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Charting the Course for Early Truck Electrification
The report analyzes trucking telematics data from Geotab to determine the feasibility of early electric truck adoption in California and New York, finding that emissions per mile for electric trucks are significantly lower than diesel alternatives regardless of charging schedules.
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Document type: Report
Call for the passage of A.7389-C/S.6486-D to institute a two-year moratorium on new fossil fuel permits for proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining and to direct an environmental review
A coalition of organizations and businesses urges New York State to pass legislation instituting a two-year moratorium on fossil fuel permits for proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining to protect the state's climate goals and vulnerable communities.
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Document type: Statement
Need Help Advancing Local Climate Action? Try Community Project Funding.
The guide explains that Community Project Funding (CPF), a form of discretionary spending available to U.S. senators and representatives, provides a flexible alternative to competitive federal grants for local climate action. It highlights the case of Cohoes, New York, which used $3 million in CPF to build a 3.2 MW floating solar array, and provides strategic advice for communities to secure similar funding by engaging representatives early and focusing on shovel-ready, community-supported projects.
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Document type: Guide
A new mining industry threatens New York State’s environment and climate goals
The document highlights the environmental risks posed by proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining in New York State, specifically citing the Greenidge Generating Station's role in increasing CO2 emissions and discharging hot water into Seneca Lake. It contends that the high energy demands of this industry conflict with the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and calls for a moratorium on such mining operations.
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Document type: Statement
Petition for rulemaking to add dams and reservoirs as a source category under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
The petition argues that dams and reservoirs are significant sources of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, yet are currently excluded from the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). It highlights scientific evidence showing that some U.S. facilities, such as Lake Mead and Kentucky Lake, emit millions of metric tons of CO2e annually, sometimes exceeding emissions from fossil-fuel power plants of similar capacity. The petitioners contend that the current lack of reporting leads federal agencies, states, and utilities to incorrectly assume hydropower is a zero-carbon energy source, which may result in ill-informed climate policies and hinder the U.S. from achieving the Global Methane Pledge. The document identifies seventeen distinct emission sources within reservoir systems and urges the EPA to expand the GHGRP to include these facilities to improve data transparency and inform the transition to a truly clean electric sector.
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Document type: Statement
Recommendations on accelerating transportation electrification under a Clean Fuel Standard
The Union of Concerned Scientists and EV Noire argue that Clean Fuel Standards (CFS) can provide critical financial support for transportation electrification by setting declining carbon intensity standards for fuels. Using examples from California and Oregon, the briefing emphasizes that while CFS are technology-neutral, they can enable broader goals like zero-emission bus fleets and equitable EV access if paired with strong oversight, public engagement, and safeguards against harmful fuel pathways.
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Document type: Briefing
pai-partners-un-pri-letter-2-2320b03b1a62d4f5.pdf
The Private Equity Stakeholder Project and the UE union argue that PAI Partners' commitment to ESG is contradicted by Refresco's labor abuses, safety violations, and environmental non-compliance.
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Document type: Statement
How to Help Your Community Fund Electric School Buses in the US
The document outlines the financial landscape for electric school bus (ESB) adoption in the US, noting that while ESBs can cost up to three times more than diesel buses upfront, they offer significant lifetime operational savings. It details various funding mechanisms—including grants, rebates, vouchers, and loans—and identifies specific funding sources from the federal government (such as the IIJA), state programs (like California's HVIP), and local utilities or air quality districts. The guide also emphasizes the role of financing and 'stacking' multiple funding streams to make electrification viable for school districts.
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Document type: Guide
Making Good Green Jobs the Law
The report argues that Canada requires comprehensive federal just transition legislation to provide certainty for workers and communities as the country moves toward a low-carbon economy. It identifies critical gaps in Canada's previous approach to the coal transition, such as a lack of negotiating power for advisory bodies and insufficient monitoring. Drawing on case studies from Spain, New Zealand, the US, South Africa, and the EU, the authors recommend that new legislation entrench International Labour Organization (ILO) principles, mandate a comprehensive just transition strategy, and establish a dedicated implementation agency. Key priorities include the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples as full partners, the use of 'tripartite-plus' social dialogue, and the enforcement of corporate accountability to ensure the polluter-pays principle is upheld.
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Document type: Report
Sustainable Energy in America Factbook
The document lists professional biographies for six individuals involved in energy and climate policy, including representatives from National Grid, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the American Clean Power Association, the Alliance to Save Energy, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and Johnson Controls.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Federal Clean Trucks Program
The analysis finds that adopting a Federal Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and NOx Omnibus policy would significantly reduce greenhouse gas and NOx emissions, create over 63,000 net jobs by 2035, and generate $487.7 billion in cumulative net societal benefits by 2050. It highlights that the EPA's baseline underestimates ZEV adoption, thereby overestimating the relative impact of NOx standards. The report projects that average Class 4-8 ZEVs will reach total cost of ownership parity with internal combustion engines by model year 2030, with significant lifetime savings by 2040.
