).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commgmu-000240#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is broad support for specific climate policies: 71% support a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requiring 100% renewable electricity by 2050, and 59% support the Green New Deal. High levels of support also exist for providing job training and guaranteed wages to workers displaced from the oil, gas, and coal industries (79%).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commgmu-000240#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Voters report personal experiences with climate-related impacts, including 31% experiencing anxiety due to extreme weather and 20% experiencing property damage or economic hardships. Furthermore, 70% believe climate change is impacting U.S. agriculture and extreme weather events.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commgmu-000240#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["renewable energy","climate change","Green New Deal","Renewable portfolio standard","carbon tax","electric vehicle","extreme weather event","climate finance","energy transition","just transition"],"geography_discussed":["Alabama","Arizona","Arkansas","California","Colorado","Florida","Idaho","Illinois","Maine","Massachusetts","Michigan","Minnesota","Mississippi","Missouri","Nevada","North Carolina","North Dakota","Ohio","Oklahoma","South Carolina","Tennessee","Texas","Utah","Vermont","Virginia","Washington"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["public opinion survey"]},{"id":"ucs-000918","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000918","title":"Our Unhealthy Democracy","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2019-11","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/our-unhealthy-democracy-white-paper-2019.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report argues that a negative feedback loop exists in the United States where restrictive voting laws and partisan gerrymandering insulate legislators from accountability, leading to the adoption of policies that exacerbate public health disparities. Using data from America's Health Rankings and the Cost of Voting Index, the author finds that states with greater partisan bias and higher barriers to voting are associated with lower life expectancy and more severe health declines between 2010 and 2017. Specifically, the report links extreme gerrymandering to higher increases in opioid deaths among African Americans in high-poverty states and higher infant mortality for non-Hispanic black communities. To break this cycle, the document recommends reforms to reduce the costs of eligibility (such as automatic voter registration), reduce the costs of casting a vote (such as early in-person voting), and protect the equal value of votes through independent redistricting commissions and public campaign financing.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000918#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"There is a positive correlation between electoral integrity and life expectancy in the United States, where greater life expectancy is associated with less electoral bias.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000918#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Partisan bias in redistricting increased significantly after the 2010 Census, particularly in states with unified party control of the legislature, while independent or bipartisan commissions produced less biased plans.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000918#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Health declines between 2010 and 2017 were more severe in states with extreme gerrymandering, as insulated legislatures were less likely to implement equitable health policies such as the expansion of Medicaid.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000918#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In high-poverty states, extreme partisan bias is associated with higher increases in opioid deaths from 2010 to 2017, with the ratio for African Americans being twice as high as for non-Hispanic whites in the most gerrymandered states.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000918#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Infant mortality for non-Hispanic black communities is significantly higher in the most gerrymandered states compared to other populations in higher-poverty states.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000918#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Restrictive voting laws and gerrymandering create a negative feedback loop where less healthy people are further excluded from the political process, preventing the passage of evidence-based health policies.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000918#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report identifies specific states where life expectancy is declining and voting has become harder, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000918#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 2020 decennial Census is identified as a critical point of vulnerability, with warnings that attempts to include a citizenship question or use administrative data to identify non-citizens could dilute the political power of immigrants and people of color.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000918#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["public health","environmental health"],"geography_discussed":["Alaska","North Carolina","Tennessee","West Virginia","Wisconsin","Louisiana","California","Colorado","Massachusetts","New York","Oregon","Vermont","Alabama","Mississippi","Indiana","Ohio","Pennsylvania","Hawaii","Florida","Michigan","Flint","Arizona","Texas","Seattle"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["correlational analysis","policy review"]},{"id":"earjust-002335","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-002335","title":"Desvaneciendo Vidas: Un Esquema de la EPA Causaría Que Miles de Personas Fallezcan","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"report","language":"es","date_published":"2019-10-21","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/feature/desvaneciendo-vidas-un-esquema-de-la-epa-causari-que-miles-de-personas-fallezcan","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Earthjustice criticizes EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler's attempt to dismantle the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) using a flawed cost-benefit analysis. The report claims that MATS saves up to 11,000 lives annually and prevents $90 billion in health-related costs, primarily through the reduction of fine particulate matter (soot). It highlights the influence of coal industry lobbyists, specifically Bob Murray, and provides personal testimonies from residents in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and North Carolina who suffer from health issues linked to power plant emissions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002335#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) are estimated to save up to 11,000 lives every year.