Search Climate Insights Directory

A national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) in Mississippi could save nearly $2 billion and create 2,700 new jobs by 2020, while reducing electricity consumption by 11% by 2015.

The document highlights the water-energy nexus in Mississippi, noting that thermoelectric power plants account for 10% of the state's freshwater withdrawals. It proposes policy priorities including the prioritization of low-water energy technologies, the adoption of energy and water-efficient products, and the implementation of water recycling and solar water heating. It also quantifies the energy costs associated with water heating and treatment, suggesting that widespread adoption of high-efficiency fixtures could save millions in bills.

The Southeast United States accounts for 20% of U.S. energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, with a heavy reliance on fossil fuels (80%) and high per capita electricity use. Rapid population growth is projected to increase energy demand, particularly in electricity generation, which already constitutes 45% of regional energy consumption. The region's dependence on imported fossil fuels exposes it to price volatility and supply disruptions, while its emissions profile makes it a significant global contributor to climate change.

The Southeast United States has sufficient renewable energy resources to meet up to 30 percent of its electric power needs by 2025. The region can leverage biomass, solar, wind, and low-impact hydropower to reduce reliance on conventional power, though this requires overcoming regulatory barriers such as restrictive third-party power pricing and insufficient interconnection rules. The document argues that a national or state-level renewable electricity standard (RES) would drive job growth and economic investment with minimal impact on consumer electricity costs.

The document argues that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to meet rising electricity demand in the Southeast US, potentially reducing expected use by 20% by 2025. It identifies regulatory and financial barriers and recommends the adoption of Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS), updated building codes, and alternative utility business models to drive investment across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

The document explains how nuclear power plants use water to absorb waste heat and cool equipment, detailing once-through and closed-cycle cooling systems. It highlights the significant volumes of water required, the environmental impact on aquatic life, and the critical role of the Ultimate Heat Sink (UHS) during accidents. The author argues that the primary safety hazard is not radioactive leakage, but rather the failure of water to reach the plant or leaking into the plant.

The report analyzes the vulnerability of the Gulf Coast's diverse ecosystems—from upland forests to coral reefs—to rising temperatures and sea levels. It highlights that while climate change poses significant threats to water resources, biodiversity, and public health, current human activities like shoreline development and water engineering remain the primary drivers of ecological change. The authors advocate for a three-pronged strategy of mitigation, minimization of human impacts, and adaptive management to safeguard the region's economic and natural heritage.

The document argues that CCS is essential for decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial sectors like cement and steel and for achieving net-negative emissions after 2050. It details the technical process of capturing CO2 using amines or membranes and storing it in saline aquifers or depleted reservoirs at depths exceeding 800 metres. The text asserts that geological storage is permanent and safe, with projected annual leak rates as low as 0.0002% in regulated industries. While costs vary by source—ranging from under 90 euro per tonne for fertilisers to 700 euro for direct air capture—the document suggests that government support for shared infrastructure can drive down costs, similar to the trajectory of offshore wind. It highlights approximately 100 proposed projects in Europe, particularly around the North Sea, and notes that the EU may need to capture 300 to 600 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2050.

Since the 2018 45Q reform, 84 carbon management projects have been announced in the U.S., with a significant surge in 2021. The majority of these projects are industrial-sector initiatives utilizing saline storage, though regional infrastructure in the Midwest is enabling ethanol projects. The power sector accounts for 23% of projects, primarily natural gas and coal plants, while only one large-scale Direct Air Capture plant is planned.

Mississippi generates 1.75 million tons of coal ash annually, ranking 24th in the United States. The state utilizes several landfills and one coal ash pond at the Jack Watson plant, though critical data on liner integrity and monitoring is lacking or withheld as confidential business information.

The report details a concerted effort by the Trump administration and members of Congress to restrict judicial review, expand forced arbitration, limit class action lawsuits, and increase the financial risks of public interest litigation. It argues that these measures, often supported by corporate interests, undermine the constitutional system of checks and balances and disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The document provides specific examples of pending bills and administrative directives that would shield government agencies and corporations from legal accountability, specifically citing impacts on the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and medical malpractice recovery.

The document examines the transition from diesel-powered transit buses to hybrid-electric alternatives, highlighting significant reductions in emissions and fuel consumption. It details the technical differences between series and parallel hybrid configurations and analyzes the financial barriers to adoption, noting that while hybrid buses have a higher purchase price, federal grants and lower operational costs mitigate these expenses. By 2006, over 900 hybrid buses were in service across more than 40 North American transit agencies.

The document outlines the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency in Mississippi, asserting that specific policies could save the state $873 million and avoid 2.6 million tons of CO2 by 2030.

The document consists of a collection of 45 figures mapping the FSEIS routes for nuclear waste transport through nearly every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.

The research identifies 656 industrial facilities and 174 ethanol plants in the contiguous U.S. as primary opportunities for point-source carbon capture. It focuses exclusively on process emissions, excluding indirect emissions from the electrical grid and stationary combustion. The study employs a technology-agnostic cost model to estimate the cost of CO2 avoided, incorporating capture, compression, transport (via trucking or pipeline), and injection costs. Key sectors analyzed include cement, bioethanol, refining, hydrogen, and ammonia production, with a particular emphasis on the proximity of these facilities to sedimentary basins and existing CO2 pipelines to determine eligibility for the federal 45Q tax credit.

Analysis shows that the weighted average cost of coal power in the U.S. rose from $36/MWh in 2021 to $46/MWh in 2024, a 28 percent increase that outpaced inflation. This rise is attributed to higher fuel, operations, and maintenance costs, as well as declining capacity factors. Despite these economics, some U.S. federal policies and state regulators have extended the lives of expensive plants, such as Plant Bowen in Georgia and the Hunter and Huntington plants in Utah, potentially increasing the financial burden on electricity consumers.

The document argues that U.S. states should implement 'no-regrets' actions in building and industrial efficiency to counter the negative economic impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which is projected to cost households $170 billion in higher energy bills and reduce GDP by $1.1 trillion by 2035. It advocates for the deployment of heat pumps and electric boilers, noting that residential heat pumps have held a 56 percent market share for space heating since 2021. The briefing specifically highlights the potential of industrial electric heat pumps for low-temperature heat (under 200 °C), which are two to four times more efficient than fossil-fueled versions but currently make up less than 2 percent of the market. To overcome barriers such as upfront capital and high electricity rates, the document recommends a suite of policy actions, including adopting modern energy codes, implementing building performance standards, providing point-of-sale rebates, and creating revolving loan funds.

The report provides a state-by-state breakdown of progress toward 2020 Clean Power Plan benchmarks, noting that some states have exceeded 500% of their goals while others show 0% progress. It highlights the role of energy efficiency, renewable energy standards, and regional initiatives in achieving these targets.