{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"geography":["Wisconsin"]},"warnings":[]},"total":{"value":153,"relation":"eq"},"page":4,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=Wisconsin&page=4","next":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=Wisconsin&page=5","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":"ucs-000580","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000580","title":"The Shaky Economics of Gas-fired Power Generation","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2022-06","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2022-06/Economics-gas-fired-power.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report finds that gas-fired power plants in MISO and SPP frequently operate at a loss, costing ratepayers an estimated $117 million in 2019. This uneconomic generation is most prevalent in steam turbines and gas turbines, often driven by practices like self-scheduling and self-commitment. The authors argue that these inefficiencies, combined with rising fuel costs and the growth of renewables, make gas-fired power an increasingly risky and expensive investment compared to clean energy portfolios.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"In 2019, utilities in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) incurred an estimated $117 million in operating losses from running gas plants when operating expenses exceeded market revenues.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The average gas-fired power plant in MISO and SPP operated without recovering its weekly operating costs for 11.3 and 12.6 weeks of 2019, respectively.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Uneconomic operation is strongly correlated with plant type; steam turbines and gas turbines are the most frequent loss-makers, while combined-cycle plants are the most economic.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The highest financial losses from uneconomic gas operations in 2019 occurred in Louisiana, non-ERCOT regions of Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Indiana, and northern Midwest states including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Entergy Corporation incurred the highest total weekly operating losses among the analyzed owners, totaling $24.6 million in 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Certain operational practices, such as 'self-scheduling' and 'self-committing', allow power providers to operate plants regardless of whether they recover costs, which can displace cheaper, cleaner energy resources.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Gerald Andrus Power Plant in Mississippi operated uneconomically during 22 of the 23 weeks it ran in 2019, resulting in $3.3 million in unrecovered costs passed to ratepayers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Analysis of the Nichols Generating Station in Texas suggests the use of self-commitment to keep units online at minimum operating levels even when fuel and maintenance costs exceed market prices.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Basin Electric Power Cooperative's Lonesome Creek and Pioneer Generation Stations in North Dakota both operated at a loss for almost all weeks of 2019, incurring $3.2 million and $2.9 million in losses respectively.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000580#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["gas-fired power station","electricity market","energy transition","methane emissions","renewable energy","wind power","solar energy","energy efficiency","electric power transmission","energy storage","demand response","air pollution","environmental justice"],"geography_discussed":["United States","Louisiana","Texas","Minnesota","Wisconsin","Michigan","Nebraska","Oklahoma","Indiana","Mississippi","North Dakota"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic analysis","case study"]},{"id":"pestake-000173","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/pestake-000173","title":"Profit Over Safety: Private Equity’s Leveraged Bet on Packers Sanitation","publisher":{"name":"Private Equity Stakeholder Project","organization":"private-equity-stakeholder-project"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2022-03","source_url":"https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Packers-Sanitation-Blackstone-Leonard-Green-PESP-March-2022.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report examines Packers Sanitation Services Inc (PSSI), a food sanitation company owned by the Blackstone Group, highlighting a pattern of severe workplace injuries and fatalities. It argues that private equity practices, specifically dividend recapitalizations that load companies with debt, create financial pressures that lead to safety shortcuts and the exploitation of vulnerable immigrant and formerly incarcerated workers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000173#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"In July 2021, OSHA cited PSSI and three other companies following a nitrogen leak at a Georgia poultry plant that resulted in six deaths and nearly a dozen injuries. The investigation identified 17 serious and two repeat violations by PSSI.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000173#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"PSSI has a history of severe workplace accidents; since the Blackstone Group acquired the company in May 2018, OSHA has investigated at least three fatalities—including one decapitation—and four amputations.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000173#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Analysis of OSHA data from 2015 to 2016 by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) indicated that PSSI had one of the highest numbers of serious injury reports relative to its employee count, with an amputation rate five times higher than the average for all manufacturing workers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000173#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Private equity owners, including Blackstone and Leonard Green/AlpInvest, used dividend recapitalizations to extract hundreds of millions of dollars from PSSI by adding debt to the company's balance sheet. Specifically, PSSI paid Leonard Green and Alpinvest $340 million in December 2017, and paid Blackstone $135 million in June 2019 and $297 million in November 2020.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000173#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report suggests a link between high leverage and safety risks, noting that debt pressures may lead employers to force workers to work faster. Evidence from PSSI includes 20 citations for failing to lock out equipment during cleaning and five citations for lacking machine guards.