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The report analyzes the US Department of Energy's Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) program, which provides low-cost loans to repurpose energy infrastructure. It demonstrates that using EIR to refinance remaining coal plant balances and fund new clean energy assets can significantly reduce costs for ratepayers. Case studies of Alliant in Iowa and Ameren in Missouri show potential net present value (NPV) savings of $124 million and $413 million, respectively, compared to traditional utility financing. The report emphasizes the urgency for utilities to apply before the September 2026 approval deadline.

The report examines how grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) can address interconnection bottlenecks in the PJM region, potentially enabling 6.6 GW of new solar, wind, and storage projects by 2027 and providing approximately $1 billion in annual production cost savings.

Reclaim Finance argues that Barclays' updated climate policies are insufficient and misleading, claiming the bank continues to support oil and gas expansion through corporate finance and vague frameworks. The analysis asserts that the bank's Transition Finance Framework includes problematic technologies like 'blue' hydrogen and CCUS, while failing to set specific, science-based financing targets for sustainable power.

The policy brief advocates for 'clean repowering'—the strategy of siting new renewable energy projects at existing or retiring fossil fuel plant interconnection points—to reduce interconnection times from nearly five years to less than one year. RMI's analysis indicates this approach could enable 250 GW of new renewable energy without transmission upgrades, resulting in average national savings of $12.7 billion annually from 2025 to 2035. The brief highlights the role of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) program in making these projects financially viable and provides specific recommendations for regulators to ensure these savings reach customers through integrated resource planning and oversight.

The IEJ criticizes President Ramaphosa's SONA for lacking concrete plans to address South Africa's economic crises, poverty, and unemployment. The organization urges MPs to question the President on the sustainability of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, the risks of private sector-led infrastructure and energy transitions, the 'starvation' of public services by the National Treasury, and the failure to hold state capture perpetrators accountable. The IEJ specifically calls for a transition to a Universal Basic Income Guarantee and the use of the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account (GFECRA) to fund developmental priorities.

In 2023, EU fossil fuel generation fell to less than a third of the electricity mix (33%) for the first time, driven by a record 26% drop in coal generation. Wind and solar combined for 27% of EU electricity, with wind surpassing gas power for the first time. While solar capacity grew by 56 GW, wind generation growth remains inconsistent and below the 15% annual increase needed for REPowerEU targets. EU electricity demand fell by 3.4% in 2023 to its lowest level since 2001, though a rise of 2-3% is projected for 2024. To support this transition, the EU requires significant grid investments—estimated at €584 billion by 2030—and an increase in storage capacity to 200 GW by 2030 to manage variable renewable energy and reduce curtailment.

The U.S. clean energy sector saw record growth in 2023, particularly in solar installations and EV sales, supported by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. However, the transition faces significant headwinds from rising interest rates, supply chain shortages for transformers, and a lagging transmission system. To meet 2035 carbon-free electricity goals, annual renewable installation rates must nearly double, and transmission capacity may need to double or triple.

The document advocates for a radical shift in banking practices to support the energy transition, specifically calling for a 6:1 investment ratio in favor of sustainable power supply over fossil fuels. Based on IEA Net Zero Emissions (NZE) projections, the author argues that total annual energy sector investments must rise to US$4.7 trillion by 2030, with energy transition investments exceeding US$4.2 trillion. Reclaim Finance emphasizes that this ratio should specifically target sustainable technologies—solar PV, wind, grids, and storage—while excluding biomass, nuclear energy, and Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS), which it deems too risky or damaging. The document concludes that banks should set specific targets for sustainable power, end all support for fossil fuel expansion, and incorporate the 6:1 ratio into credible climate transition plans.

The document argues that limiting global warming to 1.5°C requires a radical shift in financial flows, moving away from fossil fuel expansion toward sustainable energy. Based on IEA data, it proposes a 6:1 ratio for banks: investing six times more in sustainable electricity supply than in fossil fuels by 2030. It specifies that 'sustainable' energy should focus on mature technologies like solar, wind, grids, and storage, while excluding nuclear, biomass, and carbon capture (CCUS).

The report examines hydropower in northern Sweden, specifically the Norrbotten region, amidst rising energy demands from 'fossil-free steel' and battery production. It highlights the shift of hydropower from baseload capacity to a flexibility and storage role to support intermittent wind and solar power. This transition, alongside industrial growth, increases the risk of 'hydropeaking'—rapid fluctuations in river flow—which threatens freshwater biodiversity and fish species like salmon and brown trout. The document analyzes the Swedish National Plan for Hydropower Permit Reviews (NAP), noting the trade-off between environmental restoration and a national production loss limit of 1.5 TWh/year. It concludes that while climate change may increase water run-off and production potential, sustainable management requires integrated economic and ecological frameworks and broader stakeholder inclusion.

