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Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen gas and oxygen to generate electricity for an electric motor, emitting only water and heat. They offer refueling times and driving ranges (200-300 miles) similar to conventional gasoline vehicles, making them suitable for long-distance travel or users without home charging. While hydrogen production can cause pollution, these vehicles can reduce emissions by over 30% compared to gasoline cars, even when using natural gas as a source.

The document describes the four primary components of the US electricity grid: individual generators, transmission lines, distribution networks, and consumer load. It details the technical differences between power sources, such as the low flexibility of coal and nuclear plants compared to the rapid ramping of natural gas plants. The text outlines the regulatory roles of state Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) and the federal Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and notes the three main US transmission networks: the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and ERCOT. It also traces the grid's history from the victory of alternating current (AC) over direct current (DC) to the 'restructuring' of the 1970s that allowed for wholesale competition. Finally, it identifies potential improvements through energy storage, smart meters, and distributed generation like residential solar panels.

The Obama administration's FY 2016 budget proposal emphasizes an "all of the above" energy strategy and the Climate Action Plan, proposing significant funding increases for the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Key investments include $7.4 billion for clean energy technology, a proposed $4 billion Clean Power Plan Incentive Fund, and $1.29 billion for the Global Climate Change Initiative. The budget targets specific greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020, 2025, and 2050, while funding diverse initiatives ranging from solar and wind energy to sustainable transportation and international climate finance.

Georgia has emerged as a leading U.S. market for electric vehicles, driven by state tax credits for vehicles and charging infrastructure. In 2014, EV drivers in Georgia saved an average of over $850 in fuel costs, contributing to a total state saving of $10 million and a reduction of over 22,000 tons of climate change emissions. The document highlights that EVs offer lower maintenance costs and lower global warming emissions than conventional vehicles, with benefits increasing as Georgia's electricity grid incorporates more renewable energy. To sustain growth, the report emphasizes the need for ongoing policy support, consumer education, and public-private partnerships.

The document examines the EU's biofuels policy framework, tracing its development from the 2003 Directive to the 2015 ILUC Directive. It highlights the tension between achieving renewable energy targets in transport and the negative externalities associated with first-generation biofuels, such as indirect land use change (ILUC) and food price volatility. The brief notes that while biofuels have increased their share in transport from under 0.5% in 2003 to over 5% by 2012, technical 'blend walls' and a lack of investment in second-generation biofuels remain significant hurdles. It concludes that the ILUC Directive attempts to balance these issues by capping food-crop biofuel contributions at 7% and incentivising advanced biofuels and electrification.

The report finds that while Democrats are more likely than Republicans to believe in human-caused global warming and support climate action, liberal and moderate Republicans often align with the mainstream public. Conservative Republicans remain the primary group opposed to climate action and skeptical of global warming. There is broad cross-party support for renewable energy research and tax rebates for energy-efficient products, though significant divisions persist regarding carbon taxes and emission limits on coal plants.

The 2015 update to the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 (CECP Update) outlines a comprehensive strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. The plan identifies key drivers for these reductions, most notably vehicle GHG emission standards and the import of clean electricity. It also provides a framework for long-term goals, aiming for an 80% reduction by 2050 through a strategy of reducing energy consumption, decarbonizing the electricity supply, and electrifying transportation and heating. The report includes detailed assessments of building efficiency, transportation, electricity generation, and non-energy emissions, as well as research on land use and carbon storage in terrestrial and wetland ecosystems.

The report argues that Brazil's current energy-related emission trajectory is unsustainable and likely to exceed estimated fair carbon budgets between 2024 and 2035. It identifies significant opportunities for decarbonization in the transport, industry, and electricity generation sectors, suggesting that a transition to a low-carbon economy can be achieved with low or negative economic costs while improving public health and competitiveness.

The Measuring Up 2015 report analyzes climate action across 116 US local governments, representing approximately 14% of the US population. It finds that achieving these cities' 2050 emissions goals would be equivalent to shutting down 86 coal-fired power plants. The report highlights the success of cities like Atlanta, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, and Portland, noting that strong government leadership, supportive state policies, and private sector partnerships are critical for success. It argues that while local actions are significant, they require an enabling national policy framework, including strong power plant regulations and carbon pricing, to reach their full potential.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of 'green jobs' in the U.S. and internationally, highlighting the impact of energy efficiency and renewable energy on employment. It notes a significant gap in reliable U.S. data following the elimination of the BLS Green Careers program. Key findings include the dominance of solar and wind in global renewable energy employment, with China as the largest employer, and the high job-creation potential of energy efficiency investments in buildings and transportation.

