Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines the growth of private equity (PE) in the behavioral health sector, specifically focusing on autism, eating disorders, and addiction treatment. It argues that PE's demand for outsized returns in an underfunded sector creates risks such as inadequate staffing, reliance on unlicensed personnel, and the potential for patient abuse. The document provides detailed case studies of Sequel Youth and Family Services and Community Intervention Services to illustrate these risks, including allegations of fraud, neglect, and systemic abuse across multiple US states.

The policy brief addresses the 2020 California blackouts, refuting claims that renewable energy caused the outages. It identifies climate-driven extreme heat and the failure of gas generators as contributing factors. The author argues that a diverse mix of resources, including battery storage and green hydrogen, is necessary to ensure 21st-century grid reliability.

The report analyzes the link between synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use in the Midwest and the formation of a hypoxic 'dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico. It estimates that agricultural nitrogen losses have caused between $552 million and $2.4 billion in annual damages to Gulf fisheries and marine habitat ecosystem services since 1980. The authors argue that shifting to sustainable agricultural practices—such as cover cropping and conservation tillage—can reduce these losses, providing a significant return on investment by restoring marine productivity and improving soil resilience for farmers.

The document identifies three primary transmission modes for SARS-CoV-2: direct physical contact, intermediate inanimate objects, and respiratory droplets or aerosols. It highlights that fine particles (<10 µm) can reach pulmonary alveoli, while larger droplets (>100 µm) contribute primarily to contact transmission. Environmental factors such as low temperatures and specific relative humidity levels are noted to increase virus survival, while solar ultraviolet radiation acts as a natural virucide. The report discusses correlations between high levels of atmospheric pollutants, such as NO2 and PM2.5, and increased COVID-19 mortality and incidence in regions including Northern Italy, Spain, China, and the United States, suggesting that pollution may predispose individuals to more severe infections.

The report argues that rate-regulated utilities use 'self-commitment' to bypass market merit order, running coal plants that are objectively uneconomic and passing the resulting losses to captive customers through state fuel-cost-recovery processes. Using PLEXOS modeling for the MISO region in 2018, the authors find that this practice cost customers $350 million and suppressed regional market clearing prices by 2.4%. The report identifies Cleco and DTE Energy as significant contributors to these distortions and recommends that state regulators disallow the recovery of imprudent, above-market costs to incentivize efficient dispatch.

The document advocates for a transition to cleaner transportation fuels in the US Midwest, highlighting the region's leadership in biofuels and wind energy. It proposes clean fuels standards as a mechanism to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation, promote higher ethanol blends, and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

A survey of registered voters across five U.S. states reveals significant concern over extreme weather, trade wars, and water pollution as threats to agriculture. There is broad support for government programs that help farmers build "living soil" and protect soil health, with a majority of respondents indicating they would be more likely to support a political candidate proposing such measures.

The document highlights the critical role of soil health in the US food system and the negative impacts of decades of short-sighted farm policies. It details the economic and environmental costs of soil erosion and degradation, including water pollution and increased vulnerability to extreme weather. The brief proposes a transition to practices such as cover cropping and no-till farming to sequester carbon and improve resilience, while recommending specific policy shifts in financial incentives, research funding, and technical assistance.

The document details regional climate threats in four early primary states, emphasizing that rapid federal action to reduce emissions can significantly mitigate extreme heat, flooding, and economic loss. It highlights specific vulnerabilities such as agricultural productivity in Iowa, tidal flooding in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and water scarcity in Nevada, while advocating for national policies including carbon pricing and clean energy standards.

The report examines the environmental impact of US grain production, specifically for breakfast cereals, and proposes that the four companies controlling 86% of the $8.5 billion US market can catalyze a shift toward regenerative agriculture. Through three scenarios based on Iowa State University research, the authors demonstrate that sourcing grains from sustainable rotations (including oats and cover crops) can significantly reduce soil erosion, nitrogen runoff, and nitrous oxide emissions. The document recommends a combination of corporate sourcing commitments and state/federal policy support to help farmers overcome the up-front costs of transitioning to these practices.

