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In 2024, wind and solar combined to generate 17% of US electricity, surpassing coal (15%) for the first time. While solar generation grew by a record 27% and battery storage expanded rapidly, overall power sector CO2 emissions rose slightly by 0.7% because a 3% increase in electricity demand drove higher gas generation. Despite this, carbon intensity reached a record low of 384 gCO2/kWh.

The authors critique the media's failure to link the Los Angeles mega-fires to the climate crisis, noting that coverage often ignores scientific links, repeats disinformation, or focuses on political disputes rather than the role of fossil fuel companies. While citing a few positive examples from outlets like Time and the Los Angeles Times, the piece asserts that accurate climate reporting is an essential solution to generate the public pressure needed for government action.

Batteries are scaling up rapidly in the US, supporting record solar growth and reducing reliance on gas and coal. In 2024, California and Nevada became the first states to exceed a 30% annual solar share. California's battery capacity grew nearly twentyfold between 2020 and 2024, allowing batteries to become the largest electricity source during evening hours in April 2024. Texas also saw significant growth, installing 3.9 GW of utility-scale battery capacity in 2024. Nationally, the US added 36 GW of new solar capacity in 2024, with 10 GW of utility-scale batteries added, reflecting a trend toward co-located solar-plus-battery projects.

The report examines the insurance crisis in California following devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, highlighting how private insurers like State Farm have restricted coverage or exited the market, pushing risk onto the state-supported FAIR Plan. It contends that insurers are complicit in the climate crisis due to over $500 billion in fossil fuel-related assets and argues for the adoption of legislation, such as SB222, to force fossil fuel companies to pay for climate-driven losses through the right of subrogation.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) urges the Connecticut General Assembly to pass HB 6873, arguing that private equity's business model—characterized by high debt and profit extraction—threatens healthcare stability. PESP cites the 2025 bankruptcy of Prospect Medical Holdings, which owns three Connecticut hospitals, as a primary example of how private equity ownership can lead to financial distress and diminished care quality. The testimony highlights that in 2024, 21% of healthcare bankruptcies involved private equity-owned companies. PESP supports HB 6873 because it would expand the 'notice of material change' statute to include joint ventures and sale-leaseback transactions, preventing firms from evading antitrust scrutiny or stripping assets through real estate deals.

The US Treasury's final 45V guidance establishes a market-based framework for green hydrogen projects to qualify for tax credits based on three pillars: incrementality, temporality, and deliverability. The rule allows annual matching of clean power until 2030, after which hourly matching is required. It provides flexibility by allowing emissions calculations per hour and per electrolyzer, preventing an 'all or nothing' loss of credits. Developers can currently use bilateral contracts and existing registries to demonstrate viability to financiers, while preparing for a more sophisticated hourly Energy Attribute Credit (EAC) market.

The U.S. may need to triple its transmission capacity by 2050, requiring over $40 billion in annual investment by 2031. Relying on private, for-profit utility financing risks increasing consumer rates and reducing political support for the energy transition. Research commissioned by the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) in California suggests that public or public-private financing using low-cost public debt could save ratepayers up to $3 billion annually, or $123 billion over 40 years. To achieve these savings, the document recommends that policymakers employ new institutional models, such as dedicated transmission authorities, and utilize low-cost public debt like bonds and loans. It highlights the roles of existing authorities in New Mexico and Colorado as examples. Key recommendations for state transmission authorities include using planning processes to test alternative financing, appointing coordinators to speed up implementation, utilizing credit enhancements, and issuing general obligation or revenue bonds to alleviate costs for ratepayers.

The 2024 Independent Assessment finds that Canadian carbon pricing systems are effective, delivering between a third and a half of all projected emissions reductions by 2030. While systems have harmonized in coverage and stringency since 2020, some large-emitter trading systems (LETS) in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan are at risk of losing effectiveness due to credit oversupply and adverse policy interactions. The report also notes that while LETS generally mitigate competitiveness risks for large emitters, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face varied exposure, with some sectors like water and truck transportation showing high vulnerability.

The report examines how a 21.8% rate hike for State Farm homeowners insurance in California, approved in March 2025 following devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, disproportionately affects policyholders in high-risk areas. It projects that the average State Farm policyholder in California will pay $841 more in 2025 than in 2023, with some communities seeing premiums more than double. The analysis highlights that 280,000 policyholders across 122 communities will face annual premium increases of $1,000 or more. The document argues that these escalating costs are a direct result of climate change and suggests that the financial burden should shift from policyholders to the oil and gas companies responsible for fossil fuel pollution.