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002335#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler proposed a cost-benefit analysis that drastically reduces the estimated health benefits of MATS from approximately $90 billion per year to between $4 million and $6 million by excluding 'co-benefits' such as the reduction of soot (fine particles).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002335#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 2011 EPA analysis detailed that the $90 billion in health benefits from MATS included the prevention of 11,000 deaths, 4,700 heart attacks, 5,700 hospital and emergency room visits, 130,000 asthma attacks, and over 540,000 lost work days.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002335#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Since its adoption, MATS has reduced mercury emissions from coal plants by 80% and has also reduced emissions of lead, arsenic, and chromium-6.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002335#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report alleges a conflict of interest involving Andrew Wheeler, noting he was a director at Faeger Baker Daniels, a firm that received $3 million in lobbying fees from Bob Murray (CEO of Murray Energy), who actively sought the removal of MATS.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002335#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The EPA estimated specific annual premature death tolls if MATS were eliminated in certain states: 530 people in Pennsylvania, 35 people in Arizona, and 480 people in North Carolina.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002335#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["air pollution","coal-fired power station","public health","environmental regulation","greenhouse gas"],"geography_discussed":["Pennsylvania","Arizona","North Carolina","Northampton County","Navajo Nation","Stokes County"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","case study"]},{"id":"earjust-002619","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-002619","title":"Erasing Lives: The EPA’s Crooked Scheme Could Cause Thousands to Lose Their Lives","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2019-10","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/mats-report_earthjustice_2020-01.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report examines the EPA's proposal to withdraw the finding that regulating hazardous emissions from power plants is \"appropriate and necessary,\" which would effectively gut the Mercury & Air Toxics Standards (MATS). It argues that EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler is using a \"rigged\" cost-benefit analysis that ignores the health benefits of reducing fine particulate matter (soot) to favor coal industry profits. The document highlights that MATS prevents between 4,000 and 11,000 premature deaths annually and provides personal accounts from affected residents in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and North Carolina.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002619#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The Mercury & Air Toxics Standards (MATS) are estimated by the EPA to prevent between 4,000 and 11,000 premature deaths every year, along with thousands of hospitalizations and missed days of work and school.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002619#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The EPA's initial 2011 cost-benefit analysis valued the health benefits of MATS at approximately $90 billion per year, with 99.9% of those benefits (over $89.9 billion) resulting from the reduction of fine particulate matter, known as \"soot.\"","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002619#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler proposed a new cost-benefit analysis that reduces the monetized health benefits from $90 billion to between $4 million and $6 million by counting only a small portion of lost earnings from decreased I.Q. caused by mercury consumption in freshwater fish.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002619#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report alleges that the EPA's attempt to exclude soot reductions as a \"co-benefit\" violates the agency's mission and guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, which recommends including all health benefits in regulatory cost-benefit analyses.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002619#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Since its adoption, MATS has reduced mercury emissions from coal plants by 80% and has also reduced emissions of lead, arsenic, and chromium-6.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002619#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report links the push to roll back MATS to the influence of coal industry figures, specifically Bob Murray of Murray Energy, who provided significant donations to Donald Trump and whose lobbying firm previously employed Andrew Wheeler.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002619#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coal-fired power station","public health","environmental regulation","greenhouse gas"],"geography_discussed":["Pennsylvania","Arizona","North Carolina","Navajo Nation"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","advocacy report"]},{"id":"earjust-001926","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-001926","title":"Coal’s Poisonous Legacy","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2019-07-11","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/national-coal-ash-report-7.11.19.