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The report argues that CAFOs are propped up by taxpayer subsidies and the externalization of costs related to pollution and public health. It highlights that these operations, while producing over 50% of U.S. food animals, create massive manure management problems and antibiotic resistance. The author suggests that medium-sized and pasture-based operations are cost-competitive alternatives that would be more viable if subsidies were redirected and antitrust laws were enforced.

The report analyzes the 'hidden costs' of CAFOs, including taxpayer-funded subsidies and externalized environmental and health damages. It argues that CAFOs are not more efficient than medium-sized or pasture-based alternatives but are favored by government policies and the market power of large meat processors. The document details the pollution caused by manure, the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and the economic decline of rural communities, while proposing policy reforms to level the playing field for sustainable alternatives.

The report identifies a warming and potentially drier trend for the Great Lakes region, predicting significant temperature increases and shifts in precipitation patterns by the end of the 21st century. These changes are expected to disrupt aquatic ecosystems, reduce forest diversity, and create economic risks for agriculture and shipping. The document advocates for a three-pronged approach: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing local environmental pressures, and planning for climate adaptation.

Specialty Glass, Inc., a high-volume producer of colored sheet glass in the US Pacific Northwest, faces significant environmental and regulatory risks due to its use of toxic pigments, particularly cadmium oxide used for ruby-red glass. The company generates approximately 18,000 pounds of hazardous waste annually, including 15,300 pounds of fine ash, costing roughly $31,500 per year for disposal. While the company has implemented 'best available technology' via a furnace baghouse to capture 99.7 percent of toxic particulates, it remains vulnerable to tightening air emission regulations and the scarcity of cadmium oxide suppliers. The document highlights a tension in cost accounting, as waste disposal costs are currently treated as overhead rather than being traced to specific product lines, potentially obscuring the true cost of producing toxic glass colors.

The report, produced by a consortium of medical societies, alerts the public and policymakers that climate change is already causing direct and indirect health harms across the United States. It identifies vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, and details how extreme heat, weather events, air pollution, and the spread of infectious diseases impact public health. The document advocates for the acceleration of a transition to clean renewable energy as the most critical action to protect health and provide immediate co-benefits like improved air and water quality.

The document outlines the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency in Arkansas, stating that specific policies could save the state $441 million and avoid 6.4 million tons of CO2 by 2030.

Lithium is a critical mineral essential for electric vehicle batteries and grid storage, with demand for these applications expected to reach 97% by 2035. While deposits are globally abundant, viable extraction is concentrated in the 'lithium triangle' (Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile) and Australia. The United States relies on imports for over 50% of its consumption as of 2025, with limited domestic production and processing. Extraction and processing cause significant environmental damage, including water depletion in arid regions and toxic contamination, disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. Recycling remains limited but could potentially reduce the need for new mines by 25% by 2050.

The document consists of a collection of 45 figures mapping the FSEIS routes for nuclear waste transport through nearly every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.

The report investigates 'beneficial electrification'—the replacement of fossil-fuel end-use equipment with electric alternatives to reduce carbon emissions and costs—within Midwest rural electric cooperatives. While 88% of these co-ops offer energy upgrade or loan programs, the research found no 'fully beneficial electrification program' in the Midwest that combines conversion incentives, a net carbon reduction goal, verification processes, and energy audits. The document highlights the potential of cold climate air-source heat pumps (ccHP) and heat pump water heaters to provide grid flexibility and member savings. It emphasizes 'equitable beneficial electrification' (EBE), advocating for inclusive on-bill financing that removes credit score barriers and attaches loans to the meter to support low-income members and renters. Case studies from cooperatives in Washington, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Minnesota illustrate various models of on-bill tariffs and community solar projects used to reduce energy burdens.

The document serves as a regulatory guide, offering a structured set of inquiries to help Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) assess utility resource planning in the context of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It organizes questions into five exhibits covering common IRA considerations, assumptions, forecasts, objectives/scenarios, and solution identification. Key areas of focus include the application of Investment Tax Credits (ITC) and Production Tax Credits (PTC), bonus adders for energy communities and domestic content, the integration of hydrogen and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies, and the utilization of Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) financing. The toolkit also emphasizes the need for utilities to account for IRA-driven changes in load forecasts related to building and transportation electrification, energy efficiency, and distributed energy resources (DERs).

The document outlines strategies to combat food waste in Estonian schools, noting that food loss accounts for 74% of school food waste. It provides tailored guidance for catering staff (e.g., using the Fi-Fo method), teachers (integrating waste themes into curricula), students (taking only what they can eat), and school administrations (optimizing procurement and lunch schedules). It also shares international best practices from Scotland, Poland, and the USA.

The report provides a state-by-state breakdown of progress toward 2020 Clean Power Plan benchmarks, noting that some states have exceeded 500% of their goals while others show 0% progress. It highlights the role of energy efficiency, renewable energy standards, and regional initiatives in achieving these targets.

WRI analysis indicates that Arkansas could reduce power sector CO2 emissions by 39 percent below 2011 levels by 2020 through a combination of infrastructure optimization and clean energy strategies. Key opportunities include increasing the utilization of natural gas plants to 75 percent, expanding combined heat and power (CHP) systems, improving coal plant efficiency, meeting energy efficiency targets, and increasing renewable energy sources to 15 percent of the state's electricity.

The document highlights the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency programs in the U.S., citing specific utility savings in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Arkansas, and economic projections for Massachusetts and Wisconsin. It advocates for scaling up federal appliance standards, updating building codes, and implementing financing mechanisms like PACE and green banks to increase adoption.