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Pennsylvania is required to reduce power sector emissions by 24-25 percent below 2012 levels by 2030 under the Clean Power Plan. Analysis indicates that current clean energy policies and improved power plant efficiency could achieve a 13 percent reduction by 2030. To fully meet or exceed targets, the state can expand its energy efficiency programs (Act 129) and alternative energy portfolio standard (AEPS) after 2021, potentially cutting emissions by 46 percent below 2012 levels by 2030. Such measures are described as cost-effective, with potential for the state to earn over $160 million annually by selling unused emissions allowances between 2022 and 2030.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of clean energy employment, highlighting the U.S. and global landscapes. In the U.S., it details job figures across energy efficiency (buildings, appliances, transport) and renewable energy (solar, wind, biofuels, geothermal, hydro, and waste-to-energy). Globally, it identifies China as the leader in renewable energy employment, followed by Brazil, the U.S., India, and Germany, with solar PV being the largest employment driver worldwide.

The report outlines a three-step approach for improving the performance of publicly-owned utilities (POUs). The first step involves 'no regrets' actions, such as engaging diverse stakeholders to define goals and using Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) to balance reliability, cost, and environmental targets. The second step focuses on governance evolutions, specifically delineating the roles of boards and management and implementing board self-evaluations. The third step suggests more drastic measures for lagging performance, including revenue decoupling to support energy efficiency, performance-based employee compensation, and the use of third-party non-profit entities for specific utility functions.

The document examines the transition of isolated communities from a total dependence on imported oil to renewable microgrids. It identifies high electricity costs, environmental concerns, and abundant local resources as primary drivers for this shift. Through ten detailed case studies—including locations such as Kodiak, Alaska, and El Hierro, Spain—the report highlights the critical role of energy storage (batteries, flywheels, and pumped hydro) and energy efficiency in maintaining grid stability. Key findings indicate that renewable integration can significantly reduce retail electricity rates and improve system resiliency, though it often requires a phased technical approach to overcome stability and logistical challenges.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzes how a hypothetical Pennsylvania green bank, with an initial $135 million capitalization, could leverage $4.2 billion in total investment by 2030. This initiative would support 780 MW of wind and solar capacity, save $375 million annually on electricity bills, and reduce CO2 emissions by 4.8 million tons per year, contributing 11% of the state's required reductions under the Clean Power Plan.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzes how a hypothetical Virginia green bank with $90 million in initial capitalization could leverage $2.8 billion in total investment by 2030, significantly reducing carbon emissions and supporting the deployment of 575 MW of wind and solar capacity.

The 'Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline for Renewable Energy Projects' outlines the regulatory framework and procedural requirements for deploying renewable energy technologies in South Africa. It details the environmental impacts of various technologies—including wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower—and maps these to the specific national legislation and authorisations required under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and other sectoral laws. The guide provides a structured approach to the Basic Assessment (BA) and Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) processes, including timeframes, stakeholder roles, and mitigation strategies to ensure sustainable development.

Energy Innovation used the Energy Policy Simulator to determine that a specific combination of six policies could meet the Clean Power Plan's goal of reducing power sector CO2 emissions by 32 percent by 2030 while saving the U.S. economy nearly 40 billion dollars between 2016 and 2030. The recommended package focuses on improving coal plant efficiency, accelerating coal retirements, enhancing building and industrial energy efficiency, implementing a 25 percent national average renewable portfolio standard, and increasing transmission capacity. The report contrasts this approach with more expensive alternatives, such as those relying heavily on nuclear power or carbon capture and storage.

The document outlines the economic and environmental benefits of transitioning Oregon's transportation sector from petroleum to clean fuels, specifically electricity and biofuels. It highlights the cost-effectiveness of electric vehicles (EVs) and the state's potential to produce advanced biofuels from waste, residues, and energy crops. Central to this transition is the Clean Fuels Program, which aims for a 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions per unit of fuel by 2025 and aligns with regional policies in California and British Columbia to create a larger market for low-carbon alternatives.

The report finds that significant portions of the U.S. East and Gulf Coast electricity grids are currently exposed to storm surge, with risks increasing as sea levels rise. In southeastern Virginia, 43 percent of major substations and four power plants are at risk today. The authors advocate for a shift from centralized grids to decentralized, resilient power systems—including microgrids and renewable energy with storage—to maintain critical services during outages and reduce the carbon emissions driving climate change.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis finds that two-thirds of U.S. states may be exposing electricity consumers to financial risks due to overreliance on natural gas. These risks include price volatility, potential carbon pricing costs, and the possibility of stranded assets such as underused plants and pipelines. The report rates states across five categories, identifying Florida as the only state with a "High" risk rating in all five. To mitigate these risks, the report advocates for prioritizing renewable energy and energy efficiency over natural gas as a primary solution for carbon reduction under the federal Clean Power Plan.