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Document type: Report
New Mexico Clean Trucks Program
The report analyzes the transition of New Mexico's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) under three policy scenarios: the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule, the ACT Rule plus NOx Omnibus Rule, and a highly ambitious '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The analysis finds that while ZEVs currently have higher purchase costs, they are projected to reach lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030. The most aggressive scenario results in cumulative net societal benefits of over $6.7 billion by 2050, including 65 avoided premature deaths and 59 fewer hospital visits. Macroeconomic modeling suggests the transition would lead to national net job gains and increased GDP by 2035, with new jobs in electrical component manufacturing and infrastructure construction offering wages nearly twice as high as the jobs they replace. However, the report notes that increased electricity demand could potentially raise residential and commercial electricity rates in New Mexico by up to 2% by 2050 without effective utility planning.
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Document type: Report
Nevada Clean Trucks Program
The analysis examines the transition of Nevada's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) under three scenarios: the California Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule, the ACT Rule plus the NOx Omnibus Rule, and a highly ambitious '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The most aggressive scenario projects cumulative net societal benefits of over $9.6 billion by 2050, including 98 avoided premature deaths and 71 fewer hospital visits. While ZEVs currently have higher purchase costs, the report finds that average ZEVs in Nevada are projected to reach lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030, eventually providing significant fuel and maintenance savings. The transition would reduce petroleum dependence, increase electricity demand, and potentially lower residential and commercial electricity rates due to increased utility net revenue. Macroeconomic modeling suggests national net job gains through 2035, with new jobs in electrical component manufacturing and infrastructure construction offering wages nearly twice as high as the jobs they replace.
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Document type: Report
The Climate Consequences of Plastics | Briefing | EESI
The briefing examines the climate and environmental justice impacts of plastic production, highlighting the role of the petrochemical industry in generating greenhouse gas emissions and toxic pollution. Panelists discuss the failure of plastic recycling, the disproportionate burden on low-income communities and 'Cancer Alley' in Louisiana, and various policy interventions. These include single-use plastic bans in New York and the European Union, extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws in Maine and Oregon, and local reuse ordinances in Berkeley, California. The discussion emphasizes the need for a shift toward durable, reusable packaging and the closure of waste management loopholes.
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Document type: Briefing
Accessing Global Cleantech Opportunities in a Virtual World
The document argues that the disruption of world trade by COVID-19 necessitates a shift toward digital internationalisation support for green SMEs. It highlights the International Cleantech Network's (ICN) approach, which combines a reciprocal network of 18 clusters, a structured process for maturing business leads into actionable needs statements, and the 'Solved' virtual collaboration platform. Case studies from Helsinki and New York demonstrate how these tools facilitate co-creation and matchmaking when physical travel is restricted. The brief recommends investing in reciprocal partnerships, leveraging virtual tools to lower transaction costs, and using digital platforms to support long-term innovation and R&D collaboration.
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Document type: Policy brief
Let Communities Choose: Clean Energy Sovereignty in Highland Park, Michigan
The document outlines the use of HOMER Grid software to optimize energy systems in Highland Park, MI, assuming investments made in 2023. It details building stock estimates, electricity rate tariffs from DTE Energy, and the impact of policy incentives like net metering and SRECs on payback periods for residential and commercial solar installations.
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Document type: Report
Climate Jobs
The document reports that there were over 4.1 million climate jobs in the United States in 2020, despite an 8% overall decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It breaks down employment by sector, noting that energy efficiency supported the most jobs (2.1 million), followed by energy transmission, distribution, and storage (763,000), and renewable energy (504,600). The report highlights growth in specific areas like electric vehicles and wind energy, and emphasizes the emerging field of climate adaptation and resilience. It concludes that significant further job creation is possible through federal investment and policies targeting renewable energy targets and the plugging of orphaned oil and gas wells.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Climate Jobs
In 2020, the United States had over 4.1 million climate jobs, though the total number fell by eight percent that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Energy efficiency was the largest sector with 2.1 million jobs, followed by energy transmission, distribution, and storage with 763,000 jobs. Renewable energy supported 504,600 jobs, and clean transportation (vehicles and fuels) supported 364,300 jobs. The document also notes the emergence of adaptation and resilience jobs, with the American Society of Adaptation Professionals representing members employing over 100,000 people. Future growth potential is significant, with estimates that achieving 50 to 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 could create 500,000–600,000 jobs in solar, wind, and battery storage.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Q&A Frequently Asked Questions about Community-Level and Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage
The document provides a comprehensive Q&A on battery energy storage, distinguishing between behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter systems. It highlights how storage enhances grid flexibility, supports renewable energy integration, and improves community resilience during extreme weather. While noting the environmental and health benefits of displacing fossil fuel plants, it addresses safety risks like thermal runaway and the ethical concerns surrounding the mining of lithium and cobalt. It emphasizes the need for inclusive stakeholder engagement and strong policy design to ensure equitable deployment and sustainable supply chains.
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Document type: Fact sheet
HOW-TO GUIDE Legislative Language for Equitable Energy Storage
The Union of Concerned Scientists outlines how state legislation can leverage energy storage to advance equity, focusing on replacing fossil fuel peaker plants, increasing community resiliency, and expanding access to distributed energy resources for low-income and overburdened communities.
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Document type: Guide