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The document reports that 97% of 246 analyzed U.S. locations experienced an increase in average temperature during the period from December 25 to January 5 between 1969 and 2021. It details regional shifts in snowpack and precipitation, noting that winter is the fastest-warming season for most of the U.S., which increases the likelihood of precipitation falling as rain rather than snow.

The document examines Envision Healthcare as a case study for the risks associated with private equity in the medical sector. It details how Envision utilized a business model based on out-of-network billing to maximize profits, funded dark money campaigns to oppose the No Surprises Act, and was eventually saddled with high debt following a $9.9 billion leveraged buyout by KKR. The report highlights Envision's ongoing legal battles with UnitedHealthcare and its high risk of bankruptcy, noting that KKR has used 'distressed exchanges' to insulate profitable assets like AMSURG from the company's bad debt.

The complaint argues that TIAA/Nuveen engages in systematic greenwashing by marketing sustainable ESG products while maintaining substantial holdings in coal, oil, and gas, and acquiring land in Brazil linked to deforestation and human rights abuses. It requests that the PRI Board investigate these practices and require corrective actions, including full divestment from fossil fuels by 2025.

A group of New York State legislators wrote to the U.S. Attorney General and Solicitor General requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) support the adjudication of climate-related state claims in state courts. The letter argues that the DOJ should reject the Trump Administration's previous positions and align with President Biden's executive order to hold polluters accountable. The authors highlight that the fossil fuel industry has consistently attempted to move these cases to federal court, despite multiple Circuit courts rejecting such arguments.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 provides significant tax credits and financing to lower the cost of clean electricity and facilitate the retirement of fossil fuel infrastructure. Independent modeling suggests the IRA could make 73% to 76% clean electricity the lowest-cost pathway for the U.S. by 2030, potentially reducing electricity sector GHG emissions by 67% to 78% from 2005 levels. However, the report argues that realizing these benefits requires proactive state-level policy, including updated procurement assumptions by Public Utility Commissions, increased clean electricity standards from legislators, and strategic coordination by governors to address transmission and supply-chain constraints.

The report analyzes the IRA's transportation incentives, including tax credits for new and used EVs, commercial vehicle credits, and charging infrastructure support. Through three modeling scenarios (Low, Moderate, High), it estimates that the IRA can increase passenger EV sales shares to 34% (Moderate) or 39% (High) by 2030 compared to a 29% business-as-usual baseline. It highlights that while commercial and light-duty truck adoption will see significant boosts, passenger EV adoption may be limited in the near term by stringent eligibility requirements regarding North American assembly and sourcing from 'entities of concern'. The authors argue that the IRA is a foundational step but insufficient alone to meet 1.5°C climate goals, recommending complementary EPA tailpipe standards, state-level clean vehicle mandates, and strategic electric grid investments.

The report examines the shift from traditional energy efficiency programs, which focus on raw energy savings, toward 'climate-forward efficiency' that prioritizes GHG reductions. It identifies two types of performance incentive mechanisms (PIMs): 'explicit GHG' PIMs, which directly reward carbon reductions, and 'policy intent' PIMs, which implicitly encourage GHG reductions through fuel switching or time-based savings. The document highlights early implementations in New York, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., and suggests that tracking metrics and scorecards can serve as a starting point for states not yet ready for full PIMs.

The report finds that strong methane standards in the U.S. oil and gas sector would create significant employment without negatively impacting drilling activity. The CATF 65% plan is projected to create nearly 220,000 total jobs (including 64,000 direct jobs), while the EPA proposal would create 92,000 total jobs (including 27,000 direct jobs). These jobs span manufacturing, installation, and ongoing operations and maintenance, with a significant portion being non-offshorable and potentially unionized.

The report examines the rapid growth of proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining in the U.S. following China's 2021 ban. It argues that the industry's high energy demands drive the revival of defunct fossil-fuel power plants, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and place financial burdens on electricity ratepayers. The document also details local harms, including noise and water pollution, and debunks industry claims regarding sustainability and grid stability.

