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The report argues that New England's transmission costs are the highest in the U.S., driven by a lack of cohesive planning and a reliance on expensive private capital. It proposes replacing private equity and debt with low-cost, tax-exempt public financing, which could save ratepayers up to $8.3 billion on new transmission and $1.1 billion on asset condition projects. The authors suggest several implementation pathways, including integrating public financing into ISO New England's Longer-Term Transmission Planning (LTTP) process or creating new state transmission authorities.

The May 2026 report highlights that the month was the second-warmest on record globally, with carbon dioxide levels reaching a new monthly peak of 432.3 ppm. In the United States, spring 2026 was the second-warmest on record for the contiguous U.S., while 77% of the region experienced abnormally dry or drought conditions as of early June. The report also notes a developing potentially very strong El Niño and record-low snowpack in several western states.

The report details how private equity firms have acquired Medicaid contractors to capitalize on government-backed revenue, often leading to operational failures. It highlights systemic payment errors and wage theft allegations at Public Partnerships, LLC; massive debt-driven cost-cutting and fraud allegations at Gainwell Technologies; and delays in care authorizations and the use of offshore labor at Acentra Health. The document also warns of the risks associated with AI-driven analytics and the offshoring of sensitive patient health information to India.

The document examines the rapid growth of private equity-backed autism therapy services, specifically Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and its impact on Medicaid budgets. It highlights a pattern of widespread improper payments and billing issues identified in state audits, while noting that rising demand for services coincides with projected federal Medicaid funding cuts.

After a record year in 2024, the U.S. EV market experienced a 4% sales decline in 2025, driven by the expiration of federal tax credits and a volatile regulatory environment. While charging infrastructure continues to grow through private investment, nearly $20 billion in manufacturing projects have been canceled, particularly in the Midwest and South. Major automakers are shifting strategies toward hybrids and affordable models to mitigate losses, while workers face increased layoffs and production pauses. Despite these setbacks, long-term forecasts from BloombergNEF and the IEA suggest continued, albeit slower, EV adoption through 2030.

As of March 30, 2026, the western U.S. is experiencing a historic snow drought, with snow water equivalent at its lowest record for April 1 and 65% below the 1991-2020 normal. This condition is attributed to a record-warm winter and a record-shattering March heat wave fueled by heat-trapping pollution. Long-term trends from 1955 to 2023 show an 18% average decline in April 1 snowpack across 652 monitoring stations, with snow droughts growing 28% longer between 1980 and 2018. These trends increase risks for water supplies, hydropower, and wildfires, with projections suggesting a further 25% decline in snow water equivalent by 2050.

The report examines the growth of private equity (PE) in the autism therapy sector, highlighting a pattern of aggressive acquisitions and debt-driven management. It argues that PE-backed providers often prioritize profit over patient care by using standardized treatment plans, pressuring parents for more therapy hours, and engaging in fraudulent billing. State audits in Massachusetts, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Colorado reveal millions of dollars in improper Medicaid payments and inadequate staffing. The document concludes with policy recommendations, including facility-level licensure and rules to ensure a high percentage of Medicaid payments go directly to care worker compensation.

The brief supports the reversal of a district court decision that dismissed claims against the EPA for failing to regulate PFAS in sewage sludge. It asserts that PFAS are highly toxic 'forever chemicals' commonly found in sewage sludge used as fertilizer, which contaminates soil, water, and food chains. The authors argue that local governments in Pennsylvania and New York face significant technical, fiscal, and legal hurdles—including state preemption and 'Right to Farm' laws—that prevent them from protecting residents. Legally, the brief contends that CWA Section 405(d)(2)(C) requires the EPA to not only review but also promulgate regulations for newly identified toxic pollutants at least every two years.

RMI proposes five policies to accelerate heat pump adoption in Illinois: increasing incentives for heat pumps and weatherization while phasing out gas equipment subsidies, providing 0% financing, reforming electric and gas rate designs, implementing an AC-to-heat pump replacement policy, and adopting electric-friendly standards for new construction. The brief notes that while heat pumps can reduce energy bills for most Illinois households—particularly those using propane or electric resistance heat—high up-front costs remain a primary barrier.

The report analyzes a record-shattering heatwave in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico in March 2026, finding that such an event would have been virtually impossible without anthropogenic climate change. Using a combination of observation-based data and climate models, the study estimates that the intensity of 1-in-100-year March heat events has increased by 2.6°C and their likelihood has increased by a factor of approximately 800. The document highlights the extreme vulnerability of non-acclimatized populations and the risk of accelerated snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada and Colorado mountains.

