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Colorado faces a housing shortage requiring approximately 325,000 units to stabilize prices, which currently drives suburban sprawl and increases greenhouse gas emissions. The document proposes transit-oriented development (TOD) and 'missing middle housing' as solutions to reduce vehicle miles traveled and land consumption. Specifically, RMI estimates that upzoning and infilling along transit corridors in the Denver metro could reduce per-capita vehicle miles traveled by 13% and greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2040.

The briefing contends that current oil price benchmarks, such as WTI and Brent, fail to account for the varying greenhouse gas emissions intensities of the oils they comprise. It highlights that oils with similar quality and price can have climate footprints that differ by a factor of two to five, creating perverse incentives. By integrating data from the Oil Climate Index plus Gas (OCI+), the author suggests that the market could better incentivize emissions reductions and allow buyers to accurately account for supply chain emissions.

The analysis finds that export-only electrolyzer projects—which use co-located clean energy and can sell excess power to the grid—are financially competitive across large areas of the U.S. Using test sites in West Texas, near Houston, and Southwest Minnesota, the study demonstrates that these projects can generate profits even with conservative power price assumptions and current capital costs. Hydrogen sales, bolstered by the 45V tax credit, account for 72-79% of total revenue. The authors conclude that strict adherence to the principles of additionality, deliverability, and hourly time-matching is compatible with industry growth.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis attributes 48 percent of the rise in fire-danger conditions in western North America since 1901 and 37 percent of the cumulative burned forest area since 1986 to emissions from the 88 largest fossil fuel and cement companies. In Colorado, over 5,000 wildfires burned more than 1 million acres between 2017 and 2021, including the record-breaking 2020 Cameron Peak Fire. The document argues that these companies should be held accountable for the costs of climate change and recommends that state governments implement policies to reduce human-ignited fires, increase forest health resources, and protect vulnerable communities.

The report examines the implementation of the Section 45V hydrogen production tax credit from the Inflation Reduction Act. It argues that loose guidance on emissions accounting could lead to significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions and create an industry reliant on subsidies. The authors propose a framework based on three principles: additionality (requiring new clean energy sources), deliverability (requiring local, physically deliverable power), and time-matching (requiring hourly alignment of production and generation). Financial analysis of test sites in Texas, Minnesota, and Houston suggests that projects adhering to these strict standards remain profitable, particularly in regions with high wind and solar resource quality.

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the constant temperature of the earth to provide efficient heating and cooling with zero direct emissions. While installation costs are higher than fossil fuel alternatives, the Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits and rebates that can reduce these costs by up to 50%. In the U.S. Midwest, GHPs can reduce emissions by 85-90% compared to gas or propane furnaces and use approximately 80% less energy annually. The document highlights 'networked geothermal' systems for campuses and neighborhoods as a way to achieve over 500% efficiency and lower individual costs through economies of scale.

Embodied carbon, which accounts for 11 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, refers to the emissions released during the lifecycle of building materials. Reduction strategies include using carbon-storing materials like mass timber, adopting 3D printing and robotic automation, and implementing material efficiency through modular construction. In the US, the Inflation Reduction Act provides nearly $10 billion for reducing embodied carbon, while several states have adopted 'Buy Clean' laws. RMI research indicates that low-cost embodied carbon solutions can reduce emissions by 19 to 46 percent with cost premiums under 1 percent.

The document argues that current British Columbia regulations are insufficient to meet 2025 methane reduction targets, as emissions are often underestimated and compliance is low. It recommends implementing more stringent standards by 2025, including the elimination of routine venting and flaring, lower tank emission limits, and monthly instrument-based leak detection and repair (LDAR). The coalition also urges the province to accelerate its target for near-zero methane emissions from 2035 to 2030, aligning with the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI). Specific technical recommendations cover the adoption of zero-bleed pneumatic equipment, tighter standards for reciprocating and centrifugal compressors, and the implementation of a 'super emitter' response program based on third-party remote monitoring.

The document evaluates the transition to a western RTO, arguing it could streamline clean energy deployment, improve grid reliability, and reduce costs, while warning of risks regarding California's Renewables Portfolio Standard, gas plant retirements, and governance shifts.

A coalition of environmental justice organizations argues that the EPA's proposed regulations for the oil and gas sector must be strengthened to protect Black, Latine, tribal, and low-income communities. The commenters detail how these groups suffer disproportionate health risks from air and water pollution, economic burdens from orphaned wells and property devaluation, and heightened climate vulnerability. They recommend specific policy enhancements, including stricter leak detection and repair (LDAR) requirements, the elimination of routine flaring, and more robust community monitoring and well-closure mandates.

