Renewable Energy as a Climate Solution FACT SHEET

The Union of Concerned Scientists advocates for a dual policy approach in the U.S., pairing a national renewable electricity standard with an economy-wide carbon cap. The document asserts that while carbon caps are essential, they are insufficient on their own to overcome market barriers such as high upfront costs and grid interconnection rules. According to UCS analysis, a 25% national renewable standard by 2025 would reduce power plant CO2 emissions by 277 million metric tons per year and save consumers $64 billion. Furthermore, integrating such standards with a carbon cap can lower energy bills by reducing reliance on natural gas and enhancing overall economic savings.

• A national renewable electricity standard of 25% by 2025 would result in a reduction of U.S. power plant CO2 emissions by 277 million metric tons annually and provide net cumulative savings of $64 billion to energy consumers.
• Existing state-level renewable electricity standards, adopted by more than half of U.S. states, are projected to reduce total annual CO2 emissions by 183 million metric tons by 2025.
• Combining an economy-wide carbon cap with a suite of sector-specific policies—including renewable and efficiency standards for buildings, industry, and transportation—could yield $1.6 trillion in cumulative consumer savings through 2030, compared to $0.6 trillion without such complementary policies.
• A 2001 EIA analysis indicates that including a 20% renewable standard under an economy-wide carbon cap could reduce energy bills by $95 billion cumulatively by 2020, primarily by lowering the demand and price of natural gas.
• Renewable energy adoption faces specific market barriers that a carbon cap alone cannot solve, including high upfront capital costs, lack of information among credit and insurance providers, and restrictive electricity and interconnection rules.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2009). Renewable Energy as a Climate Solution FACT SHEET. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/RE-as-a-Climate-Solution-Final.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Renewable Energy as a Climate Solution FACT SHEET. 2009. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/RE-as-a-Climate-Solution-Final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Renewable Energy as a Climate Solution FACT SHEET |date=April 2009 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/RE-as-a-Climate-Solution-Final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2009renewable, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Renewable Energy as a Climate Solution FACT SHEET}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2009}, month = apr, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/RE-as-a-Climate-Solution-Final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }