Search Climate Insights Directory

A coalition of organizations advocates for the use of energy efficiency measures in Pennsylvania to meet Clean Power Plan compliance limits, arguing that such policies would save residents $4.7 billion and avoid over 20 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

A coalition of organizations wrote to Governor Nikki Haley advocating for the expansion of energy efficiency programs in South Carolina as the most affordable way to reduce emissions and comply with the Clean Power Plan. The letter highlights that efficiency measures could meet nearly 50 percent of the state's 2030 compliance goal, potentially saving residents $1.2 billion and avoiding 4.8 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The authors recommend adopting energy-savings targets, updating building energy codes, increasing combined heat and power use, and opting into the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP).

A coalition of organizations wrote to Governor Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota advocating for the use of energy efficiency as the most cost-effective strategy for complying with the Clean Power Plan. The letter argues that energy efficiency can reduce emissions, create local jobs, and lower utility bills for residents and businesses. It suggests expanding existing programs like the South Dakota Energy Smart initiative and adopting non-utility measures such as updated building energy codes and combined heat and power. According to the authors, implementing these policies could allow South Dakota to meet over 100 percent of its 2030 compliance goal, saving customers $239 million and avoiding 1.8 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

A coalition of organizations advocates for Tennessee to utilize energy efficiency as its primary mechanism for meeting Clean Power Plan goals, arguing it is the lowest-cost option for reducing emissions and lowering consumer bills. The letter suggests adopting energy-savings targets, updated building codes, and combined heat and power to meet nearly 50 percent of the state's 2030 compliance goal, potentially saving residents $689 million and avoiding 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide.

A coalition of organizations wrote to Governor Gregg Abbot advocating for the use of energy efficiency as the most cost-effective strategy for Texas to comply with the Clean Power Plan. The authors argue that implementing specific efficiency policies—such as updated building codes and combined heat and power—could meet 89 percent of the state's 2030 compliance goal, saving Texans $5.5 billion and avoiding 55 million tons of carbon dioxide.

A coalition of organizations advocates for Utah to prioritize energy efficiency as the lowest-cost method for reducing emissions and meeting Clean Power Plan goals. The letter highlights that implementing specific efficiency policies could meet 47 percent of Utah's 2030 compliance goal, saving the state $5.8 billion and avoiding 3.9 million tons of carbon dioxide.

A coalition of organizations wrote to Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia on March 2, 2016, advocating for the maximization of energy efficiency investments to comply with the Clean Power Plan. The authors argue that efficiency is the lowest-cost demand-side resource and can provide rapid emissions reductions while creating local jobs. They specifically recommend that Virginia opt into the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP) and utilize non-utility programs such as energy savings performance contracts and updated building energy codes. According to the letter, implementing a set of common efficiency policies could meet 85 percent of Virginia's 2030 compliance limit, potentially saving the state over $1.8 billion and avoiding more than 7 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution.

A coalition of organizations advocates for West Virginia to prioritize energy efficiency as the lowest-cost method for reducing emissions and meeting Clean Power Plan goals, highlighting potential savings of $410 million and the avoidance of 5 million tons of carbon dioxide.

A coalition of energy and environmental organizations advocates for the use of energy efficiency as the primary strategy for Wisconsin to meet Clean Power Plan goals, citing its potential to save $2.5 billion and avoid 11.8 million tons of CO2 emissions.

A coalition of organizations urges Governor Matt Mead of Wyoming to prioritize energy efficiency as the lowest-cost method for reducing emissions and meeting Clean Power Plan goals. The letter argues that expanding utility and non-utility efficiency programs—such as building energy codes and combined heat and power—would save Wyoming residents $2 billion and avoid over 2.6 million tons of carbon dioxide while supporting local job growth.

The report examines how to reform EU energy law to meet 2030 targets, specifically a binding EU-wide target of 27% renewable energy and a 27% energy savings goal. It identifies four primary areas for streamlining: the alignment of renewable energy and energy efficiency targets, the merging of planning and reporting requirements, the consolidation of building-sector provisions into a single directive, and the transfer of market-barrier removal provisions to a reviewed internal electricity market directive. The authors argue that synchronizing these amendments during the 2016 legislative review period would reduce administrative burdens, enhance policy coherence, and increase investor certainty.