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report finds that 91% of analyzed coal plants have unsafe levels of coal ash constituents in their groundwater. It highlights systemic failures in the 2015 Coal Ash Rule, such as the exemption of older dumps and inadequate monitoring of 'upgradient' wells. The analysis identifies the ten most contaminated sites in the U.S., noting that many impact low-income communities and communities of color. The authors argue that current regulations are insufficient and recommend regulating all ash dumps, requiring 'high and dry' storage, and increasing transparency and drinking water testing.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-001926#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Analysis of groundwater monitoring data from 265 sites reveals that 91 percent of coal plants have unsafe levels of one or more coal ash constituents in groundwater, after accounting for naturally occurring contamination.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-001926#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Specific toxic chemicals are prevalent across sites: 52 percent of coal plants have unsafe levels of arsenic, and 60 percent have unsafe levels of lithium.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-001926#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Contamination is widespread across different disposal methods, with unsafe levels found at 92 percent of ash ponds and 76 percent of ash landfills.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-001926#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report identifies ten sites with extreme contamination; for example, the New Castle Generating Station in Pennsylvania has arsenic levels 372 times safe levels, and the Allen Fossil Plant in Tennessee has arsenic at 350 times safe levels.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-001926#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 2015 Coal Ash Rule contains a significant gap by not regulating older, closed coal ash dumps, which continue to contaminate groundwater and often interfere with 'background' quality readings in upgradient wells.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-001926#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report notes that the majority of the ten most contaminated sites impact low-income communities and communities of color, who often lack resources for drinking water testing and medical care.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-001926#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The authors argue that the Trump Administration is rolling back protective requirements and weakening cleanup standards to support coal-fired power.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-001926#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coal-fired power station","water quality","environmental justice"],"geography_discussed":["Texas","North Carolina","Wyoming","Pennsylvania","Tennessee","Maryland","Utah","Mississippi","Kentucky","Puerto Rico"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["quantitative analysis","policy review","case studies"]},{"id":"eesi-000279","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000279","title":"Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2019-07","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_REEE_Jobs_0719.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document provides a comprehensive overview of 'green jobs', highlighting that the U.S. energy efficiency sector employs over 3 million people and the global renewable energy sector employed 11 million people in 2018. It details specific employment figures for various technologies—such as solar, wind, and biofuels—and identifies China as the global leader in renewable energy employment. Additionally, it notes the emergence of climate adaptation and resilience jobs, though standardized data collection for these roles remains limited.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000279#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The energy efficiency sector in the United States is a major employer, with over 3 million people employed when including energy storage, public transit, smart grids/micro grids, and vehicles. According to the U.S. Energy Employment Report (USEER), 2,324,866 people worked in the sector in 2018, representing a 5.37 percent increase since 2016, the highest growth rate in the country's energy sector.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000279#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Global renewable energy employment reached 11 million people in 2018, an increase of 700,000 from 2017. Solar PV is the largest employer globally with approximately 3,605,000 jobs, followed by biofuels (2,063,000) and hydropower (2,054,000).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000279#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"China is the world leader in renewable energy employment with approximately 4,078,000 direct and indirect jobs. It leads in five specific sectors: solar PV, wind, solar heating and cooling, biogas, and CSP, with solar PV alone providing about 54 percent of China's renewable energy jobs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000279#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In the United States, renewable energy employment varies by technology. In 2018, solar power supported 242,343 jobs (a 3.2 percent decline), while wind power provided 111,166 jobs (a 3.5 percent increase). The biofuels sector, including corn ethanol and other biofuels, employed 106,709 people.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000279#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate adaptation and resilience are emerging as critical employment areas, though the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Standard Occupation Classification system lacks specific codes for comprehensive analysis. Preliminary data from the American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) indicates employment is primarily in government (40 percent), non-governmental organizations (36 percent), and the private sector (16 percent).