The briefing highlights the bipartisan support and technological advancements, particularly in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), that are driving geothermal growth in the U.S. It notes that 1.16 GW of capacity is expected by 2028 and that the Trump administration's policies, including permitting exclusions and support from Energy Secretary Chris Wright, favor the sector. However, the author argues that geothermal cannot replace wind and solar, which are necessary to meet a projected 128 GW increase in demand by 2030.

The report argues that the private equity model of high leverage and short-term profit maximization is ill-suited for the US agricultural industry, which is characterized by fluctuating margins and a vulnerable migrant workforce. It highlights a trend of consolidation, citing that two private equity-owned firms control a majority of US fresh carrot production. The document details several case studies of bankruptcy and labor abuse, including Prima Wawona, Trinitas Farming, Windmill Farms, and Grimmway Farms. It further notes that the industry's reliance on H-2A visas and exemptions from the National Labor Relations Act exacerbates worker vulnerability, a situation further complicated by the Trump administration's mass deportation policies.

The report documents a shift in IDD services from non-profit providers to private equity-owned platforms, highlighting risks such as cost-cutting, financial extraction through dividend recapitalizations, and systemic quality failures. It provides case studies of companies like Sevita, Help at Home, and Broadstep Behavioral Health to illustrate patterns of abuse, neglect, and regulatory non-compliance.

The report finds that large-scale transmission projects in the US are cost-effective, with analyzed projects delivering benefits that exceed their costs and often surpass original expectations and regulatory standards.

The document examines the systemic failures of carbon offsetting, highlighting that most credits—particularly those for forestry and renewable energy—lack additionality and environmental integrity. It argues that offsetting often leads to an overall increase in emissions by delaying necessary mitigation and allowing continued investment in high-emitting technologies. The briefing concludes that carbon avoidance and reduction offsets have no place in ambitious climate policies, recommending that priority be given to direct emissions cuts and non-market-based climate finance.

C-PACE programs have provided $9 billion in financing for energy efficiency in 25 US states and cities, but most were established before embodied carbon data was available. The briefing proposes that C-PACE administrators update guidelines to classify low-embodied-carbon materials as "energy improvements," utilizing tools like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments. To incentivize this shift, the author suggests increasing financing limits for projects that demonstrate embodied carbon reduction. RMI is facilitating a working group through 2025 to develop nationwide best practices for integrating embodied carbon into C-PACE guidelines.

RMI outlines five key factors—facility suitability, electricity costs/net metering, energy efficiency, battery sizing, and available funding—to help US communities deploy solar-plus-battery microgrids that serve as resilience hubs during disasters.

An analysis of Southern California's heating equipment shows that heat pumps can be cheaper than gas alternatives due to incentives, potentially saving low-income households over $10,000 with federal rebates. However, fragmented application processes and insufficient funding levels hinder widespread adoption.

The U.S. clean energy sector saw record solar and battery storage installations in 2024, with renewables accounting for approximately 90% of new capacity. However, progress is hindered by grid interconnection backlogs, rising local opposition, high interest rates, and supply chain shortages. The report also notes a slowdown in EV sales growth and warns that the Trump administration's policies may create further roadblocks to decarbonization.

The report identifies peatland protection as an 'emergency brake' climate solution due to the high carbon density of these ecosystems, which store approximately 600 Gt of carbon. It estimates that protecting one hectare of peatland avoids between 0.92 and 13.47 t CO‚-eq/ha/yr, with the highest impact in tropical and subtropical regions. The net cost is estimated at US$1.5/ha/yr, or $0.25/t CO‚-eq avoided. While approximately 22% of global peatlands are in protected areas (PAs), the report suggests an achievable protection range of 70–90% of remaining undrained peatlands, which could reduce emissions by 1.3–1.7 Gt CO‚-eq/yr. The analysis emphasizes the critical role of Indigenous peoples' lands, which contain an additional 186 Mha of peatlands, and advocates for secure land tenure and community-led governance to ensure permanence and avoid leakage.

The document identifies access to finance as a primary barrier to zero-emission truck (ZET) adoption in India due to investor hesitancy and higher interest rates compared to diesel trucks. It proposes three financial mechanisms—risk-sharing facilities, tailored insurance, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)—drawing on examples from California, China, and Europe to accelerate India's ZET market growth.