Search Climate Insights Directory

The document examines the impacts of 'polluting energy'—including fossil fuels, industrial biomass, and large dams—across Africa. It highlights how these systems often benefit elites and corporations while leaving local populations to face health crises, land grabbing, and climate vulnerability. Specific case studies focus on South Africa's coal dependency, oil extraction in Nigeria and Uganda, the influence of European energy policies in the Maghreb, and the social and environmental costs of large dams in Mozambique. The report concludes that African nations must avoid 'locking in' obsolete polluting technologies and instead pursue energy sovereignty through decentralized renewables.

The National Energy Transition Strategy (NETS) for Saint Lucia identifies an optimal energy portfolio consisting of solar, wind, energy storage, energy efficiency, and existing diesel generation. This combination is projected to reduce diesel expenditures by 42% and carbon emissions by 40% by 2025. The report emphasizes that utility ownership generally leads to lower customer rates and that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective resource for minimizing system costs. While geothermal energy offers significant base-load potential, its viability depends on concessional financing and successful exploration. The strategy also highlights the need for regulatory reform, specifically decoupling utility revenues from sales to incentivize energy efficiency and avoiding 'rate shock' associated with certain independent power producer (IPP) arrangements.

The document examines Mozambique's reliance on FDI and overseas development assistance (ODA) for post-war reconstruction. While megaprojects in extractives and infrastructure have driven GDP growth, the paper highlights a disconnect between this growth and human development indicators. It analyzes the legal frameworks governing mining and hydrocarbons, the impact of coal and natural gas projects, and the challenges of agricultural development through initiatives like ProSAVANA. The author argues for leveraging the technology and infrastructure of the extractive sector to support agriculture and local community prosperity.

The analysis contends that global coal import markets are declining, specifically in Asia and Europe, which undermines the claim that new South African coal reserves are necessary to meet international demand. It highlights India's intent to phase out thermal coal imports and Europe's shift toward renewable energy and natural gas, while noting that China has ceased importing South African coal since 2014.

The East African region has discovered vast oil and gas reserves, but social and economic benefits remain unrealised due to regulatory disputes, infrastructure hurdles, and poor governance. Uganda has opted for a pipeline route through Tanzania over Kenya due to cost and security concerns. Mozambique faces severe financial instability and debt crises that threaten its LNG projects. Across the region, a lack of transparency and limited civil liberties hinder the effective implementation of accountability frameworks like the EITI.

The document addresses four perceived barriers to the clean energy transition: the 'duck curve' ramping problem, the necessity of curtailing excess generation, the high cost of renewables, and the role of natural gas in emissions reductions. It argues that demand response and battery storage can manage variability, regional electricity trading can prevent waste, and energy efficiency combined with falling technology costs keeps customer bills low. Finally, it asserts that renewable energy and energy efficiency have contributed more to U.S. carbon emission declines since 2007 than the shift to natural gas.

The document analyzes the 2012 and 2013 riots in Mtwara, Tanzania, arguing that violent mobilization was fueled by 'dashed expectations' and perceptions of unfair treatment by the government. While the Mtwara and Lindi regions have been objectively marginalized since independence, the study finds that the feeling of being 'robbed' and the decision to pipe gas to Dar es Salaam were primary drivers of unrest. The authors suggest that providing basic public goods and realistic information via local radio can mitigate conflict risks in other emerging petro-states in Africa.

Massachusetts has become heavily reliant on natural gas for electricity, with it accounting for over 60 percent of in-state generation. This dependence exposes consumers to price volatility and hinders carbon reduction goals. The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a diversified energy plan incorporating offshore and onshore wind, hydropower, and solar. This strategy could reduce natural gas use by 23 percent below business-as-usual by 2030, decrease carbon emissions by 6.6 million tons, and generate over $350 million in health and economic benefits in 2030, with a modest estimated increase in household electricity bills of approximately $3.00 per month.

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that Massachusetts is over-reliant on natural gas, which exposes consumers to price volatility and hinders climate goals. The report proposes a policy mix including increased hydropower, land-based wind, and 2,000 MW of offshore wind to reduce natural gas's share of New England's electricity generation from a projected 52% to 42% by 2030, while keeping cost increases for residential consumers to approximately $3.00 per month.