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000173#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"PSSI employs vulnerable populations, including undocumented immigrants and former felons, who are less likely to challenge safety violations or wage theft. The company may also use liability waivers to protect its clients, the plant owners, from litigation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000173#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":[],"geography_discussed":["Georgia","Texas","Alabama","North Carolina","Kansas","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["case study","financial analysis","safety audit"]},{"id":"wri-000113","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wri-000113","title":"3 Ways Federal Investment in Trees and Forests Can Support Economic Growth","publisher":{"name":"World Resources Institute","organization":"world-resources-institute"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2021-10-13","source_url":"https://www.wri.org/insights/economic-growth-federal-investment-trees-forests","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"To meet its 2030 climate target of reducing net emissions by 50-52% from 2005 levels, the United States must increase its land carbon sink's annual removal by 13% over 2019 levels, reaching at least 913 Mt CO2e. The World Resources Institute identifies three primary pathways to achieve this: reforestation and restocking, agroforestry, and wildfire risk mitigation. Together, these pathways would require a total federal investment of $126.6 billion over 20 years, supporting approximately 199,000 jobs annually and generating $226.8 billion in value added to local economies. The document advocates for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the Build Back Better Act to maintain robust funding for these initiatives to catalyze a just, low-carbon economy.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000113#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The United States needs to increase its land carbon sink's annual sequestration by 13% over 2019 levels to remove at least 913 Mt CO2e annually by 2030, which is necessary to meet the national target of reducing net emissions by 50-52% from 2005 levels by 2030.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000113#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A total federal investment of $126.6 billion over 20 years in three tree-based pathways would support approximately 3.9 million job-years (199,000 jobs annually) and generate $226.8 billion in value added to local economies, including $164.4 billion in employee compensation and $12.2 billion in taxes.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000113#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Reforestation and restocking on non-federal lands (185.4 million eligible acres) could remove 156 MtCO2e per year by 2030 and up to 312 MtCO2e per year by 2040, supporting 68,100 annual jobs. Federal lands (18 million eligible acres) could sequester an additional 17 MtCO2e per year by 2030 and up to 35 MtCO2e per year by 2040, supporting 11,700 annual jobs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000113#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Agroforestry, incorporating trees into approximately 110.9 million acres of eligible U.S. cropland and pastureland, could sequester 156 MMT CO2e per year. An annual federal investment of $1.8 billion in this pathway could support 49,500 jobs annually.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000113#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Wildfire risk mitigation through fuel load treatments on over 86.7 million eligible acres could reduce carbon emissions in the western United States by 18–25% via prescribed burning alone. A yearly federal investment of $1.5 billion could support 69,600 jobs, including forestry professionals and biomass processing roles.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000113#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["carbon sequestration","reforestation","agroforestry","climate finance","green job"],"geography_discussed":["Missouri","Ohio","Michigan","Pennsylvania","Wisconsin","South Dakota","Texas","California","New Mexico","Wyoming","Oregon","Idaho","Washington, D.C."],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic impact analysis","policy briefing"]},{"id":"eesi-000438","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000438","title":"Federal Resilience Programs: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2021-10-01","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/federal-resilience-programs-great-lakes-restoration-initiative","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), established in 2010, is a federal interagency collaboration led by the EPA to restore the Great Lakes ecosystem. The program focuses on providing safe water, controlling invasive species, mitigating algal blooms, and protecting native habitats. GLRI supports climate resilience by restoring coastal wetlands, forests, and grasslands, and by funding indigenous-led resilience projects. Since its inception, GLRI has funded over 6,000 projects totaling $3.48 billion, protecting over 440,000 acres of habitat and generating an estimated $3.35 in economic activity for every federal dollar spent. Funding is increasing under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019, rising from $300 million to $375 million in FY 2022, with annual increases of $25 million through FY 2026.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000438#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is a multi-agency effort led by the EPA, involving the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to address ecological threats such as invasive species, harmful algal blooms, and the degradation of 'Areas of Concern', which are EPA-designated environmentally damaged areas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000438#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"GLRI enhances climate adaptation and resilience by restoring ecosystems that provide critical services, such as storm and flood protection, pollution filtering, and temperature regulation. This includes funding for indigenous communities to lead projects like restoring riparian habitats and protecting coastal wetlands.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000438#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The program operates via a four-year Action Plan (currently through FY 2024) with five priority areas: invasive species, toxic substances and Areas of Concern, habitats and species, nonpoint source pollution impacts on nearshore health, and foundations for future restoration actions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000438#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"GLRI has achieved significant environmental and economic impacts, including the protection of over 440,000 acres of habitat, the prevention of over one million pounds of phosphorus from entering the lakes, and the creation or support of an average of 5,180 jobs annually.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000438#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A 2018 University of Michigan study found that every dollar of federal spending on the GLRI generates $3.35 in additional economic activity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000438#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019 increases program funding from $300 million to $375 million in FY 2022, with subsequent annual increases of $25 million until FY 2026.