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The report argues that Eskom is facing a liquidity and financial crisis driven by stagnant electricity demand and the high costs of its coal-fired power construction programme. Through system-level modelling and station-specific analysis, the study finds that the levelised costs of operating older coal stations (Arnot, Camden, Grootvlei, Hendrina, and Komati) exceed their system alternative value, meaning they can be replaced by cheaper alternatives without compromising security of supply. Specifically, decommissioning Grootvlei, Hendrina, and Komati early could save Eskom R12.5bn in present value terms. Additionally, the report finds that cancelling Kusile units 5 and 6 is economically viable if capital cost savings exceed a threshold of approximately R4.7bn. The authors conclude that South Africa no longer requires new nuclear, coal, or gas procurement, as solar PV and wind have become the most competitive new-build options.

The report documents an upward trend in American concern about global warming, with 71% believing it is happening and 47% feeling certain of it. While 54% attribute it to human activity, only 15% are aware of the high scientific consensus. Emotional responses are predominantly negative, with high levels of disgust and helplessness. Perceived risks are increasing, with 44% reporting personal experience of its effects and 42% believing people in the U.S. are being harmed 'right now.' Most Americans view global warming as an environmental or scientific issue and believe it is affecting U.S. weather, though confidence in the human ability to successfully reduce it remains very low at 5%.

The October 2017 survey indicates an upward trend in American concern about global warming, with 71% believing it is happening and 47% feeling certain of it. While 54% attribute it to human activity, only 15% are aware of the strong scientific consensus. Emotional responses are predominantly negative, with 55% feeling disgusted and 52% feeling helpless. Perceived risks are at record highs, with 44% reporting personal experience of its effects and 42% believing people in the U.S. are being harmed "right now." Despite this, optimism for a human-led solution remains low, with only 5% confident that humans can and will successfully reduce global warming.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that New Mexico should strengthen its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 80 percent by 2040 to ensure a cost-effective transition from coal to clean energy. Modeling shows that renewables are the most economically favorable choice, offering significant capital investment, job growth, and public health benefits without substantially increasing consumer electricity costs. The report warns against utility plans to overinvest in natural gas, which could lead to stranded assets and higher climate risks.

The document argues that federal light-duty vehicle standards set by the EPA and NHTSA in 2012 provide significant financial and environmental advantages to Arizona. By 2030, the average Arizona household is projected to be $2,800 richer due to gas savings. To date, Arizona has saved $680 million, and the standards have eliminated global warming emissions equivalent to twice those required to provide electricity to Tucson. Nationally, these standards are projected to increase GDP by up to $30 billion and create 650,000 full-time jobs by 2030.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) developed the Clean Energy Momentum State Ranking to evaluate how US states are driving the transition to clean energy. The ranking uses 12 metrics across three categories: technical progress (renewable energy generation, energy savings, and electric vehicle sales), direct effects (job creation and pollution reduction), and future-oriented policies (renewable energy, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction). California is identified as the overall leader, while Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Hawaii also rank in the top five. The analysis concludes that state-level leadership is critical for national momentum, particularly in creating jobs and improving public health, and recommends that states facilitate business involvement and improve energy equity for low-income communities.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) evaluated the 50 US states using 12 indicators to rank their progress in clean energy, focusing on renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, and transport electrification. California leads the ranking, followed by Vermont and Massachusetts. The analysis highlights that clean energy progress is tangible across the US, with wind farms in 41 states and over half a million electric vehicles on the road. The report argues that state-level leadership is critical for job creation and public health improvements, and recommends that states adopt multi-dimensional policies, facilitate corporate participation, and improve energy equity for low-income and minority communities.

The Clean Air Task Force opposes the repeal of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Methane Waste Rule via the Congressional Review Act. The organization argues that the rule saves up to 41 billion cubic feet of natural gas annually, increasing royalties for states and tax revenue for the federal government. Furthermore, it claims the rule supports small businesses specializing in waste mitigation technology, such as infrared cameras, and notes that a majority of voters in Western states oppose the rollback.

REI constructed a 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Goodyear, Arizona, which is the only facility of its type in the U.S. to achieve both LEED Platinum certification and net-zero energy. Developed with RMI through an integrative design charrette, the facility combines aggressive efficiency measures—such as LED lighting, motion sensors, and air-cooled chillers—with a 2.2-megawatt rooftop PV system. The solar array generates 25–30 percent more energy than the building consumes, providing a return on investment through approximately 20 years of free power. The project also integrates advanced automation and employee-centric climate controls, such as hyperchairs, to balance operational efficiency with workforce comfort.