The report analyzes Estonia's energy transition from a system heavily dependent on oil shale to one based on low-carbon sources by 2050. Using LEAP, Balmorel, and EMPS models, it evaluates four scenarios: Baseline (BAU), Carbon Neutral (CN), 100% renewable (RES), and 100% renewable with increased demand (RES+). Key findings highlight that while wind and biomass have significant potential, achieving a carbon-neutral sector requires phasing out oil shale by 2040, expanding interconnections with the Nordic Power System (specifically Sweden and Finland), and implementing policy reforms such as removing fossil fuel subsidies and increasing investment support for small-scale renewables and energy efficiency.

The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a "Clean Path Case" for Michigan to meet its Clean Power Plan (CPP) target of reducing CO2 emissions by 31 percent below 2012 levels by 2030. This pathway combines the CPP with strengthened renewable energy standards (RES) and energy efficiency resource standards (EERS). The analysis finds that this approach would result in 8,300 MW of new wind and solar capacity, $11.3 billion in clean energy investments, and $4.1 billion in public health and economic benefits by 2030. The report argues that this transition is cost-effective, with only a modest increase in average monthly household electricity bills (less than $3) compared to a scenario with no new policies.

The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a "Clean Path Case" for New Mexico to meet its Clean Power Plan (CPP) target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 24 percent below 2012 levels by 2030. This pathway involves strengthening the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and energy efficiency resource standard (EERS), alongside a mass-based carbon emissions trading program. The analysis indicates that this approach would diversify the electricity mix, reduce household electricity costs, and generate significant health and economic benefits.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis suggests that the Clean Power Plan (CPP) can reduce nationwide power plant carbon pollution by approximately 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The proposed 'CPP National Trading Case' emphasizes a combination of wind, solar, and energy efficiency, supported by a national carbon emissions trading program. This approach is projected to generate $103 billion in public health and climate benefits through 2030 and create an average annual revenue of $17.8 billion from carbon allowance auctions between 2022 and 2030. While it may cause a modest near-term increase in household electricity bills, the analysis predicts net savings for consumers by 2030 due to lower operating costs of renewables and efficiency gains.

The document highlights a global consensus on the threats of climate change and the necessity of a massive energy transformation to limit temperature rises to below 2°C or 1.5°C. It notes that renewables became the second largest electricity source in 2014 and that costs for solar and wind technologies are falling rapidly. The briefing also emphasizes the health and economic benefits of decarbonization, specifically citing the potential for $300 million in annual health benefits from closing coal plants in Alberta and the growth of Canada's clean energy sector. Finally, it details Canada's 2013 emissions of 726 mega-tonnes and its targets to reduce these to 622 MT by 2020 and 524 MT by 2030.

New Mexico's Clean Power Plan target is a reduction of 4.1 million tons of CO2, or 24 percent below 2012 levels, by 2030. A proposed "Clean Path Case" involving renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, combined with carbon emissions trading, is projected to yield 2,400 MW of new wind and solar capacity and $2.7 billion in capital investments by 2030. This transition could reduce typical household electricity costs by 4.3 percent (approximately $33 annually) and generate $115 million in average annual revenue from carbon allowance sales between 2022 and 2030. Additionally, the reduction of CO2, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) is estimated to provide cumulative health and economic benefits worth $223 million through 2030. To achieve this, the document recommends that the New Mexico Environment Department develop a mass-based compliance plan, the legislature authorize carbon allowance auctions and expand the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS), and electricity providers prioritize low-cost renewables.

The document argues that for Germany to be compatible with the Paris Agreement's goals of limiting temperature increase to well below 2°C and aiming for 1.5°C, it must achieve zero CO2 emissions before 2035. This would require a 100% renewable energy mix across all sectors by 2035, a complete phase-out of coal by approximately 2025, and the renovation of 5% of existing buildings annually to nearly zero energy standards.

The document outlines the role of human activity in increasing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, the resulting environmental and health risks, and the emission reduction targets required to limit temperature increases to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius by 2050.

The Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) in Colorado is implementing a comprehensive energy strategy to reach net-zero energy and an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Supported by a $576.5 million bond approved in 2014, the district is utilizing deep retrofits, retrocommissioning, and new construction across its portfolio of over 50 buildings. In partnership with RMI, BVSD has adopted an integrative design process and a Sustainable Energy Plan (SEP) to reduce energy use intensity (EUI) from an average of 65 to less than 30 kBtu/SF. The initiative aims to save nearly $500,000 annually in utility bills and serve as a model for other U.S. school districts.