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000438#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change adaptation","biodiversity","water quality","climate finance"],"geography_discussed":["North America","United States","Canada","Wisconsin","Superior","Lake Superior"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["program evaluation","policy summary"]},{"id":"ucs-000805","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000805","title":"Let Communities Choose","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2021-10","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Let-Communities-Choose-10-12-21.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report analyzes how Highland Park, Michigan, can transition to 100 percent locally generated clean energy to achieve energy sovereignty. It identifies a total average annual electricity demand of approximately 86,200 MWh and proposes a mix of rooftop solar, community solar, energy efficiency, distributed solar, and a community water and energy resource center (CWERC) to meet this need. The analysis highlights that current utility restrictions and state policies create long payback periods for solar investments, but a proposed policy scenario—including full retail-rate net metering and state tax credits—could increase rooftop solar's contribution from 13 percent to nearly 30 percent of the city's energy needs. The document concludes with recommendations for Michigan policymakers to eliminate distributed generation caps and for Highland Park leaders to enact solar ordinances and establish local financing mechanisms.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000805#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Highland Park faces severe energy poverty and environmental injustice, with 46.5 percent of the population living at or below the poverty level and the city ranking in the 92nd percentile for environmental injustice in Michigan.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000805#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Under current Michigan policies and DTE utility programs, rooftop solar would meet approximately 13 percent of Highland Park's estimated 86,200 MWh annual electricity demand, with long payback periods for homeowners (e.g., 15 years for a single-family home).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000805#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A proposed policy scenario—incorporating the elimination of size restrictions, restoration of full retail-rate net metering, a distributed solar carve-out in the RPS, and a $1,000 state tax credit—could increase rooftop solar's contribution to nearly 30 percent of the city's energy needs and reduce the payback period for single-family homes to 3 years.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000805#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A comprehensive 100 percent clean energy vision for Highland Park would combine rooftop solar (30%), community solar (33%), energy efficiency (25%), distributed solar (6%), and a Community Water and Energy Resource Center (6%).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000805#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Repurposing four specific vacant land parcels totaling 100 acres could host 20 MW of community-owned solar, providing about one-third of the city's energy target.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000805#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report recommends that Michigan policymakers eliminate utility caps on distributed generation, require virtual net metering for community solar, and expand the Michigan Saves green bank to better serve lower-income communities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000805#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["rooftop photovoltaic system","Community solar farm","energy efficiency","distributed generation","Renewable portfolio standard","energy poverty","environmental justice","decarbonization"],"geography_discussed":["Massachusetts","Minnesota","Illinois","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["technical modeling","policy analysis","socio-economic assessment"]},{"id":"ucs-000806","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000806","title":"Let Communities Choose: Clean Energy Sovereignty in Highland Park, Michigan","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2021-10","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Let-Communities-Choose-appendix.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document outlines the use of HOMER Grid software to optimize energy systems in Highland Park, MI, assuming investments made in 2023. It details building stock estimates, electricity rate tariffs from DTE Energy, and the impact of policy incentives like net metering and SRECs on payback periods for residential and commercial solar installations.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000806#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The analysis estimated that 1,428 occupied single-family homes in Highland Park are solar-viable, a figure derived by applying a conservative 60 percent viability rate to the city's estimated 2,380 occupied single-family homes.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000806#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Under a proposed policy scenario including net metering, a Michigan Residential Energy Credit of $1,000, and Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), the adjusted payback period for single-family homes and midrise apartments is estimated at 3 years.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000806#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The study identified four potential parcels for community solar installations in Highland Park, including the former Ford Highland Park Plant and the former Ecoworks Site, assuming a land requirement of roughly five acres per megawatt of solar.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000806#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"For commercial and institutional buildings, the adjusted payback periods under the policy scenario range from 4 years for offices and restaurants to 10 years for warehouses.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000806#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The financial modeling assumed a 25-year project lifetime, a 7 percent nominal discount rate, and a 22 percent federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for investments made in 2023.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000806#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The total average annual energy demand for the residential and commercial sectors in Highland Park was assumed to be 86,200,000 kWh/yr.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000806#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["rooftop photovoltaic system","battery energy storage system","distributed generation","microgrid","Community solar farm"],"geography_discussed":["Detroit","Illinois","Ann Arbor","Vermont","New York","Madison","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["technical appendix","financial analysis","energy modeling"]},{"id":"earjust-000002","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-000002","title":"Phosmet","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2021-08-04","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/feature/organophosphate-pesticides-united-states/phosmet","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Phosmet is a U.S. registered pesticide used in 40 states, primarily on orchards and grapes, and is currently under registration review. It is associated with serious health effects, including cancer, neurodevelopmental harm, and reproductive toxicity, with exposure occurring via food, drinking water, and occupational contact. The pesticide is applied to a significant percentage of several common crops, including peaches (55%) and nectarines (50%).