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The document outlines a framework for transitioning from uneconomic fossil fuel power plants to cheaper clean energy, specifically addressing the financial challenges faced by regulated utilities. It highlights the need for regulatory adaptation because utilities may attempt to keep uneconomic plants operational to maintain rates of return. The briefing introduces four specific areas of focus: analyzing the financial impact of transitioning from fossil to clean energy (using Colorado as a case study), the 'steel for fuel' concept where capital is reinvested in renewables to improve shareholder earnings, the role of depreciation accounting in determining asset value during early retirements, and the use of debt-for-equity refinancing to reduce the rate burden on consumers when addressing unrecovered investment balances.

The policy brief examines the "steel for fuel" strategy, where utilities replace fossil fuel plants—which incur pass-through fuel costs with no earnings potential—with wind and solar assets that allow for regulated equity returns. Using Xcel Energy as a primary example, the document explains how this transition can reduce consumer bills through fuel savings while maintaining or increasing shareholder value. It highlights the role of competitive bidding and the balance between utility ownership and independent power producers (IPPs) to ensure the lowest costs for consumers.

California has established a target of 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2045 and increased its renewable energy requirement to 60 percent by 2030. To reach these goals, the Union of Concerned Scientists proposes ten strategies: improving energy efficiency (especially during evening hours), diversifying renewable sources (wind, solar, geothermal, and low-carbon bioenergy), phasing out natural gas equitably, using renewables for grid reliability services, investing in multi-timescale energy storage, integrating western electricity markets, leveraging distributed energy resources, electrifying buildings and transport, shifting demand to match production, and developing a skilled workforce.

The author contends that a 100 percent renewable energy pathway to decarbonization is risky because it depends on the simultaneous success of multiple uncertain elements, including wind and solar scaling, transmission grid expansion, seasonal storage, load management, and public funding. Using a probabilistic example, the text illustrates that if five essential elements each have a 90% chance of success, the cumulative probability of success drops to 59%. The document proposes 'de-risking' the energy transition by pursuing multiple independent technology paths in parallel, which mathematically increases the overall likelihood of achieving full decarbonization.

The report argues that Brazil can align its economic growth with climate commitments by increasing agricultural productivity on degraded lands, diversifying its energy matrix with renewables, and improving transport infrastructure. It concludes that the financial returns of climate-friendly investments will outweigh the costs, with specific opportunities to double agricultural production without further deforestation and reduce total energy system costs through decarbonization.

The document defines the virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) as a purely financial transaction where a corporate buyer guarantees a fixed price for renewable energy generation in exchange for renewable energy certificates (RECs) and a floating market price. Unlike physical PPAs, VPPAs do not involve the buyer taking ownership of physical electrons, allowing companies with distributed loads or those in regulated markets to meet sustainability goals without changing their retail utility relationship. The guide highlights that VPPAs are the fastest-growing transaction structure in the US corporate renewable energy market because they are scalable and accessible to buyers without energy trading expertise.

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that over one-third of US nuclear plants are unprofitable or scheduled to close, primarily due to low natural gas prices. Without new policies, early retirements could increase power sector carbon emissions by 4% to 6% by 2035 as plants are replaced by natural gas and coal. The report argues that national carbon pricing or a low-carbon electricity standard would preserve existing nuclear capacity, diversify the energy mix, and significantly reduce emissions with minimal impact on household electricity bills. It further recommends that any financial support for distressed plants be contingent on high safety performance ratings from the NRC and transparency in financial reporting.

The commentary argues that the IRP 2018 is a form of 'climate denial' that lacks a meaningful carbon constraint and continues to prioritize coal and gas over cheaper, cleaner renewables. It highlights the severe health costs of air pollution from Eskom and criticizes the public consultation process as exclusionary. The authors advocate for a total phase-out of coal, the rejection of new extractive gas projects, and a transition to a socially owned renewable energy system that creates jobs and ensures energy justice for the poor.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that the draft IRP 2018 is unlawful and irrational because it includes 6,732MW of new coal capacity despite its own findings that a least-cost plan would exclude coal. The CER highlights severe failures in the draft, including inflated electricity demand forecasts, outdated and high cost assumptions for renewables and battery storage, and a total lack of consideration for water and climate change externalities. The document specifically objects to the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal projects, citing their high emissions and risks to water resources in the Waterberg and Highveld regions. Furthermore, the CER criticizes the Department of Energy for failing to conduct meaningful public consultations with impacted communities and for withholding the Plexos modelling data necessary for transparent stakeholder review.