The report posits that Iran's nuclear power program is economically unviable and creates security ambiguities that could be resolved by shifting toward energy efficiency and renewables. It suggests that international cooperation in these sectors would align with Iran's economic interests, reduce the domestic case for nuclear power, and potentially halt a regional nuclear arms race. The author highlights Iran's significant wind and solar potential and compares this transition to experiences in Argentina and Brazil.

Research indicates that Pope Francis is generally viewed as a trusted source of information on global warming among Americans, with a majority (55%) believing it is appropriate for him to take a public position on the issue. Among American Christians, Catholics show higher levels of belief in human-caused global warming (57%) and higher levels of worry (57%) compared to other major Christian groups. While awareness of the papal encyclical on climate change remains low (31%), there is strong cross-denominational support for climate policies, including renewable energy research and carbon dioxide regulation.

The report analyzes Costa Rica's transition from an agricultural to an export-led economy, highlighting successes in biodiversity and renewable energy alongside critical failures in wastewater management and public transport. It argues that a lack of sustainable public infrastructure and a mismatch in workforce skills hinder the country's goal of carbon neutrality by 2021. The authors recommend streamlining public procurement, diversifying the energy mix beyond hydropower, and implementing a green industrial policy to reduce economic vulnerability to external shocks.

The paper analyzes reference and alternative scenarios for China's CO2 emissions, finding that while reference paths project emissions to double by 2050, alternative paths suggest a peak around 2030. It identifies GDP growth, energy intensity, and the energy mix as primary drivers, arguing that deep decarbonization through industrial restructuring and non-fossil fuel expansion is necessary to meet climate goals.

The analysis finds that California can reach a 50 percent renewable electricity mix by 2024 using existing technology. While increasing the Renewables Portfolio Standard to 50 percent would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22 percent without further grid investment, implementing advanced grid management tools like storage and demand response could increase that reduction to 27 percent and significantly decrease renewable energy curtailment.

The document examines the proposal by Karadeniz Holdings to provide power ships to South Africa to address a depleting reserve supply margin caused by inadequate investment in generation capacity since 1994 and delays at Medupi and Kusile. While power ships are presented as a more efficient and cheaper alternative to Eskom's diesel-powered open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs)—costing R2.00 to R2.50/kWh compared to R3.00 to R4.50/kWh—Eskom has expressed skepticism, arguing that a 310MW capacity is too small for the national grid. The author notes that power ships remain significantly more expensive than solar and wind power from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and suggests that opening the market to IPPs may offer better short- and long-term benefits.

The report analyzes eight case studies—seven federal and one municipal—that utilized Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) to achieve deep energy retrofits. These projects cumulatively exceeded 600 billion BTUs in energy savings with an average energy use reduction of 58%. The document identifies six overarching best practices: setting aggressive long-term goals, engaging diverse stakeholders, establishing strong support systems, adopting a 'clean sheet' design mindset, using iterative and holistic design processes, and incorporating ongoing feedback and occupant involvement.

The report analyzes the impact of raising California's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 50 percent by 2024. It finds that while this transition reduces GHG emissions and production costs, it increases renewable curtailment, primarily driven by downward reserve and regional generation requirements. The study concludes that non-fossil flexibility—including electricity storage, advanced demand response, and allowing renewables to provide reserves—is significantly more effective at reducing curtailment and emissions than increasing the flexibility of natural gas power plants.

The Bujagali Hydropower Project in Uganda serves as a case study for the use of combined risk mitigation instruments—specifically the International Development Association's (IDA) partial risk guarantee (PRG) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency's (MIGA) political risk insurance (PRI)—to attract private capital in high-risk environments. The project mobilized nearly $300 million in commercial loans and private equity, achieving a ratio of almost one U.S. dollar of private capital for every two U.S. dollars of public financing. These instruments enabled commercial banks to offer loans with maturities of 16 years and lower interest rates, which reduced the required initial electricity tariff by between 7% and 60%. The resulting levelized cost of energy (LCOE) was approximately 107 USD/MWh, significantly lower than the cost of the emergency thermal power it replaced. While effective, such complex structures have been underutilized due to high transaction costs and restrictive DFI policies, though recent World Bank Group modernizations aim to expand these tools to smaller-scale renewable energy projects like solar and wind.