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000002#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Phosmet is used in 40 U.S. states and is primarily applied to orchards and grapes, including on pick-your-own farms. It was first registered as a U.S. pesticide in 1988, reregistered in 2006, and is currently undergoing registration review.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000002#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Exposure to phosmet, even at low levels, can result in serious health issues such as reproductive toxicity, neurodevelopmental harm, and cancer. High-risk exposure routes include food and drinking water, spray drift, and occupational exposure for pesticide handlers and farmworkers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000002#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Phosmet is applied to a substantial percentage of several U.S. crops: peaches (55%), nectarines (50%), apples (40%), blueberries (40%), pears (40%), cherries (30%), and oranges (25%).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000002#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["pesticide"],"geography_discussed":["Alabama","Arizona","California","Colorado","Connecticut","Delaware","Florida","Georgia","Idaho","Indiana","Kansas","Kentucky","Maine","Maryland","Massachusetts","Michigan","Minnesota","Mississippi","Montana","Nebraska","Nevada","New Hampshire","New Jersey","New Mexico","New York","North Carolina","Ohio","Oklahoma","Oregon","Pennsylvania","Rhode Island","South Carolina","Tennessee","Texas","Utah","Vermont","Virginia","Washington","West Virginia","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["fact sheet"]},{"id":"pestake-000127","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/pestake-000127","title":"OpenGate Capital","publisher":{"name":"Private Equity Stakeholder Project","organization":"private-equity-stakeholder-project"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2021-07","source_url":"https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/AFR-PESP-OpenGateReport-071421.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report details a pattern of acquisitions by OpenGate Capital that resulted in the closure of at least five companies and the loss of over 1,300 U.S. jobs. It examines specific cases including HUFCOR, Golden Guernsey Dairy, Fusion Paperboard, Hamilton Scientific, PennySaver, and Pacific Crest Transformers, alleging that the firm extracted fees and dividends while eroding the value of these businesses. The document highlights legal disputes over unpaid wages, lack of worker notice, and allegations of 'cash stripping' and 'looting' by bankruptcy trustees.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000127#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"OpenGate Capital has a documented history of acquiring viable businesses and subsequently driving them into bankruptcy or closure, resulting in more than 1,300 U.S. workers losing their jobs across at least five companies in less than four years.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000127#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In the case of HUFCOR, OpenGate announced in June 2021 that it would close the Janesville, Wisconsin factory and move operations to Mexico, permanently laying off 166 workers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000127#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Golden Guernsey Dairy was shut down in January 2013 just 16 months after acquisition, leaving 100 workers jobless without advance notice. A bankruptcy trustee alleged the firm made \"no net investment\" and that the company's value was \"consistently eroded.\"","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000127#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Fusion Paperboard was closed in 2014, resulting in 145 layoffs, despite a 2013 loan from the state of Connecticut conditioned on the company staying for 10 years and hiring 20 additional workers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000127#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Hamilton Scientific was abruptly shut down in 2015, costing 270 people their jobs. A bankruptcy trustee alleged OpenGate collected $1.6 million in \"management fees\" in December 2014 while the company was insolvent.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000127#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The bankruptcy trustee for PennySaver alleged that OpenGate engaged in a strategy of \"cash stripping,\" including paying itself a $320,000 \"acquisition fee\" and a $1 million annual \"management fee,\" and transferring $2 million from a land sale to itself as a \"distribution.\"","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000127#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Pacific Crest Transformers, an electrical equipment company in Oregon, was shut down in November 2017, resulting in 110 employees losing their jobs, shortly after the firm had claimed the business was doing \"exceedingly well.\"","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pestake-000127#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["secondary sector of the economy"],"geography_discussed":["Wisconsin","Mexico","Connecticut","Texas","Arkansas","California","Oregon","France"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["case study","financial analysis"]},{"id":"catf-000974","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/catf-000974","title":"Potential Human Health Impacts Associated with Retirement of Nuclear Power Plants in Illinois","publisher":{"name":"Clean Air Task Force","organization":"clean-air-task-force"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2021-04-14","source_url":"https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/21092356/Illinois-Nuclear-Study-Revised-2-and-4-plants-FINAL-April-14-2021.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report estimates that retiring four nuclear plants in Illinois would lead to 1,200 to 2,700 premature deaths and $10 to $24 billion in monetized damages over ten years. Retiring two plants (Byron and Dresden) would result in 500 to 1,100 premature deaths and $4.4 to $10 billion in damages over the same period. These impacts are driven by increased PM2.5 emissions from fossil fuel plants used to offset the loss of zero-emission generation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000974#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The retirement of four nuclear power plants in Illinois is estimated to cause between 1,200 and almost 2,700 premature deaths, nearly 140,000 work loss days, and over 30,000 additional asthma attacks and respiratory symptoms over a ten-year period.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000974#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The retirement of two nuclear power plants (Byron and Dresden Generating Stations) is estimated to cause between 500 and 1,100 premature deaths, almost 57,000 work loss days, and over 13,000 additional asthma attacks and respiratory symptoms over a ten-year period.