Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines how U.S. ports are addressing climate change through mitigation strategies to reduce emissions and adaptation measures to increase resilience against sea level rise and extreme weather.

As of August 2021, fewer than 1% of U.S. school buses are electric, with 95% still relying on diesel. Adoption is led by California and Montgomery County, Maryland, though deployment is heavily skewed toward suburban areas (64% of committed buses). While some electric buses are in highly vulnerable communities, this is largely due to targeted funding in California. Federal initiatives like the American Jobs Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework provide scaling opportunities, though the report warns that funding 'clean' fossil-fuel alternatives like natural gas hinders decarbonization goals.

This briefing by the Decommissioning Working Group argues that U.S. nuclear energy policy is not evidence-based and that the NRC is captured by industry interests. It highlights critical gaps in the management of decommissioning trust funds, the safety of spent fuel storage canisters, and the lack of safety standards for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), recommending a shift toward science-based standards and increased Congressional oversight.

This fact sheet from RMI outlines the climate, health, and economic advantages of transitioning US buildings from fossil fuels to clean electricity for heating and cooking, arguing that electrification is the only established method to eliminate carbon pollution from residential and commercial appliances.

This RMI briefing argues that the United States must accelerate its leadership in electric vehicle (EV) adoption to address climate change, noting that transportation is the country's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The document highlights rapid technological advancements in battery design, increasing demand from state governments and major corporations, and the necessity of scaling charging infrastructure to meet a zero-emissions mobility system by 2050.

This report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides 30 federal policy recommendations to enhance the climate resilience of U.S. coastal communities. Based on a series of 16 Congressional briefings featuring 42 experts, the document outlines strategies across six themes: community engagement, land use and development, cultural heritage, climate data, disaster preparedness, and financing. It emphasizes the need for policies based on future climate projections, the integration of climate justice, and the prioritization of nature-based solutions over traditional gray infrastructure.

This fact sheet details a USD 13 million green bond issued by the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority on July 8, 2020, to fund energy savings capital improvements for water and sewerage systems.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides a comprehensive regulatory framework for decarbonizing the US building sector, primarily through electrification. It outlines ten key strategies for public utilities commissions (PUCs) and government agencies to transition away from fossil fuel infrastructure, emphasizing equity, market transformation, and the management of stranded asset risks.

This briefing transcript from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) features experts discussing coastal resilience strategies in the Northeast United States. The discussion focuses on nature-based adaptation solutions, the challenges of rural and urban planning, and the necessity of coordinated funding and governance to protect communities, infrastructure, and fisheries from sea level rise and storm surges.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines legislative progress made by the 115th Congress to improve the resilience of U.S. infrastructure against extreme weather and climate change. It details specific provisions in laws affecting disaster recovery, water systems, national defense, and natural infrastructure, while identifying remaining gaps for the 116th Congress, such as energy grid resilience and National Flood Insurance Program reform.

This briefing by RMI outlines the progress made in the US electricity landscape during 2018 and identifies the structural barriers and regulatory questions that must be addressed in 2019 to accelerate the clean energy transition. It focuses on the need to reform utility business models, modernize grid planning, integrate beneficial electrification, and ensure an equitable transition for low-income customers and communities affected by the retirement of uneconomic fossil fuel assets.

The Carbon-Free Regions Handbook: Land Use is a guide by RMI that provides four specific actions for subnational governments to address climate goals through land management, open space conservation, methane capture, and regenerative agriculture.

A fact sheet detailing a USD 255 million solar asset-backed security (ABS) issued by Helios, a subsidiary of Sunnova Energy Corporation, to support residential solar installations in the United States and its territories.

This research paper compares the electric vehicle (EV) policies of the United States and China, focusing on financial incentives, charging infrastructure, research and development, and fleet procurement. It highlights China's more aggressive approach to subsidies and mandates compared to the U.S. system of tax credits and state-level incentives.

This fact sheet describes the formation and goals of the United States Climate Alliance and other subnational efforts to uphold the 2016 Paris Agreement following the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw the United States from the accord.

This World Resources Institute fact sheet provides data on employment growth within the United States clean energy economy, focusing on solar, wind, energy efficiency, and alternative fuel vehicle sectors as of early 2016 and 2017.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides a historical overview of octane additives in U.S. gasoline, detailing the transition from lead and other petroleum-based aromatics to ethanol due to health and environmental concerns. It discusses the role of the EPA in regulating fuel composition to reduce tailpipe emissions and improve engine efficiency.

This case study analyzes the $6.8 billion merger between Exelon and Pepco Holdings, which created the largest utility in the United States. The document uses the contentious approval process in the District of Columbia to identify five broader trends in the U.S. power sector: increased utility consolidation to hedge against volatile wholesale markets, disputes over microgrid ownership, the criticality of rate design equity, the rise of mobilized customer constituencies, and the proliferation of state-level power sector transformation proceedings.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines the history and evolution of octane additives in United States gasoline, detailing the transition from lead and other petroleum-based aromatics to ethanol due to health and environmental concerns.

This fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of the global offshore wind energy sector as of early 2016, contrasting the established European market with the emerging industry in the United States. It details the technical advantages of offshore wind over onshore wind, current installation capacities, key market players, and the economic and environmental impacts of the transition.