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000279#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Other major global renewable energy employers include Brazil (1,125,000 jobs), the European Union (1,235,000 jobs), India (719,000 jobs), and the United States (855,000 jobs). Brazil is the global leader in liquid biofuel employment with approximately 832,000 jobs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000279#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["renewable energy","energy efficiency","climate change adaptation","climate resilience","photovoltaics","wind power","biofuel","hydropower","geothermal energy","biomass","biogas","energy storage","smart grid","microgrid","electric vehicle","public transport","green job","workforce development"],"geography_discussed":["People's Republic of China","Brazil","India","European Union","Germany","France","Japan","Mexico","California","Texas","New York","Florida","Illinois","Massachusetts","Michigan","North Carolina","Ohio","Virginia"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["employment assessment","sectoral analysis"]},{"id":"eesi-000489","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000489","title":"Fossil Fuel Subsidies","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2019-07","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Fossil_Fuel_Subsidies_0719.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document details various direct and indirect U.S. tax subsidies for coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as federal R&D funding and overseas financing. It highlights the contradiction between these subsidies and global climate targets, noting that global fossil fuel subsidies reached $5.2 trillion in 2017. The text also analyzes the 'externalities' of fossil fuels, including the social cost of carbon, public health crises, and environmental degradation, while reviewing legislative efforts in the 116th Congress to reform energy tax credits.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000489#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"U.S. direct subsidies to the fossil fuel industry are conservatively estimated at approximately $20 billion annually, with 80 percent allocated to crude oil and natural gas and 20 percent to coal.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000489#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Global fossil fuel subsidies are increasing, reaching $5.2 trillion (6.5 percent of global GDP) in 2017, which represents a $500 billion increase from 2015. The largest subsidizers are China, the United States, and Russia.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000489#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The U.S. government provides significant R&D funding for fossil fuels, with a heavy emphasis on coal. Between 2010 and 2017, 91 percent of total fossil R&D money, totaling $1.4 billion, was spent on coal-related research.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000489#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Despite federal investment, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is considered unlikely to sustain the domestic use of coal power due to negative economics and high energy intensity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000489#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"U.S. agencies like the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) provide financing for fossil fuel projects abroad, including a $250 million natural gas project in Jordan and billions in grants and loans for the petroleum sector between 2001 and 2018.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000489#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Fossil fuel externalities—including health, environmental, and societal costs—totaled $5.3 trillion globally in 2015. In the U.S., air pollutants from fossil fuels cause 200,000 premature deaths annually.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000489#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Trump administration sought to lower the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) by shifting from a global to a national valuation and increasing the discount rate, potentially reducing the valuation from $36 per metric ton to as low as $1 per metric ton.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000489#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["fossil fuel subsidy","greenhouse gas emissions","carbon capture and storage","renewable energy","direct air capture","climate finance","tax credit","air pollution"],"geography_discussed":["European Union","People's Republic of China","Russia","Colombia","Jordan","Kosovo","Mozambique","North Carolina","Michigan"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","economic analysis"]},{"id":"earjust-000924","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-000924","title":"Insider Briefing: Coal’s Poisonous Legacy","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2019-06-06","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/feature/insider-briefing-coals-poisonous-legacy","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document details the systemic contamination of groundwater by coal ash at 91% of monitored U.S. coal plants, highlighting the toxicity of substances like arsenic and lead. It describes legal actions and community advocacy used to challenge the Trump administration's attempts to weaken the 2015 coal ash rule and discusses the implementation of the Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act (Senate Bill 9) in Illinois to ensure financial assurance and transparency in cleanups.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000924#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"A study by the Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice found that groundwater near 91% of U.S. coal-fired power plants with reported monitoring data contains unsafe levels of toxic pollutants, including arsenic, lead, and mercury.