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Energy Retrofits leading the way for sustainability in Indianapolis
The City-County Building in Indianapolis underwent an $8 million energy retrofit, reducing energy usage by 46% and securing $750,000 in annual savings. This project serves as the model for the SustainIndy program, which targets a 25% energy reduction across 61 city buildings to achieve $1.7 million in annual savings over 15 years.
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Document type: Case study
Soft Energy Paths for the 21st Century
The author contends that the Fukushima disaster was avoidable and highlights the systemic failures in nuclear regulation and governance in Japan and the US. He argues that nuclear power is economically inferior to renewables and efficiency, noting that renewables surpassed nuclear's global installed capacity in 2010. The text calls for Japan to leverage its technological strengths in efficiency and renewables to lead a global shift away from centralized, high-risk power plants toward distributed, clean energy systems.
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Document type: Research paper
Microsoft Word - 11-07-27 AEC Final Ltr to Sen Approps - Energy Title Funding
A coalition of energy and agricultural organizations argues that funding cuts proposed in H.R. 2112 would undermine U.S. domestic energy security and rural development. The letter specifically advocates for the restoration of funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), the Biorefinery Assistance Program, and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), asserting that these programs are essential for deploying renewable electricity, advanced biofuels, and energy efficiency in rural areas.
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Document type: Statement
International Experiences of Nodal Pricing Implementation
The document analyzes the transition to nodal pricing, noting that US Independent System Operators (ISOs) typically recover implementation costs within one year through efficiency gains. It details the use of Financial Transmission Rights (FTRs) and Auction Revenue Rights (ARRs) to hedge locational price risks and maintain market liquidity. The paper compares the US ISO model with European TSO structures, arguing that ISOs provide a more transparent framework for information sharing and system security, particularly as renewable energy penetration increases. It also highlights the Iberian experience in optimizing day-ahead and intraday markets to accommodate wind power forecasts.
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Document type: Research paper
DoD’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiatives
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is implementing a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. These initiatives aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower long-term costs, and enhance mission effectiveness by decreasing dependence on liquid fossil fuels. Key goals include achieving 'net-zero' energy for numerous installations by 2020 and 2030, increasing the use of alternative fuel blends for aviation and naval vessels, and deploying diverse renewable technologies—such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass—at domestic and overseas bases. The DoD's efforts are guided by internal strategies, a 2010 Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Energy, and federal mandates including Executive Orders 13423 and 13514.
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Document type: Fact sheet
A Bright Future for the Heartland
The report analyzes the potential for the Midwest to transition to a clean energy economy by adopting the Midwestern Governors Association's (MGA) targets: reducing electricity use by 2% annually and sourcing 30% of electricity from renewables by 2030. Using a modified National Energy Modeling System (NEMS), the Union of Concerned Scientists finds that these goals are achievable and would lead to significant job creation, consumer savings, and carbon emission reductions. The analysis highlights wind and biopower as the most competitive resources, while noting that transmission capacity remains a primary barrier. The report argues that regional targets would complement a federal carbon policy, making such a policy more affordable for consumers.
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Document type: Report
A Bright Future for the Heartland
The report argues that transitioning the Midwest to a clean energy economy through renewable electricity and energy efficiency standards would create 85,700 net new jobs, save consumers $42.8 billion on energy bills, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions by 2030.
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Document type: Executive summary
Reality Check: Honest Assessments of Our Energy Future
The authors assert that 80 percent of global energy needs could be met by renewables by 2050, as stated by the IPCC. They critique a New York Times op-ed by Robert Bryce, arguing that his claims regarding the environmental impact and land requirements of wind and solar are based on faulty calculations. The text highlights that a 33 percent renewable electricity mandate in the US would require approximately 800 square miles of land, which is less than one third of the forest area destroyed by mountaintop removal coal mining. The authors advocate for a diverse energy platform including renewables, natural gas, and nuclear power, evaluated through honest life-cycle criteria.
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Document type: Statement
Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
The document outlines job estimates for various green energy sectors in the U.S., distinguishing between direct, indirect, and induced employment. It provides specific figures for wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass industries, while noting the difficulty in quantifying energy efficiency jobs due to their integration into larger industries.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
The document details job estimates for various energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors in the U.S., citing data from government agencies and industry associations. It distinguishes between direct, indirect, and induced jobs, noting that energy efficiency employment is often embedded in larger industries. Specific figures are provided for wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass sectors, with total renewable energy job estimates ranging from 853,370 to 953,370.
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Document type: Fact sheet
INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN FOR ELECTRICITY 2010-2030
The Policy-Adjusted IRP 2010-2030 outlines South Africa's strategy for electricity generation expansion and demand-side management. It recommends a diversified energy mix including 9.6 GW of nuclear, 6.3 GW of new coal, and 17.8 GW of renewables (wind, solar PV, and CSP) to balance security of supply, economic growth, and carbon emission constraints. The plan emphasizes accelerating renewable energy to foster local industry and includes a Medium Term Risk Mitigation Project to address anticipated supply shortfalls between 2011 and 2016 through demand response and increased generation availability.