The report identifies a shift in clean energy deployment challenges from technical and economic issues to social and institutional barriers, specifically community resistance to wind and solar projects. Based on workshops with 25 practitioners and researchers, it proposes four paradigm-shifting solutions: a 'fair share' policy to distribute infrastructure burdens across a state, 'off-the-shelf' visioning modules to help communities self-determine their desires before projects are proposed, the creation of local task forces supported by trusted facilitators to build capacity, and the development of co-ownership or co-management models to increase local benefits and acceptance. The document also highlights unresolved tensions, such as the conflict between the urgent need for rapid decarbonization and the time required to build meaningful community trust.

The factsheet examines the potential and risks of hydropower, including reservoir-based, run-of-river, and pumped-storage hydropower (PSH). While acknowledging PSH's role in grid stability, it highlights that hydropower is becoming less competitive than wind and solar due to higher costs and long construction timelines. The document details severe negative impacts on biodiversity, human rights, and the climate, specifically noting methane emissions from reservoirs. It concludes that new hydropower projects should be strictly conditioned on robust standards, with a preference for upgrading existing infrastructure over building new dams, particularly in Europe.

The document analyzes the socio-economic and political challenges of transitioning away from thermal coal in the Colombian Caribbean. It highlights the tension between national economic reliance on coal exports and the local need for socio-ecological transformation. The paper identifies significant barriers, including high regional fiscal dependence on royalties, environmental liabilities from unplanned mine closures, and a centralized power structure that often excludes local communities from decision-making. Using the case of La Jagua de Ibirico, it illustrates the crisis triggered by abrupt mining suspensions, emphasizing the urgency of planned closures and economic diversification to avoid systemic collapse in coal-dependent municipalities.

The document analyzes the current state of electricity markets in India, noting that while power exchanges (PX) are growing, they only account for 7% of total demand. It identifies key barriers to market adoption, including the dominance of inflexible long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), unpredictable market clearing prices, and inaccurate supply-demand forecasting. The paper highlights that states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu could achieve significant fuel cost savings by shifting from PPAs to day-ahead markets (DAMs). It recommends redesigning PPA structures, introducing contracts for differences (CFDs), strengthening institutional market monitoring, and developing state-level resource adequacy frameworks to better integrate variable renewable energy.

The report analyzes Ghana's efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy, focusing on the National Energy Transition Framework (NETF) and updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While official goals align with international standards and stakeholder expectations for green job creation and sustainability, significant gaps exist. These include a contradiction between renewable energy goals and continued fossil fuel investments, such as a $12 billion oil refinery deal. Key barriers include a public debt level of 83.60% of GDP, regulatory inconsistencies, and an outdated power grid. The report recommends that the UNFCCC's Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) provide support in policy reform, financial mobilization, and technology transfer to help Ghana achieve net-zero energy-related emissions by 2060.

The report advocates for 'Just Resilience' in Bangladesh, combining climate resilience with climate justice to prevent marginalized groups from being overlooked in adaptation planning. It examines the disproportionate impacts of climate hazards—such as salinity intrusion affecting 53% of coastal areas and erratic rainfall causing floods—on women, children, the elderly, and landless farmers. The document analyzes three key sectors: agriculture, where it highlights the need for climate-resilient crops and the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100; disaster risk management, focusing on the National Plan for Disaster Management 2021–2025; and energy, noting the low share of renewables (2.76%) and the need for rural energy security. It concludes with recommendations for inclusive decision-making, standardized accountability metrics, and the use of biotechnology and indigenous knowledge to build equitable resilience.

The report finds that while 39% of Americans believe global warming is harming the health of the general population, only 16% feel it harms their own health. There is an increasing awareness of specific health risks, particularly heat stroke, air pollution, and respiratory issues, and a growing recognition that low-income people and people of color are disproportionately affected. Trust in information sources like primary care physicians and climate scientists has risen, while coal and nuclear energy are viewed as the most harmful energy sources to health.

A survey of 890 registered U.S. voters conducted in December 2024 reveals broad support for clean energy development and climate justice policies, though significant political polarization remains regarding the economic impact of the energy transition and specific regulatory measures. While majorities support the Paris Climate Agreement and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (after reading a description), collective efficacy and active political advocacy for climate action remain relatively low.

A 2024 survey of 1,013 American adults reveals an increase in the perception that global warming harms public health, with specific concerns rising for heat stroke, air pollution, and respiratory diseases. While 39% believe global warming harms the health of Americans, only 16% feel it harms their own health. Public awareness of disproportionate impacts on low-income people and people of color has grown since 2014. Regarding energy, coal and nuclear power are viewed as the most harmful to health, while trust in first responders and primary care physicians as information sources is high.

In 2023, renewables reached a record 30% of global electricity generation, driven by solar and wind. Despite this, global power sector emissions rose by 1% to a record 14,153 million tonnes of CO2, as severe droughts caused a five-year low in hydropower, forcing a reliance on coal in countries like China and India. Solar was the fastest-growing source for the 19th consecutive year, while OECD countries continued to see falling emissions. Ember forecasts that 2023 marked the peak of power sector emissions, with a decline expected in 2024 as clean generation growth is projected to outpace electricity demand.