The document compiles job statistics for clean energy sectors, noting a lack of standardized measurement in the U.S. following the end of the BLS Green Careers program. It details employment figures across energy efficiency (buildings, vehicles, smart grids) and renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, biomass, biofuels), while providing global context with a focus on China, Brazil, and the European Union.

A survey by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication reveals that 67% of Americans support strict CO2 emission limits on existing coal-fired power plants, even with potential electricity cost increases. The data also shows strong public support for infrastructure resilience (83%), renewable energy research (77%), energy-efficient vehicle/solar tax rebates (77%), and the regulation of carbon dioxide as a pollutant (75%). Additionally, 66% of respondents believe global warming is occurring, reflecting a slight increase from November 2013.

The document outlines how the U.S. economy can benefit from reducing greenhouse gas emissions in electric generation, electricity consumption, passenger vehicles, natural gas, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). It highlights cost savings for consumers and businesses, the decreasing cost of renewable energy and electric vehicle batteries, and the potential for increased industry revenues through methane leak reduction.

The report argues that transitioning to a low-carbon economy can increase global financial capacity rather than deplete it. For the electricity sector, the transition could provide a net benefit of $1.8 trillion by 2035, as significant operating savings from avoided fossil fuel extraction and transport outweigh higher capital costs and stranded assets. In the transport sector, the impact is more policy-dependent, ranging from a $2.5 trillion cost to a $3.5 trillion benefit, depending on whether the transition is driven by taxes or innovation. The authors emphasize that reducing the cost of capital for low-carbon infrastructure through regulatory and financial reforms is critical to maximizing these benefits.

The briefing proposes that China can avoid energy insecurity and pollution by 'reinventing fire'—transitioning from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and renewables. It identifies three key areas for transformation: oil-free mobility, integrative design for buildings and industry, and redefining the electric grid. The text focuses on oil-free mobility, suggesting that combining vehicle lightweighting (using carbon-fiber composites) with electrification can reduce energy needs by half to two-thirds and make electric vehicles more economic. It also emphasizes the need for logistics optimization to address low loading rates and the use of advanced biofuels or hydrogen for heavy-duty transport where electrification is not viable.

The report argues that cities can significantly reduce global GHG emissions, potentially decreasing them by 3.7 GtCO2e by 2030 and 8.0 GtCO2e by 2050. The greatest abatement opportunities are found in urban building energy efficiency, followed by transport and waste management. Because city-level actions are often not captured in national pledges, they offer a critical path for countries to deepen their climate ambition.

California's climate strategies, centered on the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, are reducing oil use and emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for nearly 40% of the state's global warming emissions. Key mechanisms include a cap-and-trade program, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), and stringent vehicle emissions standards. These policies have led to a 12% drop in oil consumption between 2006 and 2012 and are projected to save drivers money through increased fuel efficiency. Additionally, the state is investing carbon permit proceeds into disadvantaged communities and seeing a boom in clean technology investment and patent registrations.

The document outlines the current state of greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba, identifying the transportation sector as the largest source at 38% of total emissions in 2012. It highlights the vulnerability of provincial infrastructure to extreme weather, such as the CAD$1.2 billion cost of the 2011 flood and the instability of winter roads. The paper reviews climate policies from other jurisdictions—including electric vehicle programs in Vancouver and green trucking in Quebec—to provide a basis for developing a new integrated plan that balances mitigation and adaptation while fostering a green economy.

The report argues that traditional bundled, volumetric block rates are obsolete for a grid with increasing distributed energy resources (DERs) because they fail to reflect the temporal and locational value of electricity. It proposes evolving rate design along three continuums: attribute unbundling (separating energy and capacity), temporal granularity (moving toward real-time pricing), and locational granularity (addressing distribution 'hot spots'). The authors suggest a transition strategy using a combination of evolving default rates and opt-in alternatives, supported by third-party technologies to maintain a simple customer experience. Recommendations for regulators include increasing data transparency, enhancing valuation methodologies for DER attributes, and establishing clear timelines for rate transitions.

The document highlights that approximately 150 million people in the United States live in areas failing to meet federal air quality standards, with passenger and heavy-duty vehicles serving as major sources of pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. It links these emissions to severe health outcomes, including respiratory ailments, heart disease, and up to 20,000 premature deaths annually from PM2.5. The text argues that while clean technologies and emission standards have significantly reduced pollution since 1970, current administrative rollbacks of policies like the Clean Air Act threaten these public health gains.