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Document type: Report
erratum to the annual report royal dutch shell plc annual report for the year ended december 31, 2010
The document presents a satirical or corrective 'erratum' to Shell's 2010 annual report, detailing systemic failures in environmental protection and human rights. It lists specific cases of pollution in Nigeria, Curaçao, and Canada, labour abuses in Brazil, and the risks of high-volume fracking. The report proposes a set of 'Key Performance Indicators' for 2011, including a 5% annual decrease in absolute CO2 emissions and a commitment to invest 50% of annual profits into wind and solar power.
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Document type: Report
The Transformation of China's Energy System: Challenges and Opportunities
The document outlines China's shift toward energy efficiency and non-fossil fuel development, driven by energy security, environmental protection, and economic restructuring. It details the targets of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), including carbon and energy intensity reductions. The author highlights China's rapid expansion in wind, solar, and high-speed rail, while noting the strategic importance of carbon capture and storage. Finally, it argues that China's clear policy framework creates significant investment opportunities for U.S. companies in clean technology.
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Document type: Briefing
New energy strategies in the Swedish pulp and paper industry: the role of national and EU climate and energy policies
The Swedish pulp and paper industry has shifted its strategy toward increased on-site electricity production, wind power investments, and new production partnerships. This change was primarily driven by economic factors, specifically the 1996 Swedish energy market reform and the EU ETS, while renewable electricity certificates provided additional income. Cognitive shifts regarding electricity market pricing and the EU ETS also contributed to this strategic reorientation.
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Document type: Research paper
TAPPING INTO WIND POWER
The report presents wind power as a viable alternative to fossil fuels in the U.S., highlighting its competitiveness with natural gas and its ability to reduce CO2 emissions and water consumption. It details economic advantages such as job creation and local tax revenue, while addressing environmental impacts on wildlife and human concerns regarding noise and aesthetics. The document concludes that reaching a target of 20 percent wind electricity by 2030 is feasible and affordable, provided the U.S. adopts stable long-term policies like a national renewable electricity standard.
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Document type: Report
Learning from Japan’s nuclear disaster
The author contends that nuclear power is uniquely dangerous and economically unviable compared to renewable energy. Using the Fukushima disaster as a catalyst, the text argues that nuclear plants are too slow and costly to effectively combat climate change, noting that private investment has shifted toward renewables. The author suggests that the global decline of nuclear power is driven by market forces rather than isolated accidents, and urges the U.S. and Japan to move toward a post-nuclear energy future.
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Document type: Statement
A Risky Proposition
The document outlines the financial hazards of investing in new or retrofitted coal plants in the U.S., citing competition from natural gas and renewables, rising fuel costs, and the likelihood of future carbon pricing. It highlights that coal is no longer the low-cost option it once was and that many existing plants are inefficient and ripe for retirement. The report suggests that the U.S. can replace most coal power with renewable energy, demand reduction, and natural gas within 15 to 20 years.
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Document type: Executive summary
European Smart Power Market Project
The report finds that the EU's current regional/zonal pricing model impedes the integration of the 200 GW of new renewable energy needed by 2020 by limiting cross-border flows and failing to provide transparent investment signals. Through quantitative simulations, the authors demonstrate that a nodal pricing system would increase international power transfers by up to 34% and generate annual system variable cost savings between €0.8 billion and €2.0 billion, depending on wind power penetration.
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Document type: Executive summary
India and Africa: Towards a Sustainable Energy Partnership
The document examines India's strategic shift toward Africa to diversify its energy imports and reduce dependence on the Middle East. It contrasts India's 'hybrid model' of engagement—which combines resource extraction with capacity building and infrastructure development—against the more mercantilist approaches of other powers. The author argues that for the partnership to be sustainable, India should leverage its expertise in renewable energy and rural electrification to support Africa's own development goals.
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Document type: Research paper
The Water-Energy Nexus in the Western States: Projections to 2100
The report examines the 'water-energy nexus' in the western United States, specifically the eleven states of the Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC). It models eight scenarios from 2008 to 2100, varying by carbon emission goals, water conservation mandates, and energy efficiency levels. The primary finding is that while power plants require water, their total consumption is small compared to agricultural and urban use, making the water-energy nexus a secondary concern in the region's broader water crisis. The analysis suggests that carbon pricing (around $70 per ton) is a more likely driver for shifting energy strategies than water pricing, as water prices would need to exceed $4,000 to $7,000 per acre-foot to make water-conserving energy scenarios the least-cost option.
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Document type: Report