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The report argues that the U.S. must implement ambitious long-term capacity targets, holistic transmission planning, and strategic infrastructure investments to achieve a net-zero future. It emphasizes the need for coordinated site identification, streamlined permitting, and the development of a domestic supply chain and workforce to support a potential build-out of 250 to 750 GW of offshore wind by 2050.

RMI argues that the US Department of the Treasury must carefully calibrate the 45V production tax credit (PTC) for grid-connected hydrogen to avoid increasing emissions from a fossil-fuel-dominated grid. The organization proposes a two-stage regulatory framework: providing flexibility for 'first movers' to reduce initial costs and complexity, followed by a transition on January 1, 2028, to strict, emissions-accurate, and forward-looking standards to ensure the hydrogen economy aligns with national climate objectives.

The document outlines several key EV-related policies. In California, the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation targets light- and medium-duty vehicle OEMs, while the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule requires OEMs of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to sell ZEVs or NZEVs as an increasing percentage of sales from 2024 to 2035. The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation mandates ZEV adoption for fleets with over 50 trucks, certain private companies, and public agencies. The Clean Miles Standard (CMS) requires ridehailing providers with over 5 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per year to reach zero emissions from passenger miles and 90 percent EV-powered VMT by 2030. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) uses a market-based mechanism to cap the carbon intensity of transportation fuels. At the federal level, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 provides incentives for EV procurement and infrastructure. Additionally, proposed EPA regulations aim to reduce emissions for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, with light-duty targets projecting an average of 82 grams/mile of CO2 by model year 2032.

The policy brief outlines how the EPA's $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) can be leveraged to overcome market failures in clean energy financing for underserved US communities. It proposes three primary strategies: mobilizing additional public and private capital to potentially reach $250 billion over 10 years, prioritizing financial products that build long-term borrower wealth rather than just protecting lenders, and centering the role of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and credit unions in the decarbonization process.

The report examines the use of energy service agreements (ESAs) to overcome financial and structural barriers to decarbonizing affordable multifamily housing in California, specifically addressing split incentives and upfront costs.

Industrial thermal batteries can convert electricity into high-temperature heat (1,500-1,700°C), potentially displacing 75% of U.S. industrial non-feedstock energy demand. The report analyzes two primary deployment modes: 'generation-following' (off-grid renewables) and 'price-hunting' (grid-connected, price-responsive). It finds that these batteries can provide heat at $35 to $62 per MWh, making them competitive with natural gas. The authors recommend financial incentives via the Inflation Reduction Act and reforms to electricity tariffs to reward the grid flexibility these batteries provide.

A survey of 861 registered U.S. voters in Spring 2023 reveals broad support for local climate-friendly infrastructure and energy efficiency programs, though significant political polarization exists regarding national mandates and offshore drilling. While a majority believe corporations and government should do more to address global warming, actual individual political participation remains low, and only 11% of voters believe the U.S. government is responding well to the issue.

The briefing examines the debate over New York's transition to a 20-year global warming potential (GWP20) timeframe and the inclusion of upstream and biogenic emissions. It argues that this accounting method increases the avoided temperature rise by 66% compared to old methods and could avoid up to $240 billion in damages. The author contends that changing the accounting timeframe does not increase physical emissions and that affordability can be maintained through strategic policy design and federal funding.

The document argues that climate coverage must move beyond problem-focused reporting to include evidence-based solutions. It categorizes climate solutions into policy, economy, technology, civil society, and culture, urging journalists to prioritize the political and economic battles over purely technological fixes. The guide emphasizes the urgency for marginalized communities and provides specific examples, such as the US Inflation Reduction Act, to illustrate how to analyze the effectiveness and limitations of climate policies.

The author contends that continuing coal mining on U.S. public lands is incompatible with climate goals, noting that coal generates nearly 60% of energy sector CO2 emissions despite providing less than 25% of electricity. The text criticizes the Bureau of Land Management's focus on whether to maintain a leasing moratorium, arguing instead for a total phase-out of federal coal production by 2030 to align with 1.5°C targets. It calls for closing leasing loopholes, ensuring pollution cleanup, and utilizing Inflation Reduction Act investments to support energy communities and tribal lands.