Synapse Energy Economics identifies several critical flaws in South Africa's draft 2018 IRP, arguing that it relies on an unreasonably high load forecast, overstates the costs of renewable energy and battery storage, and ignores the economic optimality of retiring aging coal plants. The report highlights a significant disconnect between the IRP's optimized modeling—which suggests no new coal in the 2020s—and the proposed resource plan, which calls for over 6,500 MW of new coal capacity. Additionally, the authors criticize the plan for inadequate carbon budgeting, failure to account for water scarcity, and a lack of transparency in providing modeling data to stakeholders.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that accelerating the transition from coal to clean energy in Illinois would improve public health, lower electric bills, and spur local investment without significantly increasing costs for ratepayers.

ISS-oekom conducted a pre-issuance verification of EnBW's 2018 Green Bond against the Climate Bonds Standard (Version 2.1) and specific sector criteria for wind, solar, low carbon transport, and marine renewable energy. Following a desk-based assessment of project selection, internal controls, and reporting processes, ISS-oekom concluded that the bond is in conformance with the required standards.

The document analyzes the economic pressures facing the US nuclear fleet, finding that over one-third of plants are unprofitable or scheduled to close. It warns that without carbon-reduction policies, these closures could increase power sector emissions by 4 to 6 percent as natural gas and coal fill the void. The report advocates for a national carbon price or a low-carbon electricity standard to maintain low-carbon generation and triple renewable energy by 2035, noting that the public health and economic benefits of such policies would outweigh the costs.

The report finds that while more than six in ten Americans are worried about global warming in 2018, feelings of hope have declined since 2010. Hope is identified as a key driver for individual and political action. Despite this, the report highlights strong public support for renewable energy research, carbon taxes, and climate education, alongside the growth of the clean energy workforce and institutional commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement.

In August 2017, Cummins signed a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with EDP Renewables (EDPR) North America for 75 megawatts (MW) of wind capacity to expand the Meadow Lake Wind Farm in Northwest Indiana. The deal is designed to avoid 165,000 tCO2e per year starting January 1, 2019, representing a significant scale-up from Cummins' existing 8 MW of solar capacity. To secure internal buy-in, Cummins utilized Monte Carlo simulations on historical price data to assess financial risk and validated the deal's value through the Business Renewables Center and Schneider Electric. The project emphasizes 'additionality' by adding new capacity to the grid and focuses on local community benefits in Benton and White Counties, Indiana.

The report examines the 'architecture of impunity' that allows transnational corporations (TNCs) to evade legal accountability for human rights and environmental violations. It specifically critiques the European Union for acting as a key opponent to the UN Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group's (OEIGWG) efforts to establish a legally binding treaty, instead promoting voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and 'multi-stakeholderism'. The document details how 'corporate capture' occurs within EU and UN institutions, where private sector interests shape the regulations intended to govern them. This is illustrated through case studies of European TNCs—including Shell, Engie, and Glencore—operating in the Global South, where the report claims they outsource severe impacts while using CSR to deflect criticism. The report highlights the 2017 French 'duty of vigilance' law as a rare successful example of binding national legislation against this trend.

The report argues that accelerating the retirement of coal plants in Illinois in favor of clean energy technologies will improve public health, reduce carbon emissions, and lower electricity bills without compromising grid reliability.

The report argues that accelerating the retirement of coal plants in Illinois, beyond the mandates of the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), would significantly improve public health and provide economic gains. Modeling shows that replacing coal with wind, solar, and energy storage is affordable and does not compromise grid reliability, as demonstrated by a case study of the Waukegan plant. The analysis highlights that pollution-burdened communities of color and low-income residents stand to benefit most from this transition.

Google achieved its goal of matching 100% of its global electricity consumption with renewable energy in 2017, investing over $3.5 billion USD across 26 projects. The company now aims for a 'moonshot' goal of powering operations on a region-specific, 24/7 basis with zero-carbon energy. To achieve this, Google focuses on regional procurement to overcome regulatory barriers, the pursuit of new technologies to manage resource variability, and the promotion of energy policies that empower consumers. Additionally, Google launched the Environmental Insights Explorer in 2018 to help cities estimate carbon emissions and renewable energy potential.

Friends of the Earth International calls for an immediate transition from a pollutant-heavy energy system to a decentralized, people-led model. The statement rejects 'false solutions' like carbon capture and argues that developed nations must take primary responsibility for emissions reductions and financial transfers to the Global South to ensure a just transition.