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In 2008, Arkansas imported all the coal used by its power plants, resulting in $463 million leaving the state, primarily to Wyoming. The state's electricity mix was 47.5% coal, with Entergy Arkansas and its White Bluff plant being the largest importers. The document argues that Arkansas could reduce this dependence and stimulate its local economy by adopting energy efficiency resource standards and renewable electricity standards, leveraging its potential for wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass energy.

Florida imported all the coal used by its power plants in 2008, resulting in over $1.56 billion leaving the state economy. The document argues that investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables, such as biomass, solar, and offshore wind, can reduce this dependence and stimulate local economic growth.

In 2008, Georgia was the highest spender on net coal imports in the United States, sending $2.62 billion out of state. The state's electricity generation relied on coal for 62.7% of its power despite having no internal coal supplies. The document argues that investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables, such as biomass from the forestry industry, solar, and wind, could improve energy independence and local economic development.

In 2008, Illinois imported 94 percent of the coal used in its power plants, resulting in a net expenditure of $683 million. The document highlights that Midwest Generation and the Baldwin Energy Complex are major contributors to this import dependency. To mitigate these costs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the report advocates for the state's energy efficiency resource standard and its renewable energy goals, noting that Illinois has the technical potential to generate over five times its 2008 electricity needs from renewable sources, primarily wind and bioenergy.

In 2008, Michigan imported all the coal used by its power plants, resulting in an economic drain of $1.36 billion. The state's electricity generation relied on coal for over 60% of its needs, with Detroit Edison's Monroe facility identified as the most import-dependent plant. To reduce this dependence and stimulate the local economy, the document advocates for investments in energy efficiency and homegrown renewable energy, noting that Michigan has the technical potential to produce nearly twice its 2008 electricity needs from renewables, primarily wind and bioenergy.

North Carolina spent $2.35 billion on imported coal in 2008, ranking second among US states for total net imports. The document highlights that the state relies on coal for 60.5% of its electricity generation despite having no in-state coal supplies. It advocates for a transition to energy efficiency and homegrown renewables, such as biomass, solar, wind, and small-scale hydropower, to reduce this economic drain and improve energy independence.

South Carolina spent $1.1 billion on net coal imports in 2008, ranking 11th highest in total net imports in the U.S. The state relies on coal for 40.6% of its electricity generation despite having no in-state coal supplies. The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables, such as offshore wind and solar, could redirect funds back into the local economy and improve energy independence.

In 2008, Wisconsin spent $853 million to import all the coal used by its power plants from nine other states. The state is the 5th most dependent on net imports as a share of total power use (68%). We Energies is the largest importer, spending $313 million, with its Pleasant Prairie facility being the most import-dependent site. To reduce this dependence, the document suggests expanding energy efficiency resource standards and leveraging renewable energy, noting that Wisconsin has the technical potential to generate 4.2 times its 2008 electricity needs from renewables, primarily wind and bioenergy.

The document examines six CCS case studies, finding that successful projects typically employ two-way consultation and transparency, while failures often stem from one-way information delivery, perceived lack of community influence, or the unilateral removal of promised local benefits.

Earthjustice successfully sued to stop the Seminole Electric Cooperative from building a new coal plant in Palatka, Florida, after the company understated projected air pollution levels. This action prevented the last planned coal plant in the state from being built and led the company to explore alternatives, including a potential 1 to 5 megawatt solar energy project in southwest Florida supported by federal clean-energy bonds.

The author contends that 'grandfathering' existing coal-fired power plants in climate legislation would repeat past mistakes by incentivizing the continued operation of polluting facilities. The text argues that the Clean Air Act's regulatory powers are essential and complementary to a cap-and-trade system to ensure rapid emissions reductions and the growth of a clean energy economy.

The document examines China's heavy reliance on coal-fired power, which makes it a global leader in sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions. It analyzes the 'big up/small down' strategy to replace inefficient small thermal units with larger, cleaner ones and reviews international best practices—including carbon taxes, feed-in tariffs, and emission trading—to suggest policy options for China to reduce its carbon intensity and protect its exports from future climate-related trade barriers.

Dr. Hyde Merrill provides expert testimony challenging the technical necessity of the $1.8 billion PATH transmission project. He argues that PJM Interconnection's reliability claims are based on flawed planning, inaccurate extrapolations, and undocumented changes in assumptions. Specifically, he asserts that alleged voltage issues could be resolved with capacitors costing $40 million, and that thermal violations on lower-voltage lines could be fixed for approximately $66 million. He further claims that 500-kV thermal violations are speculative, based on unreliable extrapolation rather than contingency analysis, and ignore available generation and demand-side management resources. Merrill concludes that the project would increase reliance on remote coal-fired power and recommends a strategic shift toward local renewables and gas-fired plants.

The document examines China's role in Botswana's infrastructure development, noting a shift from government-led aid to competitive public tenders. It highlights the competitive advantages of Chinese firms—such as low-cost bidding and hands-on management—while addressing challenges regarding quality standards and skilled labour shortages. It also introduces a new commercial financing model involving the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Standard Bank for the Morupule B Power Station project.

The report contends that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) contributes to climate change and increases the vulnerability of communities in the Asia Pacific region. It highlights a contradiction between the ADB's stated climate goals and its continued funding of coal power plants and projects that cause deforestation. Through case studies in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, the document demonstrates how ADB-funded infrastructure and aquaculture projects have led to the destruction of mangroves and forests, increased flooding, and the displacement of local populations. The report concludes that the ADB lacks effective climate impact assessments and calls for the institution to recognize its 'climate debt' and stop supporting fossil fuel projects.

Friends of the Earth supports a Greenpeace action at Mount Rushmore to highlight the lack of U.S. leadership on the global climate crisis. The organization argues that President Obama's administration has not matched its rhetoric with action, citing weak emissions targets and a failure to provide climate finance to developing nations during international negotiations.

The document highlights that Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have leveraged over $100 billion for coal plants since 1994, far exceeding the $6.4 billion provided for renewables by the Global Environment Facility. It advocates for shifting public finance toward energy efficiency and renewables, calculating the true social and economic costs of carbon, and establishing international agreements for Export Credit Agencies.

The document analyzes the 2009 arbitration brought by Swedish utility Vattenfall against Germany over environmental restrictions on a coal-fired power plant in Hamburg. It explains the legal mechanisms of the Energy Charter Treaty and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), contrasting international investment law's broad protections—such as 'fair and equitable treatment' and 'regulatory expropriation'—with the more restrictive protections under German domestic law. The author argues that such arbitration can create a 'regulatory chill,' hindering the implementation of environmental policies and EU directives.

The report projects that Illinois will face significantly hotter summers, increased flash flooding, and severe threats to agriculture if heat-trapping emissions continue to rise. Under a higher-emissions scenario, Chicago could see more than 70 days above 90°F per summer by the end of the century, and corn yields could decline by as much as 50% by mid-century. The document advocates for a transition to clean energy, including renewable electricity standards and a moratorium on new coal plants, alongside federal cap-and-trade legislation to mitigate these risks.

The report projects that Iowa will face significantly hotter summers, increased flooding in winter and spring, and new threats to agriculture due to climate change. Under a higher-emissions scenario, Des Moines could see over 85 days per summer above 90°F and frequent heat waves similar to the 1995 Chicago disaster. Agriculture is threatened by heat stress for corn and livestock, as well as the northward expansion of pests like the corn earworm. The document argues that Iowa can mitigate these risks by strengthening its renewable electricity standard, promoting energy efficiency, and banning coal plants without carbon capture and storage, supported by federal cap-and-trade and fuel economy standards.