The policy brief advocates for linking the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs with clean transportation corridors for heavy-duty trucking and marine shipping. It argues that while hubs provide localized production, corridors act as 'spokes' that expand the market beyond industrial off-takers and improve the economic viability of zero-carbon fuels. The author suggests that coordinating these programs will create a synergistic ecosystem, reduce conventional air pollutants in environmental justice communities, and position the U.S. as an exporter of low-emissions ammonia.

The briefing highlights the potential of the DOE's Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) Program, a component of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), to provide low-interest loans for clean energy projects, workforce development, and grid upgrades. RMI argues that by leveraging EIR funding, IOUs can replace fossil assets earlier than planned, resulting in higher profits for shareholders and more stable power bills for customers. Despite these benefits, RMI's analysis of utility earnings calls indicates that IOUs are not yet discussing the EIR program with investors.

The guide outlines three federal funding pools for US clean industrial projects: the Office of Clean Energy Demonstration (OCED) providing grants up to 50% of costs for non-commercial technologies; the Loan Programs Office (LPO) offering up to $412 billion in loan authority to bridge projects to bankability; and various uncapped Section 45 tax credits for hydrogen, heavy industry, and carbon management. It emphasizes the role of these incentives in enabling the creation of 'clean industrial hubs' and the necessity of coordinating federal, state, and private capital to realize these projects.

The document examines the transition to electric semi-trucks in the U.S., noting that while they offer significant public health benefits and lower total cost of ownership, high upfront costs and limited charging infrastructure remain hurdles. It details how federal legislation, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aims to accelerate cost parity and infrastructure deployment.

GreenLatinos supports the EPA's proposal to set carbon pollution limits for coal and gas power plants to meet U.S. climate goals, but expresses concern over the reliance on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and hydrogen blending. The organization advocates for the use of Inflation Reduction Act incentives to prioritize wind, solar, and battery storage over nascent technologies that could perpetuate environmental injustices in Latino/a/e and fenceline communities.

GreenLatinos supports the EPA's proposal to set enforceable carbon pollution limits for coal and gas power plants to help the U.S. reach its 2030 and 2050 climate goals. However, the organization warns against the use of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and hydrogen blending, arguing these unproven technologies could extend the life of the fossil fuel industry and harm frontline communities. GreenLatinos urges the Biden Administration to prioritize 100% renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and to ensure that the transition is centered on equity and justice for Latino communities.

The Clean Air Task Force asserts that the EPA has a 'golden opportunity' to dramatically reduce climate pollution by mandating carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) for baseload power plants. Citing Department of Energy (DOE) data, the document notes that CCS costs have declined since 2015 and are further offset by the Inflation Reduction Act's expanded 45Q tax credits, which increased the credit to $85/tonne for power generation facilities storing CO2 in saline geologic formations. The author contends that CCS represents the 'best system of emission reduction' and that failing to implement these standards would result in significant harm to public health and welfare.

The document outlines the EV battery supply chain—divided into upstream (mining), midstream (processing/refining), downstream (assembly), and end-of-life—highlighting China's current dominance. It discusses the environmental and human rights risks associated with mining critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, and details US legislative tools such as the Inflation Reduction Act designed to 'de-risk' the supply chain and foster domestic economic growth.

Using the EPA's AVERT tool and 2021 data, the analysis finds that ignoring additionality, regionality, line loss accounting, or hourly time-matching can lead to hydrogen production emissions that exceed the threshold for the top $3/kg 45V tax credit. Specifically, forgoing additionality could result in emissions 22 to 40 kgCO2/kgH2, which is more than twice the emissions of steam methane reformation.

The policy brief examines the implementation of Buy Clean standards for the US steel industry, emphasizing the need to balance near-term emissions reductions with the long-term survival and decarbonization of primary steel producers. It proposes a sliding-scale emissions standard based on the ratio of primary to recycled scrap content in steel products to avoid unintended market shifts and emissions leakage.