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 Union of Concerned Scientists argues that Illinois can cost-effectively meet its Clean Power Plan (CPP) target—reducing carbon emissions by 34 percent below 2012 levels by 2030—by adopting a "Clean Path Case." This approach involves strengthening the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and energy efficiency portfolio standard (EEPS) alongside a mass-based emissions trading program. The analysis suggests this pathway would yield nearly 6,000 MW of new wind and solar capacity, reduce typical household electricity costs by 9.4 percent by 2030, and generate $14.3 billion in cumulative health and economic benefits through 2030 by reducing CO2, SO2, and NOx pollution.

The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a "Clean Path Case" for Pennsylvania to meet its Clean Power Plan target of reducing emissions by 29 million tons (24% below 2012 levels) by 2030. This pathway combines a mass-based carbon emissions trading program with strengthened renewable energy and energy efficiency policies. The analysis indicates that this approach would yield over 10,700 MW of new wind and solar capacity, generate $804 million in average annual revenue from carbon allowance auctions, and provide $4.5 billion in cumulative health and economic benefits through 2030. Long-term, the plan is projected to reduce typical residential electricity bills by 3.4% by 2030 compared to a reference case with no new policies.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) utilized the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) to assess the Clean Power Plan. The analysis incorporates modified cost and performance assumptions for various energy technologies, including a rejection of EIA 'learning' curves for mature technologies and specific adjustments for nuclear, coal, and renewables. The study compares four scenarios: a Reference Case, a CPP National Trading Case, a CPP No Trading Case, and a 'Clean Path' Case involving enhanced state-level policies in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a "Clean Path" for Virginia to comply with the Clean Power Plan by transitioning from voluntary to mandatory renewable energy and energy efficiency targets and implementing a mass-based carbon emissions-trading program. The analysis suggests this approach would reduce CO2 emissions by 77 million tons through 2030 compared to a reference case, lower typical residential electricity bills by 5% by 2030, and generate an average of $241 million in annual auction revenue for state investments. The report highlights Virginia's current underutilization of its renewable potential, noting that non-hydro renewables accounted for only 2.8% of electricity generation in 2014.

The report analyzes pathways for California, Oregon, and Washington to reduce transportation petroleum use by 50% by 2030. It identifies a 'Half the Oil' (HtO) Pathway that distributes reductions across travel demand management, vehicle efficiency, and alternative fuel deployment. While existing policies are projected to reduce consumption by 24% in California and 8% in Oregon and Washington by 2030, achieving the 50% target requires extending and accelerating these measures. The analysis finds that relying on a single category of strategy is insufficient to meet the target, and that Washington faces greater challenges due to a lack of enforceable alternative fuel and zero-emission vehicle policies.

The document details the use of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) to model energy pathways for Virginia. It outlines specific adjustments made to capital costs, performance projections, and policy assumptions for various electricity generating technologies compared to EIA benchmarks. The analysis compares a 'Reference Case' of existing policies against a 'Clean Path Case' involving Clean Power Plan compliance, mandatory energy efficiency standards, and a Renewable Portfolio Standard for Virginia.

The briefing challenges the notion that variable renewables will limit their own growth by depressing wholesale electricity prices. It contends that these concerns rely on static models of the grid and ignore the synergistic effects of complementary supply resources, flexible demand-side responses, and the decreasing cost of storage. By shifting from incremental to whole-system thinking and updating 20th-century market designs, the author asserts that wind and solar can continue to expand without facing practical economic limits.

Virginia is required by the U.S. Clean Power Plan to reduce power sector emissions by 23 percent below 2012 levels by 2030. The document argues that by improving energy efficiency, increasing renewable energy use to meet voluntary goals, and maximizing the output of existing natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants, the state could reduce emissions by up to 43 percent by 2030. These actions are presented as cost-effective measures that could increase GDP, provide billions in net benefits, and generate revenue through the sale of unused emissions allowances.