RMI's analysis of historical data reveals that the US federal government grossly underfunds the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), with funding needing to increase 10 to 20 times above 2021 levels to cover all eligible families. Significant gaps in service exist, particularly in California and Texas, driven by both funding shortages and barriers to access such as lack of awareness and complex application procedures. While recent legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act provides targeted funds for weatherization and efficiency, RMI argues for a comprehensive approach that centers community-based organizations to resolve underlying energy justice issues.

The report analyzes the growing U.S. electric school bus (ESB) market, noting that as of March 2022, 415 districts had committed to 12,275 ESBs. It details the benefits of ESBs, including zero tailpipe emissions and lower operational costs, while outlining the technical requirements for charging infrastructure and the variety of available vehicle types (Type A, C, and D). The guide also explores funding mechanisms, such as the $5 billion Clean School Bus Program, and provides a roadmap for fleet electrification.

The report details a corporate campaign to implement municipal preemption laws that block local governments from accessing courts to recover climate-related damages. It identifies a 'triumvirate' of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ALEC, and NAM as the primary architects of this strategy, drawing parallels to previous industry efforts to avoid liability in the tobacco and opioid sectors. The document outlines specific legislative tactics used to stifle litigation and provides a framework for municipal leaders to recognize and repeal such preemption laws, while suggesting proactive legislative measures to protect local legal autonomy.

The report argues that traditional US public utilities commission (PUC) processes are too slow and restrictive to meet urgent decarbonization and equity mandates. It recommends four primary reforms: setting clear proceeding objectives, expanding stakeholder roles in solution development, reducing information asymmetry by unlocking utility data, and initiating new inclusive processes such as regulatory sandboxes and updated benefit-cost analysis frameworks.

An executive summary by the Union of Concerned Scientists finding that the average new battery electric vehicle in the US produces over 50% less lifetime global warming pollution than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles. While EV manufacturing is more carbon-intensive due to battery production, the operational emissions savings quickly offset this 'debt,' with a mean breakeven point of 21,300 miles for cars. The report advocates for cleaner electricity grids, battery recycling, and increased EV accessibility to accelerate climate benefits.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) outlines four primary criteria for successful clean hydrogen hubs: minimizing greenhouse gas intensity across the production value chain, prioritizing hard-to-abate end-use sectors, committing to environmental justice and community engagement, and delivering immediate local environmental benefits. These recommendations are directed at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) following the authorization of $8 billion under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 to establish at least four regional hubs.

The document assesses the viability of low-carbon fuels for New York's building sector, concluding that they are inefficient and costly compared to direct electrification. It highlights that green hydrogen requires significantly more clean electricity than heat pumps and poses infrastructure risks like pipeline embrittlement. Additionally, it notes that biomethane supplies are insufficient to meet demand and that both biomethane and synthetic methane introduce new methane emission risks. The brief advocates for prioritizing energy efficiency and electrification to meet the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

The document asserts that electric trucks can effectively replace up to half of the trucks currently on the road, as many medium- and heavy-duty routes are short enough for existing battery technology. While electric trucks are heavier, the text notes that most trucks reach cargo volume limits before weight limits, and federal and state exemptions help mitigate weight concerns. Driver preference is high due to reduced noise and vibration. Economically, the document highlights California's use of subsidies, fuel standards, and infrastructure rebates as a model. To scale adoption, the document emphasizes the need for broader policy frameworks—such as the Advanced Clean Truck regulation—and significant upgrades to the electric grid.

GreenLatinos responds to a domestic terrorist event in Buffalo, NY, asserting that white supremacy and climate denial are linked forces eroding society and that racial liberation for Black communities is a prerequisite for the environmental liberation of Latino/a/x communities.

The document outlines the transition to electric trucks across passenger pickups, delivery vans, box trucks, and heavy-duty rigs in North America, highlighting that several segments are economically viable for electrification now and could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The document argues that proof-of-work digital currencies, specifically Bitcoin, cause significant environmental harm through soaring electricity demand, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and the generation of substantial electronic waste. It highlights the negative impacts on local communities, such as increased electricity prices and thermal pollution in water bodies, and notes that these operations can strain critical semiconductor supply chains. The authors propose several mitigation strategies, including stringent EPA permit reviews, the creation of a mining operation registry by the OMB, energy efficiency standards from the DOE, and transparency requirements from financial regulators like the SEC and CFTC.