Between December 2025 and February 2026, human-caused climate change significantly influenced global temperatures, with more than one in six people daily experiencing temperatures at least twice as likely due to climate change. In the United States, a sharp divide occurred: western states saw record-breaking warmth, with nine states experiencing their warmest December-February on record and Casper, Wyoming, recording the highest temperature anomaly globally among 960 analyzed cities. Conversely, the eastern U.S. faced below-average temperatures and cold snaps that the Climate Shift Index (CSI) indicates were made less likely by climate change. The record warmth in the west has led to low snowpack in Oregon, Colorado, and Utah, threatening water supplies and increasing wildfire risks.

An analysis of Texas oil and gas data reveals that methane waste is significantly underreported, with estimates suggesting actual losses are 3 to 4.5 times higher than official figures. The study finds that venting is the primary source of underreporting, particularly in low-production oil wells where economic incentives discourage gas capture. The report argues that current self-reporting systems are insufficient and recommends disaggregated reporting and more stringent regulations to reduce environmental harm and recover lost tax revenues.

March 2026 was the warmest March on record for the contiguous U.S., characterized by a historic snow drought in the West and extreme heat that increased cooling energy demand. Globally, the month was the second-warmest on record, with Arctic sea-ice reaching a near-record low maximum. In the U.S., severe drought affected 77% of the contiguous region, while Hawaii experienced record-breaking precipitation due to Kona lows.

RMI's analysis of more than 200 utility PIMs reveals a strong preference for 'upside-only' reward structures over penalties, with Return on Equity (ROE) and shared savings being the most common and highest-paying designs. While utilities consistently achieve targets for percentage adder-based and equity-focused PIMs, the report suggests that targets may be set too low. Most PIMs are short-term experiments lasting two to three years, except for fuel cost-sharing and distributed energy resource mechanisms, which often lack end dates to provide regulatory certainty.

The report examines various formulas for calculating methane intensity, evaluating trade-offs between simplicity, accuracy, and applicability. It specifically addresses the needs of the EU Methane Regulation, which requires a methodology for producer-level intensity by August 2027 to set maximum intensity thresholds for oil and gas placed on the Union market by 2030. The analysis covers key decisions such as using single versus separate formulas for oil and gas, the choice between produced and marketed product denominators, and the appropriate level of granularity for reporting.

The document outlines the complex regulatory and permitting landscape for transmission in Colorado, contrasting the processes for public utilities and independent developers. It highlights the role of the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority (CETA) in addressing transmission gaps identified in a 2024 study, specifically through its ability to issue revenue bonds, exercise eminent domain, and facilitate public-private partnerships to advance complex projects that traditional utility planning might overlook.

February 2026 was the fifth-warmest month globally on record, with the contiguous U.S. experiencing its second-warmest winter in 132 years. A critical 'snow drought' affected the western U.S., where snow-covered areas in January were only 34% of normal, threatening water supplies for agriculture and energy. Climate Central's analysis indicates that human-driven climate change significantly influenced winter temperatures, particularly in the Southwest, and is the primary cause of spring warming in 98% of 241 examined U.S. cities.

January 2026 was the fifth-warmest January on record globally, characterized by significant temperature anomalies in the U.S. West and record-low snowpacks in several states. The document highlights the transition of NOAA to the Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI) to better account for climate change in ENSO tracking. Attribution analysis using the Climate Shift Index (CSI) indicates that extreme warmth in the northern U.S. and specific cities like San Juan and Honolulu was strongly driven by carbon pollution.

The Private Equity Manufactured Housing Tracker identifies 23 private equity firms and hedge funds owning over 1,900 manufactured home parks and 400,000 lots in the U.S. It argues that institutional investors capitalize on the limited mobility of residents to increase rents and fees, often with financing from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The report details specific instances of rent hikes, poor maintenance, and unjust evictions, while calling for government intervention to preserve affordability and protect residents' rights.

The 2026 Progress Report details WWF's conservation efforts in 2025, focusing on the recovery of African elephants, mountain gorillas, snow leopards, bison, and sharks and rays. Key achievements include a consumer awareness campaign against ivory in Viet Nam, the establishment of a transboundary conservation area for snow leopards in Asia, and the restoration of bison herds in North America. The report emphasizes the use of scientific research, such as population censuses and GPS telemetry, to guide habitat management and policy across multiple continents.