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000924#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Coal ash contains a variety of hazardous substances, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and radium, which can cause cancer, kidney disease, reproductive harm, and nervous system damage, particularly in children.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000924#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 2015 Obama administration coal ash regulation was the first of its kind, but it is described as a 'self-implementing rule' where utilities are obligated to follow it, but states are not required to enforce it.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000924#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In Illinois, the Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act (Senate Bill 9) was developed to fill federal gaps by requiring financial assurance for site closure and cleanup, as well as ensuring transparency and public participation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000924#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document identifies severe contamination at specific sites, such as Duke Energy’s Allen plant in North Carolina, where cobalt levels exceed safe limits by over 500 times, and the TVA Allen Fossil Plant in Tennessee, where arsenic is 350 times the safe level.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000924#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Trump administration is accused of attempting to gut the 2015 coal ash rule, with plans to propose five rules in July 2019 intended to weaken current protections.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000924#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Safe disposal of coal ash can be achieved through recycling into concrete (specifically fly ash) or by using modern-engineered landfills that are lined, include leachate collection, and are situated high above the groundwater table.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000924#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["water pollution","renewable energy","environmental regulation"],"geography_discussed":["World","Tennessee","North Carolina","Virginia","Oklahoma","Indiana","Kentucky","Puerto Rico","Vermillion River"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["legal analysis","policy review","environmental impact assessment"]},{"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":"climcent-000020","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/climcent-000020","title":"FAITH AND FLOODING: How Sea Level Rise Threatens America’s Houses of Worship","publisher":{"name":"Climate Central","organization":"climate-central"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2019-05-01","source_url":"https://www.climatecentral.org/report/report-sea-level-rise-threatens-houses-of-worship","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report finds that hundreds of American houses of worship face chronic flooding by 2050, with thousands more at risk by 2100 if emissions remain unchecked. It highlights the particular vulnerability of Gulf and Southeast coast states, specifically Louisiana, Florida, and North Carolina, while suggesting that deep emissions cuts and local adaptive measures could significantly reduce these risks. Additionally, it discusses the energy footprint of religious buildings and provides recommendations for improving energy efficiency and adopting renewable energy to mitigate climate change.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000020#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Under a scenario of unchecked greenhouse gas emissions, 499 houses of worship in U.S. coastal states will be located in areas vulnerable to flooding at least once annually on average by 2050. By 2100, this number is projected to increase to 2,407 buildings.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000020#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The impact of emissions reductions on the number of religious buildings at risk by 2100 varies by scenario: moderate cuts would reduce the total to 1,351, while deep, immediate cuts would reduce the number to 825, representing a 66 percent decrease compared to unchecked emissions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000020#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Louisiana is identified as the state where congregations are most vulnerable, with 88 houses of worship projected to be below the level of annual floods by 2050 under unchecked emissions. Florida and North Carolina are also noted as highly vulnerable.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000020#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"U.S. houses of worship have a significant energy footprint, consuming approximately 173 trillion British thermal units (BTUs) in 2012, which exceeds the total energy use of all U.S. buildings owned by the federal government.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000020#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Beyond sea level rise, religious buildings are exposed to other climate-driven threats, such as wildfires in California and heavy precipitation and hurricanes in North Carolina's interior.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000020#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["sea level rise","greenhouse gas emissions","energy efficiency","renewable electricity","solar energy","wildfire","hurricane","Paris Agreement","Green New Deal"],"geography_discussed":["Louisiana","Florida","North Carolina","California","Alabama","Georgia","Mississippi","South Carolina","Paradise"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["vulnerability assessment","projection"]},{"id":"pestake-000262","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/pestake-000262","title":"PLATINUM EQUITY’S NOT SO SECURUS INVESTMENT","publisher":{"name":"Private Equity Stakeholder Project","organization":"private-equity-stakeholder-project"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2019-05","source_url":"https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Platinum-Equitys-Not-So-Securus-Investment-PESP-052119.