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"catf-000974#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["nuclear power","air pollution","public health"],"geography_discussed":["Ohio","Pennsylvania","Michigan","Louisiana","Indiana","Minnesota","West Virginia","Wisconsin","Iowa","New York","New Jersey","Maryland","Missouri","North Dakota","Tennessee","Texas","Oklahoma","Montana","New Mexico","Canada"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["quantitative impact assessment","economic valuation"]},{"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":"reclfin-000106","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/reclfin-000106","title":"Enbridge: sustainable credit, tar sands, rights violations","publisher":{"name":"Reclaim Finance","organization":"reclaim-finance"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":"2021-03-10","source_url":"https://reclaimfinance.org/site/en/2021/03/10/enbridge-sustainable-credit-tar-sands-rights-violations/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Reclaim Finance criticizes Enbridge for securing a $1.0 billion \"Sustainability Linked\" credit facility from five major banks, asserting that the company's ESG goals are insufficient and serve to mask the continued expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure. The author contends that Enbridge's net-zero and GHG intensity targets only cover scope 1 and 2 emissions, representing less than 2% of the lifecycle emission intensity of oil sands. Furthermore, the document highlights that the Line 3 pipeline project in Minnesota, supported by such funding, increases GHG emissions and violates the treaty rights of the Anishinaabeg.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000106#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Enbridge secured a three-year $1.0 billion Sustainability Linked Credit Facility on February 10, 2021, from CIBC, Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal, RBC Capital Markets, and TD Securities, who provided $48.45 billion in total funding to the company between 2016 and 2020.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000106#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Enbridge's ESG goals to reduce GHG emission intensity by 35% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050 are criticized as inadequate because they only apply to scope 1 and 2 emissions, which account for less than 2% of the lifecycle emission intensity of oil sands.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000106#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The company's investment priorities remain heavily focused on fossil fuels, with oil and gas representing 82% of total estimated expenditures for 2020 growth projects and 97% of investments in 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000106#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Line 3 pipeline project in Minnesota, which transports oil from Canada's tar sands to Wisconsin, is estimated to add 193 million tons of GHG annually and violates the treaty rights of the Anishinaabeg.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000106#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["greenhouse gas emissions","carbon neutrality","carbon offset","oil sands","Paris Agreement","sustainable finance","greenwashing","indigenous rights"],"geography_discussed":["Canada","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","corporate accountability"]},{"id":"reclfin-000412","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/reclfin-000412","title":"Enbridge : durabilité, sables bitumineux et violations de droits","publisher":{"name":"Reclaim Finance","organization":"reclaim-finance"},"document_type":"statement","language":"fr","date_published":"2021-03-10","source_url":"https://reclaimfinance.org/site/2021/03/10/enbridge-durabilite-sables-bitumineux-violations-de-droits/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Reclaim Finance criticizes Enbridge for securing a $1 billion sustainability-linked credit facility while continuing to invest heavily in fossil fuels and the Line 3 pipeline. The organization contends that Enbridge's ESG goals are insufficient as they only cover scope 1 and 2 emissions, ignoring the vast majority of the carbon footprint associated with oil sands transport. The document highlights that the Line 3 project in Minnesota violates indigenous rights and significantly increases greenhouse gas emissions, calling for stricter financial regulations to prevent such greenwashing.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000412#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"In February 2021, Enbridge obtained a three-year, $1.0 billion sustainability-linked credit facility from five major financial institutions: CIBC, Bank of Nova Scotia, BMO Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets, and TD Securities. These institutions were also Enbridge's five largest funders between 2016 and 2020, providing $48.45 billion, including $9.11 billion in 2020 alone.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000412#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Enbridge's ESG targets, which include reducing GHG emission intensity by 35% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, are criticized as misleading because they only apply to scope 1 and 2 emissions. This covers less than 2% of the life-cycle carbon intensity of oil sands petroleum and excludes the emissions from the products sold and network transmission losses.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000412#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Despite its sustainability claims, Enbridge's growth strategy remains focused on fossil fuels; 97% of its 2019 investments were dedicated to oil and gas, and these energies represented 82% of estimated total expenditures for 2020 projects.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000412#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Line 3 pipeline project in Minnesota, which transports oil sands petroleum to Wisconsin, is described as an environmental and human rights disaster. It is estimated to release 193 million additional tonnes of GHG per year and is alleged by Honor The Earth to violate the treaty rights of the Anishinaabeg.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"reclfin-000412#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["environmental, social and corporate governance","greenhouse gas emissions","carbon neutrality","carbon offset","oil sands","greenwashing","Paris Agreement","indigenous rights","sustainable finance"],"geography_discussed":["Minnesota","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["corporate critique","financial analysis"]},{"id":"rmi-000013","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/rmi-000013","title":"Securitization in Action: How US States Are Shaping an Equitable Coal Transition","publisher":{"name":"RMI","organization":"rmi"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2021-03-04","source_url":"https://rmi.org/resources/securitization-in-action-how-us-states-are-shaping-an-equitable-coal-transition/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The briefing discusses the application of securitization in US states to mitigate the financial and social risks of coal plant retirements. By replacing high-cost utility capital with low-interest bonds, states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and New Mexico have reduced ratepayer costs and provided funding for clean energy and community transition. The document highlights Colorado's legislation as a model for integrating consumer protections, worker assistance, and renewable energy reinvestment.