The report demonstrates that implementing five core policies—clean electricity standards, zero-emission vehicle standards, clean building equipment standards, industrial efficiency and emissions standards, and methane detection and capture standards—can dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), the authors find that these policies not only reduce emissions but also drive job growth, increase GDP, and prevent premature deaths by reducing air pollutants. The analysis highlights that while state emissions profiles vary—with Louisiana dominated by industry and New Mexico by methane from oil and gas—these five policies provide a consistent framework for decarbonization.

In 2022, private equity healthcare investments in the US remained high, with 125 buyouts and 503 add-on acquisitions. Outpatient care, medtech, and health IT were the most active categories. The report highlights risks associated with the private equity model, such as cost-cutting and high debt, which may negatively impact patient care and increase prices. It recommends expanding federal and state pre-merger reviews for all private equity-backed healthcare transactions.

The report finds that 99% of U.S. coal plants are more expensive to operate than to replace with new renewable energy. It highlights that local solar and wind resources, bolstered by IRA tax credits and the ability to reuse existing grid interconnections, offer a cost-effective path for coal retirement. The analysis suggests that the savings from this transition could fund 137 GW of four-hour battery storage to maintain grid reliability. The authors recommend that policymakers update resource plans, improve interconnection processes, and utilize IRA financing to ensure a just economic transition for coal-dependent communities.

The report details how private equity firms are acquiring and managing rural hospitals and other health services, such as air ambulances and behavioral health centers. It argues that the pursuit of high short-term returns often leads to cost-cutting, asset-stripping through sale-leaseback transactions, and reduced access to essential services. The document provides case studies of hospital closures and quality failures, and it calls for increased regulatory oversight, limits on dividend recapitalizations, and direct public investment to safeguard rural health systems.

The Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) is a free, open-source tool developed by RMI and Energy Innovation to model the environmental, economic, and health impacts of energy policies across the lower 48 US states. The tool supports the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program by enabling states to calculate GHG inventories, project emissions through 2050, build scenarios to meet reduction targets, and quantify the co-benefits of mitigation measures, such as public health improvements and economic development.

The signatories argue that the Council of the European Union's version of the Methane Regulation significantly reduces the effectiveness of the original European Commission proposal. Key concerns include the extension of monitoring and reporting timelines, a reduction in the frequency of Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) inspections, and the potential for unchecked venting of methane. The authors highlight that the EU risks lagging behind the United States and Canada, where more stringent LDAR requirements are already in place or proposed. They also emphasize that the regulation must address methane emissions from imported energy, as up to 90% of emissions related to EU consumption occur outside the EU, and warn against the weakening of provisions regarding methane venting in the coal sector.

The report argues that while the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) significantly advances U.S. climate goals, it is insufficient on its own to meet the 2030 NDC. Using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), the authors propose a comprehensive set of additional federal, state, and local policies across the electricity, industry, transportation, and building sectors. The electricity sector is identified as the primary driver for 2030 reductions due to its ability to decarbonize faster than sectors limited by slow stock turnover. Proposed measures include a nationwide 80 percent clean electricity standard, stricter tailpipe emissions standards, and the electrification of industrial and building heating. The report estimates that this combined policy pathway would create 2.7 million additional jobs, grow GDP by $700 billion, and avoid 3,900 premature deaths by 2030.

The report analyzes the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on the U.S. building sector, highlighting its potential to reduce annual emissions by 32 to 33 million metric tons of CO2e by 2030. It details various residential rebates (HEEHRA, HOMES), tax credits (25C, 25D, 45L), and commercial incentives (179D), while emphasizing that these must be paired with stricter appliance standards and updated building codes to overcome slow stock turnover. The document provides specific implementation guidance for State Energy Offices and utility regulators to ensure an equitable transition, particularly for low-to-moderate-income households.

A 50-state survey by Global Energy Monitor reveals that major U.S. corporations in the tech, banking, and insurance sectors frequently employ lobbyists who also represent fossil fuel interests. This creates a paradox where companies with public net-zero pledges provide political cover and credibility to lobbyists promoting continued fossil fuel dependence. The report highlights specific companies—such as Amazon, State Farm, and Bank of America—and notes that weak state disclosure laws and the absence of a national database hinder accountability.

The Upper Rio Grande Basin is in moderate condition with an overall score of 54% (C), facing severe threats from climate change, drought, and population pressure. While municipal water supplies remain strong, annual low flows are critically low, and the river's natural hydrology is heavily altered, particularly in southern New Mexico and Texas. Scenario modeling indicates that rising temperatures and declining precipitation will further reduce water availability for agriculture and ecological flows by 2050. Proposed mitigation strategies include reducing irrigation losses, fallowing agricultural land, and reducing municipal water demand to restore environmental flows.