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","geography_discussed"],"summary":{"text":"The report details how Securus Technologies, under the ownership of Platinum Equity, extracts high fees from incarcerated individuals and their families for phone calls, money transfers, and e-messaging. It highlights the disproportionate impact on women of color and low-income communities, noting that one in three families go into debt to cover these costs. The document also outlines regulatory risks, including FCC fines and legislative efforts to make prison calls free, as well as severe privacy breaches involving the recording of attorney-client privileged calls and the use of biometric voice prints.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000262#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Securus Technologies and its subsidiary JPay impose high costs on impoverished families, with some paying up to $1 per minute for calls and facing fees as high as 35% for $20 money transfers. These costs disproportionately affect women of color, who make up 87 percent of the family members responsible for these expenses.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000262#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report identifies a 'near-duopoly' in the prison telecom industry between Securus and Global Tel Link (GTL), both owned by private equity firms. This lack of competition allows for predatory pricing and the bundling of services to lock in correctional facilities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000262#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Securus has faced significant regulatory penalties and restrictions, including a $1.7 million fine paid to the FCC to resolve an investigation into misleading information provided during its acquisition by Platinum Equity. Additionally, the FCC blocked Securus's 2019 attempt to merge with Inmate Calling Solutions (ICS) due to competition concerns.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000262#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is a growing legislative trend toward eliminating charges for prison phone calls. New York City became the first city to pass such a law in August 2018, and other jurisdictions like Connecticut, Massachusetts, San Francisco, and counties in Tennessee and North Carolina have pursued similar reforms.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000262#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Securus has been implicated in massive privacy and security failures, including a leak of over 70 million call recordings, at least 57,000 of which were privileged communications between inmates and attorneys.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000262#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The company employs surveillance technologies that raise civil liberties concerns, such as geolocation services that have been accessed illegally by law enforcement and 'Investigator Pro,' which creates biometric voice prints of incarcerated and non-incarcerated people.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000262#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":[],"geography_discussed":["New York City","Connecticut","Massachusetts","Florida","Maryland","Colorado","North Carolina","Indiana","California","Tennessee","Missouri","Kansas"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":[]},{"id":"ucs-000664","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000664","title":"FACT SHEET","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2019-04","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2019/04/fighting-corruption-promoting-evidence.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The Union of Concerned Scientists asserts that the United States has the lowest electoral integrity among advanced industrial democracies, which undermines the ability to create science-based policies. The report links voter suppression and gerrymandering to poor public health and environmental outcomes, citing examples in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Texas. It advocates for reforms such as automatic voter registration, nonpartisan redistricting, and public campaign financing to reduce the influence of 'dark money' and corporate interests on government decision-making.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000664#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The United States is identified as having the lowest level of electoral integrity among advanced industrial democracies.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000664#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is a correlation between voter disenfranchisement and poor environmental and health outcomes; specifically, in 2016, nearly two-thirds of US congressional districts with above-average air pollution had below-average voter turnout.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000664#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document cites several US states where electoral issues coincided with environmental or health crises: Georgia (groundwater contamination), Michigan (Flint lead exposure), North Carolina (coal ash disasters and banning scientific review of sea level rise), North Dakota (voter ID requirements affecting Indigenous peoples protesting the Dakota Access oil pipeline), and Texas (allegations of voter fraud used to justify purging).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000664#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The influence of 'dark money' and industry-funded misinformation can defeat science-informed policy, as seen in Washington State where the fossil fuel industry spent nearly $30 million on ads to defeat a carbon fee proposal.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000664#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The United States' global ranking for corruption has declined, falling out of the top 20 least corrupt governments for the first time since data collection began, dropping four points in 2018.