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This fact sheet provides a global overview of high-speed rail (HSR) development, contrasting the extensive networks in Asia and Europe with the limited deployment in the United States. It details the history of HSR, the technical standards for speed, the economic and environmental benefits of rail over air and car travel, and the current status of projects in China, Japan, France, and the U.S.

This briefing, compiled by a coalition of public interest groups and published by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, outlines the technical, economic, and regulatory challenges associated with decommissioning nuclear power plants in the United States. It highlights significant risks to public health and safety, the inadequacy of current waste storage and funding, and the lack of local government oversight during the decommissioning process.

The Climate Bonds Initiative conducted a scoping exercise to identify the potential for US municipal issuers to scale up green bond issuance. The study identified USD 264 billion in outstanding bonds from 1,436 'pure-play' climate-aligned issuers—entities deriving more than 95% of their revenue from climate solutions—most of which are not currently labeled as green bonds.

This research note by Energy Innovation analyzes the economic and environmental impacts of a proposed Trump Administration policy to freeze federal fuel economy standards for cars and SUVs at 2020 levels, undoing planned increases for model years 2022 to 2025.

A fact sheet detailing a USD 35 million green bond issuance by the Placer County Public Financing Authority to refinance the mPower Placer Program, a PACE-equivalent initiative for energy and water efficiency in California.

This research note examines 'consignment auctioning,' a hybrid carbon allowance distribution method used in California's emission trading system (ETS) that combines elements of free allocation and auctioning. The authors propose this model as a potential solution for China's national ETS to introduce auctioning while mitigating economic shocks to covered entities and bypassing institutional barriers regarding the handling of government revenue.

A fact sheet detailing a USD 255 million solar asset-backed security (ABS) issued by Helios, a subsidiary of Sunnova Energy Corporation, to support residential solar installations in the United States and its territories.

A Green Bond Fact Sheet detailing a USD 91.1 million issuance by the California Statewide Communities Development Authority on May 23, 2018, to fund projects at Marin General Hospital.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) advocates for the implementation of Minimum Efficiency Standards for Rentals (MESR) as a strategy for cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve residential energy security. Using the 'SmartRegs' program in Boulder, Colorado, as a primary case study, the document provides a seven-step roadmap for other cities to integrate energy efficiency requirements into their rental licensing processes.

This executive summary by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlines four key insights derived from interviews with eight leading net-zero energy (NZE) home builders in the US, who collectively account for 20 percent of the country's single-family NZE homes. The document discusses the economic viability of NZE homes, strategies for customer acquisition, the impact of labor shortages on construction methods, and the risk-mitigation benefits of building high-performance homes.

This guide by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that ride-hailing drivers for transportation network companies (TNCs) are ideal candidates for electric vehicle (EV) adoption due to high vehicle utilization, which maximizes savings on fuel and maintenance and increases potential carbon offsets.

The San Rafael Joint Powers Financing Authority issued a USD 45.5 million green bond on March 26, 2018, to fund a new public safety centre and two fire stations, all of which achieved LEED Gold certification.

This case study describes the application of a participatory decision-making process to develop a groundwater sustainability plan for Yolo County, California, testing various management strategies against climate and regulatory uncertainties.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative explains how green securitisation—the process of creating asset-backed securities (ABS) from low-carbon assets—can unlock finance for small-scale projects. It details various structures including synthetic ABS, PACE ABS, solar ABS, and green mortgage-backed securities, highlighting how aggregating small assets allows institutional investors to provide capital to SMEs and urban infrastructure.

This research paper compares the electric vehicle (EV) policies of the United States and China, focusing on financial incentives, charging infrastructure, research and development, and fleet procurement. It highlights China's more aggressive approach to subsidies and mandates compared to the U.S. system of tax credits and state-level incentives.

Friends of the Earth opposes a draft 5-year oil and gas leasing plan by the Trump administration that would expand offshore drilling off the coast of California. The organization highlights the risks of environmental disaster and supports state-level legislation in California to block the necessary fossil fuel infrastructure for new leases.

A statement by CIEL President & CEO Carroll Muffett criticizing Exxon's legal strategy of filing discovery requests and lawsuits against public officials, attorneys, and organizations investigating the company's role in the climate crisis.

This briefing by RMI argues that current commercial electricity rate designs, specifically noncoincident demand charges, encourage inefficient battery storage use that can conflict with the needs of renewable-heavy power grids. The document advocates for a transition to time-varying rates and compensation for grid services to better align customer incentives with system-wide operational requirements.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) explores how electric utilities can move beyond traditional bill assistance to collaborate with low-and moderate-income (LMI) customers. It identifies new business models leveraging distributed energy resources (DERs) to reduce energy burdens, improve health and environmental outcomes, and create grid value.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the socio-economic and climate-related vulnerabilities of the Mendoza wine region in Argentina. It highlights a divide between large, efficient growers and smallholders who struggle with quality standards and economic stability. The document also analyzes the region's dependence on mountain snowmelt and glaciers for water, noting that current water laws are outdated for current climate trends, and suggests looking to California's groundwater management as a potential model for reform.