Voters in six key U.S. swing states show strong support for policies that reduce fossil fuel emissions and expand renewable energy, with many indicating they are more likely to support political candidates who champion these initiatives. The report finds that climate change is a salient issue, particularly among Democratic-leaning voters, and that a majority of voters in these states recognize a link between climate change and worsening extreme weather. There is broad preference for prioritizing wind and solar energy over natural gas or nuclear power to meet state energy needs, and voters generally believe that transitioning to renewables will benefit their local economies and public health.

A 2019 survey of 519 registered Iowa voters reveals strong support for government action on climate change, including a 100% renewable portfolio standard by 2050 and increased funding for wind and solar energy. Voters perceive climate change as negatively impacting Iowa's agriculture, extreme weather, and economy, and they generally prefer candidates who support climate-focused policies and resilient infrastructure.

The document explores the integration of customer clean energy demand into utility planning, focusing on the role of Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) in the US. It argues that early collaboration between utilities and customers can lead to more efficient clean energy procurement, faster decarbonization, and lower costs. The report details the IRP process, identifies barriers to customer engagement—such as limited resources and lack of transparency—and provides pathways for involvement through direct engagement, stakeholder forums, and regulatory proceedings.

The petition argues that the EPA's aggregate compliance scheme allows the conversion of millions of acres of native grasslands into corn and soy cropland, violating the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. This conversion is linked to significant greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and habitat loss. The petitioners request that the EPA require individualized proof of compliance for each biomass source and adjust renewable volume obligations to match the supply of EISA-compliant land.

The guide explains that the carbon-reduction impact of renewable energy projects varies by location because different projects displace different types of power plants. It argues that relying on proximity to operations as a proxy for quality may limit environmental benefits, suggesting instead that buyers target the most carbon-intensive areas to maximize avoided emissions.

Friends of the Earth coordinated a campaign involving over 70,000 signatures and member outreach to oppose the nomination of Sam Clovis as USDA Chief Scientist, citing his lack of scientific background and climate denial. The effort, combined with political pressure from Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and news of Clovis's involvement in the Russia investigation, led to Clovis withdrawing his nomination.

Organic Valley reached its goal of 100 percent renewable electricity by partnering with OneEnergy Renewables and the Upper Midwest Municipal Energy Group (UMMEG) to develop community-scale solar projects. Because Wisconsin is a regulated utility market, the cooperative avoided direct power purchase agreements in favor of a partnership that developed 12 MW of solar for Organic Valley and an additional 17 MW for nearby communities, totaling 29 MW. Organic Valley secures its renewable energy by purchasing all renewable energy certificates (RECs) for the life of the projects. The initiative also incorporates pollinator-friendly solar standards, planting native wildflowers to support bee and butterfly habitats.

The report presents five scenarios demonstrating that global warming can be limited to well below 2 C° if the world leverages exponential technological improvements and S-curve market diffusion. It highlights that experts often underestimate the speed of energy transitions by ignoring learning rates and systemic feedbacks. The proposed pathways involve reducing energy demand by approximately 60% through efficiency and electrification, shifting the electricity supply to over 90% renewables by 2040 in aggressive scenarios, and transforming agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) into a net carbon sink by the mid-2040s.

Federal fuel economy and vehicle emissions standards have saved Iowa $370 million to date and are projected to make each Iowa household $2,450 richer by 2030. These standards, set by the EPA and NHTSA in 2012, aim to nearly double the efficiency of new cars and light trucks by 2025, resulting in reduced oil use, lower fuel costs for consumers, and the creation of approximately 7,400 new jobs in Iowa.

The report argues that shifting from annual monocrops to farming systems with continuous living cover—such as perennials and cover crops—can create 'spongy' soils that reduce flood runoff and increase water availability during droughts. Based on a meta-analysis of 126 experiments and regional modeling in Iowa, the authors find that these practices improve water infiltration and soil porosity, potentially reducing rainfall runoff by up to 20% during floods and increasing crop water availability by up to 16% during droughts. The report concludes that current federal farm policies and crop insurance programs create barriers to these transitions and recommends USDA and Congressional reforms to incentivize ecological soil management.