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000664#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report advocates for several legislative reforms to protect democracy and science, including the For the People Act of 2019, the Corporate Political Disclosure Act of 2019, and the Next Generation Votes Act of 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000664#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["fossil fuel industry","environmental justice","sea level rise","air pollution","water pollution"],"geography_discussed":["Georgia","Michigan","North Carolina","North Dakota","Texas","Washington","California","Seattle"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","advocacy"]},{"id":"ucs-000581","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000581","title":"Soot to Solar","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2018-10","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/10/Edwards-Case-Study.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The E.D. Edwards Power Station in Illinois faces an uncertain future as its owner, Dynegy-Vistra, seeks state bailouts and relaxed pollution rules. The document argues that retiring the plant would improve public health and save consumers money, while the 206-acre site could be repurposed for a 41-megawatt solar farm and energy storage. However, a significant challenge remains in the form of high-hazard coal ash storage on-site.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000581#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Dynegy-Vistra has pursued two strategies to maintain profitability for its Illinois plants: lobbying the state legislature for a capacity payment bailout that could cost consumers $400 million annually, and attempting to weaken the Illinois Multi-Pollutant Standard to allow dirtier plants to operate more frequently.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000581#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Retiring the eight Dynegy-Vistra coal plants, including the Edwards plant, would not compromise electricity reliability in Illinois and could result in cumulative consumer savings of over $8.2 billion by 2030, with annual climate and health benefits valued at at least $765 million.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000581#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Closing the E.D. Edwards Power Station specifically is estimated to prevent 120 emergency room visits for asthma and 288 premature deaths between 2022 and 2030.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000581#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The E.D. Edwards site contains coal ash storage rated as having high hazard potential; an engineering assessment indicated that a failure of the perimeter containment dike would likely result in human fatalities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000581#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 206-acre Edwards site is suitable for a solar farm capable of generating up to 41 megawatts of electricity, which could power nearly 6,000 homes, and could be paired with a 10-megawatt energy storage installation occupying 0.06 percent of the site.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000581#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coal-fired power station","solar energy","energy storage","just transition","air pollution","Resilience (power system)"],"geography_discussed":["Peoria","East Alton","North Carolina"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["case study","impact assessment"]},{"id":"earjust-002373","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-002373","title":"Why Hurricane Florence Could Become a Public Health Crisis","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":"2018-09-17","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/article/toxic-sites-including-coal-ash-ponds-will-turn-hurricane-florence-into-a-public-health-crisis","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document warns that Hurricane Florence could trigger a public health crisis in the southeastern United States by causing the failure of toxic waste sites, such as coal ash pits, hog manure lagoons, and Superfund sites. It highlights the vulnerability of these sites, citing a recent coal ash collapse at the L.V. Sutton Power Station and previous spills during Hurricane Matthew and in 2008. The author contends that industry prioritizes cheap waste disposal over safety and calls for stronger government regulations to secure hazardous sites and address the increasing frequency and strength of hurricanes driven by climate change.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002373#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Hurricane Florence threatens public health in the southeastern U.S. because the storm's path includes hazardous locations such as Superfund sites, industrial facilities with toxic chemicals, hog manure lagoons, and coal ash pits containing lead and arsenic.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002373#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Coal ash sites are prone to failure even in mild conditions, with examples including a 2008 TVA spill and a 2017 Duke Energy spill in South Carolina caused by 3.74 inches of rain.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002373#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Recent events related to Hurricane Florence and previous storms demonstrate the vulnerability of these sites: a landfill slope collapsed at the L.V. Sutton Power Station near Wilmington, N.C., and Hurricane Matthew in 2016 caused coal ash to wash into North Carolina's Neuse River.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002373#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Specific high-risk coal ash sites identified in the path of Hurricane Florence include those at the Lee power plant in South Carolina and sites near the Chesapeake River in Virginia and the Cape Fear River in North Carolina.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002373#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document asserts that the government must implement stronger regulations to force industries to clean up hazardous sites and enact policies to slow climate change, which is increasing the strength and frequency of hurricanes.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002373#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["hurricane","climate change","water pollution","environmental regulation","environmental justice"],"geography_discussed":["North Carolina","South Carolina","Tennessee","Georgia","Virginia","Maryland"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["risk assessment","policy advocacy"]}]}