The document highlights that although Arizona has limited oil and gas activity, pollution from neighboring states—particularly from federal and tribal lands in the San Juan basin of New Mexico—contributes to ozone smog that causes thousands of childhood asthma attacks and restricted activity for adults across the state.

The report details how the US oil and gas industry emits methane, toxic air pollutants (such as benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde), and ozone precursors that cause cancer and respiratory illnesses. It provides state-specific data for Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia, highlighting that ozone pollution travels across state borders, affecting residents even in states with little to no local industry activity. The document emphasizes the vulnerability of children and low-income communities and argues for the necessity of strong federal standards from the EPA and the Bureau of Land Management to protect public health.

The report identifies a significant investment opportunity in U.S. community-scale solar (CSS), estimated by NREL to be between $8.2 and $16.3 billion by 2020. It argues that CSS, typically sized between 0.5 and 5 MW, offers a cost-effective middle ground between residential and utility-scale solar. To unlock this potential, the document suggests adapting existing project finance and securitization models, utilizing innovative tools like New Markets Tax Credits, and implementing risk mitigants such as anchor tenants and subscription cushions to address customer attrition and regulatory uncertainty.

The document reports significant job growth in the U.S. clean energy sector as of early 2016. It highlights that solar and wind industries are expanding rapidly, with solar jobs growing 17 times faster than the overall economy and wind-turbine technicians projected as the fastest-growing occupation. Energy efficiency employs the largest volume of workers at 2.2 million. Geographically, Texas leads in wind jobs, while California leads in solar and energy efficiency jobs.

The document outlines eight key areas for electricity innovation in 2017, focusing heavily on the integration, valuation, and management of distributed energy resources (DERs). It highlights the shift toward technology-agnostic DER valuation, the potential for electric vehicles to serve as grid assets, and the need for alternative capital planning to displace traditional infrastructure. The text also addresses the necessity of evolving utility business models, establishing distribution system operators (DSOs), improving customer engagement, and expanding DER access to low- and moderate-income customers.

The document examines the complexities of groundwater governance, distinguishing it from surface water management due to the resource's invisibility and dispersed private exploitation. It highlights the critical interdependence between governance and technical monitoring, using the Netherlands as a model for integrated data collection. A global diagnostic reveals significant gaps in actor participation, legal harmonization, and policy scope across different stages of management development. The paper also addresses the scarcity of dedicated international treaties for the 592 identified transboundary aquifers and concludes with a strategic roadmap for 2030 to prevent irreversible degradation of aquifer systems.

Climate Central's analysis of U.S. Forest Service records shows that the average annual number of large wildfires in the western U.S. more than tripled between the 1970s and 2010s, with the area burned increasing more than six-fold. The report attributes these trends to rising temperatures, decreased snowpack, and earlier snowmelt. Projections using the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) suggest that high-risk fire days will increase substantially by 2050, particularly in Southwestern states. The report also highlights the growing risk to populations living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and the health impacts of wildfire smoke.

The Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is one of North America's most endangered mammals, with a wild population of only 113 individuals as of February 2017. Historically found across the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, the subspecies was nearly eliminated by the livestock industry and government agents. Current recovery efforts are hampered by poor genetic diversity, as all existing wild wolves descend from just seven captive ancestors. Earthjustice argues that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2017 Recovery Plan is flawed because it limits wolves to inadequate habitats, fails to provide sufficient wild releases, and ignores scientific recommendations to establish three interconnected populations totaling at least 750 individuals across Arizona, New Mexico, the Grand Canyon, and southern Colorado.

The document advocates for outcome-oriented energy efficiency metrics, such as kWh per customer, as a more transparent and less administratively burdensome alternative to measure-by-measure savings calculations. It details several potential metrics, discusses the necessity of adjustment mechanisms for exogenous factors like weather and GDP, and provides recommendations for regulators to minimize regulatory conflict by using independently verified data.

A coalition of organizations advocates for Arizona to prioritize energy efficiency as the most cost-effective strategy for reducing emissions and meeting Clean Power Plan goals. The authors argue that a combination of energy-savings targets, updated building codes, and combined heat and power could meet 100 percent of the state's 2030 compliance goal, potentially saving Arizona residents $4.2 billion and avoiding nearly 15 million tons of carbon dioxide.

The report examines 13 watershed investment programs in the U.S., focusing on how natural infrastructure—specifically forests—can be used to protect drinking water quality and quantity. It provides a framework for program development across three phases: building momentum, designing the program, and implementing the action plan. Key findings emphasize the importance of collaborative partnerships, scientifically informed planning, and diverse financing mechanisms, such as municipal bonds and water rate surcharges, to overcome barriers like insufficient funding and lack of outcome data.