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000013#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Securitization functions as a refinancing tool that replaces the 8–10 percent effective interest rate of utility capital (debt and equity) with low-interest-rate bonds typically ranging from 2–4 percent, creating savings for ratepayers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000013#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In Wisconsin, We Energies agreed to securitize $100 million in unrecovered costs from the 2018 retirement of the Pleasant Prairie coal plant, resulting in $40 million in savings for customers over 15 years.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000013#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Michigan's use of securitization for the D. E. Karn coal plant involved $688 million in bonds to save customers $124 million, a result of intervention by consumer and environmental groups. Additionally, Consumers Energy committed to 6 GW of new solar energy by 2030 and a 90 percent carbon emissions reduction by 2040.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000013#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"New Mexico's Energy Transition Act (ETA) utilized $360 million in bonds for the San Juan Generating Station (SJGS) retirement, saving residential customers an average of $6.87 per month in 2023. The process funded $20 million for plant employee severance and training, and $19.8 million for tribal communities and economic development.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000013#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Colorado's 2019 legislation is presented as a template for an equitable transition because it mandates the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to maximize ratepayer benefits, requires funding for local government or school district projects, and allows utilities to own up to 50 percent of procured clean energy resources.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000013#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["phase-out","energy transition","renewable energy","solar energy","battery energy storage system","just transition","energy policy","carbon dioxide emissions"],"geography_discussed":["Wisconsin","Michigan","New Mexico","Colorado","Montana","Indiana","Kansas","Missouri","Minnesota"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["case study","policy analysis"]},{"id":"earjust-000024","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-000024","title":"Count. Every. Vote.","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":"2020-11-04","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/brief/2020/count-every-vote","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Earthjustice advocates for the accurate counting of all ballots in the 2020 US election, asserting that the integrity of the democratic process is essential for the organization's environmental and climate protection work. The statement attributes delays in results to high turnout, increased mail-in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and partisan litigation over voting protocols in states such as Wisconsin and North Carolina.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000024#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Earthjustice links the protection of the environment and climate to the stability of democracy and the rule of law, stating that free and fair elections are a fundamental principle.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000024#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 2020 election experienced delays due to high turnout, with over 100 million people voting early or by mail because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and legal battles over voting protocols in states including North Carolina and Wisconsin.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000024#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["environmental protection","climate change"],"geography_discussed":["Wisconsin","North Carolina"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["statement"]},{"id":"ucs-001276","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-001276","title":"Wisconsin Voters Have Higher Priorities than Nuclear Weapons","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2020-10","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/wi-voters-have-higher-priorities-than-nuclear-weapons.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"A survey of 842 registered Wisconsin voters indicates a majority oppose the estimated $1.5 trillion plan to replace the US nuclear arsenal and the $100 billion plan to replace land-based nuclear missiles. Voters prioritize federal spending on health care, job opportunities, clean drinking water, and infrastructure over nuclear weapons. Opposition is particularly high among younger voters, college graduates, non-White voters, and those in urban areas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001276#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"A majority of registered Wisconsin voters oppose the United States spending an estimated $1.5 trillion over 30 years to replace its nuclear weapons arsenal, with only 17 percent expressing strong support.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001276#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Wisconsin voters prioritize several federal spending areas over the replacement of nuclear weapons, specifically expanding access to quality and affordable health care, increasing job opportunities, cleaning up polluted drinking water, and improving infrastructure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001276#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A majority of Wisconsin voters oppose the specific Pentagon plan to spend more than $100 billion to replace land-based nuclear missiles, with only 14 percent strongly supporting the expenditure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001276#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Voters find arguments against rebuilding the nuclear arsenal more compelling than those in favor, particularly the ideas that the US has more weapons than needed for security, that funds could be better used for community priorities like clean water, and that nuclear weapons do not address modern threats like cyber attacks or pandemics.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001276#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Opposition to rebuilding the nuclear arsenal is most prevalent among non-White voters, younger voters, voters with college degrees, and those living in urban areas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001276#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change","infrastructure"],"geography_discussed":["United States"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["public opinion polling"]},{"id":"ucs-000468","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000468","title":"COVID-19 Underscores the Need for Voting Reform","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2020-07","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/covid-19-voting-reform-national.