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The briefing identifies three specific water-quality hotspots in Manitoba based on 2016 Census of Agriculture data: the Southwest Red River Valley (high fertilizer application), Southwestern Manitoba (high conservation tillage), and the Southeast Red River Valley (high non-incorporated manure application). It argues that spatial targeting of natural infrastructure, such as engineered wetlands, and beneficial management practices can maximize the efficiency of public investments to reduce nutrient runoff into Lake Winnipeg.

The document argues that electric utilities are critical partners in the transition to electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. It recommends three primary investment models—make-ready, end-to-end ownership, and rebate incentives—and suggests restructuring commercial rates to eliminate or reduce demand charges. The guide emphasizes prioritizing disadvantaged communities burdened by air pollution and implementing 'managed charging' to optimize grid stability and integrate renewable energy.

The document highlights that EVs in Minnesota produce significantly lower global warming emissions than gasoline cars, with an average of 2.5 metric tons of CO2e per year compared to 4.9 metric tons. It notes that rural Minnesota drivers can save an average of $750 on fuel, while home charging in Minneapolis is equivalent to paying $0.67 per gallon of gasoline. EV sales in the state grew by 103 percent between 2017 and 2018. The report advocates for extending federal tax credits, implementing purchase incentives, and expanding the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program to further support the market.

The report finds that a significant portion of the U.S. coal fleet is now more expensive to operate than replacing it with new local wind and solar power. In 2018, 74% of the fleet was 'at risk' of being undercut by renewables, a figure projected to rise to 86% by 2025. The analysis emphasizes that these findings are conservative because they only consider resources within 35 miles of existing plants and do not account for broader transmission expansion or combined energy portfolios.

The report argues that traditional quasi-judicial regulatory processes are inadequate for the scale of current electricity system transformations and proposes a four-stage framework—initiation, vision communication, conduction, and delivery of outcomes—to achieve more successful reforms.

Climate Central's analysis of U.S. weather data from 1970 to 2018 reveals a broad warming trend, with 91% of assessed stations seeing winter temperatures rise by at least 1°F. This warming threatens the winter sports economy, which supported over 191,000 jobs and contributed $11.3 billion to the national economy in the 2015-16 season. The report highlights a decline in below-freezing days and divergent snowfall trends, with significant decreases in the Western U.S. and increases in the Great Lakes region. Future projections suggest that unchecked emissions could rob states like Colorado of more than a month of below-freezing days by midcentury.

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that the Trump administration halted, suppressed, or altered scientific studies to undermine evidence-based decision-making. Examples include the Department of Energy stopping the $100 million Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiment-Tropics and the Department of the Interior halting studies on offshore oil and gas inspections and mountaintop removal coal mining. The document recommends that Congress pass legislation to protect scientists' rights to review public materials, prohibit retaliation for raising integrity concerns, and request a Government Accountability Office report on agency scientific integrity policies.

The report documents a systemic effort by the Trump administration to marginalize scientific expertise in federal policymaking. Key tactics identified include the disbanding of science advisory committees, the suppression of research on climate change and public health, and the creation of a 'culture of fear' that encourages scientist self-censorship. The authors highlight specific failures in the EPA, DOI, and HHS, while providing a roadmap for the 116th Congress to restore scientific integrity through oversight and legislative reform.

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 report found hazardous substances, including PFASs and phthalates, in most of the 12 US carpets tested, including those marketed as environmentally friendly. It argues that these toxics hinder closed-loop recycling and that current US regulations and industry certifications are insufficient to protect consumers.

The policy brief examines the "steel for fuel" strategy, where utilities replace fossil fuel plants—which incur pass-through fuel costs with no earnings potential—with wind and solar assets that allow for regulated equity returns. Using Xcel Energy as a primary example, the document explains how this transition can reduce consumer bills through fuel savings while maintaining or increasing shareholder value. It highlights the role of competitive bidding and the balance between utility ownership and independent power producers (IPPs) to ensure the lowest costs for consumers.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) finds that over one-third of US nuclear plants are unprofitable or scheduled to close due to cheap natural gas and falling renewable costs. Without carbon-reduction policies, early retirements could increase US power sector emissions by 4% to 6% by 2035. The report recommends adopting carbon pricing or low-carbon electricity standards and conditioning any nuclear subsidies on strict safety performance and consumer protections.

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 Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) reports widespread PFAS contamination at US military bases, with many sites exceeding risk levels established by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The document highlights the health risks of these 'forever chemicals', the history of industry disinformation, and the failure of the US military to transition to fluorine-free firefighting foams.

The document identifies buildings as contributing almost one-third of global emissions and proposes three primary actions for regional governments: implementing net-zero building codes for new constructions, requiring energy efficiency upgrades for existing buildings, and establishing energy efficiency resource standards (EERS) for utilities.

The document outlines five specific actions for achieving carbon-free electricity: implementing Renewable Portfolio Standards, phasing out coal plants, modernizing rate designs, integrating distributed energy resources into grid planning, and expanding community solar access.

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, supported by Earthjustice, has petitioned a federal court to compel the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to oversee a wetland permit for the Back Forty Mine. The proposed 80-acre, 750-foot-deep mine by Aquila Resources, Inc. is located 50 yards from the Menominee River and is opposed by the tribe and numerous local governments due to risks to public health, water quality, and sacred cultural sites.

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 document details the positive outcomes of institutional food procurement policies, showing that local sourcing increases regional economic output and job creation. It highlights environmental benefits, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and water use through meat reduction, and projects significant health improvements—including lower sodium intake and reduced risks of type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer—for students and adults in Los Angeles County. Additionally, it analyzes the increasing availability of antibiotic-free chicken in the US supply chain and compares the cost of procuring such meat against the high medical costs of treating antibiotic-resistant infections.

The report argues that reintegrating livestock into diversified cropping systems can improve farmer profits and reduce environmental degradation. Using economic and environmental modeling, it demonstrates that transitioning from corn-soy monocultures to perennial pastures and complex rotations can sequester soil carbon, reduce synthetic fertilizer and fuel use, and lower water footprints. However, the author notes that these systems typically produce less beef per acre, suggesting that the greatest benefits occur when improved management is paired with a reduction in overall beef consumption. The report concludes with policy recommendations for the USDA and Congress to incentivize regenerative practices through conservation programs, crop insurance reform, and increased agroecological research.