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document asserts that current US voting conditions are inadequate for a pandemic, citing primary election failures in states like Wisconsin, Illinois, and Florida. It advocates for universal vote-by-mail, automatic and online registration, and expanded early in-person voting to protect voters and ensure electoral integrity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000468#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The United States is deemed unable to conduct a free and fair election under existing conditions due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with evidence from primaries where sixteen states postponed voting and others faced poll worker shortages and emergency closures.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000468#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In Wisconsin's primary, over 1 million voters used mail ballots, yet thousands did not receive requested ballots due to backlogs, and more than 50 poll workers or in-person voters tested positive for COVID-19.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000468#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document identifies a critical lack of universal vote-by-mail infrastructure, noting that only six states have implemented it and nearly half of all states had 10 percent or fewer votes cast by mail in the previous presidential election.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000468#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Voter registration access is limited, with only 18 states offering automatic voter registration and 39 providing online registration, the latter of which often requires DMV-obtained identification.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000468#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To ensure safe in-person voting for those unable to use mail, the document recommends opening voting centers at least two weeks before Election Day; however, only 25 states currently meet this timeframe.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000468#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is a significant deficiency in ballot verification and correction processes, with only eight states utilizing best practices to contact voters regarding verification problems and provide rapid eligibility verification.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000468#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document highlights a risk that the presidential election could be decided by states that already limit representation through gerrymandering and voter ID laws, particularly in states with high COVID-19 rates and high electoral competitiveness.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000468#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["environmental justice"],"geography_discussed":["Wisconsin","Illinois","Florida"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy assessment","fact sheet"]},{"id":"ucs-001234","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-001234","title":"Used, But How Useful?","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-05","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/Used%20but%20How%20Useful%20May%202020.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report argues that rate-regulated utilities use 'self-commitment' to bypass market merit order, running coal plants that are objectively uneconomic and passing the resulting losses to captive customers through state fuel-cost-recovery processes. Using PLEXOS modeling for the MISO region in 2018, the authors find that this practice cost customers $350 million and suppressed regional market clearing prices by 2.4%. The report identifies Cleco and DTE Energy as significant contributors to these distortions and recommends that state regulators disallow the recovery of imprudent, above-market costs to incentivize efficient dispatch.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"In 2018, the uneconomic self-commitment of coal plants in the MISO region resulted in costs of $350 million for customers, which equates to an average annual increase of approximately $60 on residential electric bills.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The practice of self-committing coal plants artificially lowers market clearing prices across all MISO transmission zones, reducing the regional average by $0.63 per MWh, or 2.4%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"While most coal resources in MISO are self-committed, a small group of companies and plants drive the majority of market distortion; Cleco (co-owner of Dolet Hills) and DTE Energy are identified as the worst actors.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Eliminating uneconomic self-commitment in MISO would have increased the system's market surplus by 66%, rising from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion, thereby improving overall market efficiency and profitability for power plants.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Rate-regulated utilities can exploit the self-commitment loophole because they can recover market losses through state fuel-cost-recovery processes, a financial cushion not available to independent power providers (IPPs).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The traditional view of coal as a 'baseload resource' is outdated; current MISO data shows coal plants often cycle to follow load patterns and frequently operate when the cost to burn coal exceeds the market price.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Some utilities, such as Xcel Energy and Cleco, have begun reducing uneconomic dispatch by converting coal plants to seasonal operations, which the report suggests can save customers tens of millions of dollars.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report concludes that market rule reforms alone are unlikely to stop the behavior; instead, state regulators must disallow the recovery of imprudent, above-market costs to create a real incentive for utilities to operate economically.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001234#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coal-fired power station","electricity market","energy transition","economic dispatch"],"geography_discussed":["PJM Interconnection","Southwest Power Pool","Electric Reliability Council of Texas","Louisiana","Texas","North Dakota","Michigan","Minnesota","Illinois","Iowa","Arkansas","Missouri","Mississippi","Kentucky","Indiana","Wisconsin"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic modeling","policy analysis"]},{"id":"eesi-000411","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000411","title":"Coastal Resilience in the Great Lakes Region","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2020-02","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_021320.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document details efforts to enhance coastal resilience in the Great Lakes region through nature-based solutions, such as wetland restoration and climate-smart agriculture. It highlights the role of the Coastal Assembly in coordinating bi-national wetland restoration and the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission's (GLIFWC) use of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to assess species vulnerability. The briefing also emphasizes the importance of soil health in carbon sequestration and the need for federal policy modernization, including updates to the Stafford Act and expanded funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000411#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The Great Lakes region is economically and environmentally vital, with the U.S. portion generating over three trillion dollars in GDP and the lakes containing more than 20 percent of the world's freshwater.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000411#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate change has already caused a 2.3 degree temperature increase in the Great Lakes region between 1951 and 2017, extending the growing season by 16 days and increasing the frequency and intensity of precipitation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000411#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Historical injustices, such as redlining in the 1920s and 30s, continue to impact urban resilience; for example, redlined neighborhoods in Minneapolis experience a temperature differential of 10.8 degrees compared to Double-A rated neighborhoods due to urban heat island effects.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000411#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Coastal Assembly, a bi-national organization of 22 agencies, focuses on restoring coastal wetlands, noting that over 50 percent of wetlands in the U.S. side of the Great Lakes basin have been lost.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000411#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Ohio's H2Ohio Initiative has allocated 172 million dollars in state funds for water quality improvements this biennium, with approximately 46 million dollars specifically for on-the-ground wetland restoration.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000411#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) uses a vulnerability assessment that combines Western science with traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to identify risks to culturally important species, finding wild rice to be the most vulnerable.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000411#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Agricultural land in the U.S. represents 40 percent of the landmass and has significant potential for carbon sequestration through climate-smart practices, such as the use of cover crops to improve soil health and hold nutrients.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000411#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) recommends that the federal government modernize the Stafford Act, update FEMA disaster funding, and expand the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative into a 'Great Lakes Restoration and Resilience Initiative'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000411#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coastal management","nature-based solutions","climate change adaptation","carbon sequestration","Climate-smart agriculture","urban heat island","water quality","climate finance","social equity"],"geography_discussed":["United States","Canada","Ohio","Wisconsin","Michigan","Minnesota","Detroit","Milwaukee","Duluth","Marquette","Minneapolis"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy briefing","expert testimony"]},{"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-001131","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-001131","title":"Minnesota Electric Cooperatives and Out-of-State Coal Plants","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"policy brief","language":"en","date_published":"2020-02","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/UCS%20Issue%20Brief%20-%20Minnesota%20Electric%20Cooperatives%20and%20Out-of-State%20Coal%20Plants.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Minnesota's electric cooperatives, serving 30% of the state's customers, remain tied to coal-fired power plants in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming through Generation & Transmission (G&T) co-ops. While investor-owned utilities in Minnesota are phasing out coal, these co-ops face 'all-requirements' contracts and long-term fuel agreements that restrict their ability to adopt renewables. Many of these out-of-state plants operate uneconomically, costing customers over $93 million between 2015 and 2017.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001131#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Electric cooperatives serve approximately 30 percent of Minnesota's electricity consumers and cover 85 percent of the state's land area, but they are often tied to coal plants located in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming through Generation & Transmission (G&T) co-ops.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001131#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Four G&T co-ops—Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Dairyland Power Cooperative, Great River Energy, and Minnkota Power Cooperative—own coal-fired plants outside Minnesota with a combined generating capacity of just over 5,000 MW.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001131#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Many coal plants owned by G&T co-ops operate uneconomically, running when it would be cheaper to buy power from the market, which cost co-op consumers more than $93 million from 2015 to 2017.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001131#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Long-term coal fuel contracts, some extending as far as 2071, create financial liabilities and are used by plant owners to justify year-round operation to avoid liquidated damages.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001131#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Distribution co-ops face significant contractual barriers to decarbonization, specifically 'all-requirements' provisions that limit their ability to build their own renewable resources or purchase clean energy from other suppliers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001131#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"While Minnesota's investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy plan to retire all Minnesota coal plants by 2030, G&T co-ops generally have no plans to retire their out-of-state coal assets, with the exception of Dairyland's Genoa plant slated for 2021 retirement.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-001131#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coal-fired power station","renewable energy","decarbonization","greenhouse gas emissions reduction","energy efficiency","wind power","solar energy"],"geography_discussed":["North Dakota","Wisconsin","Wyoming","Colorado","Nebraska","New Mexico","Indiana","Illinois"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","economic assessment"]}]}