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The analysis finds that while Boulder has achieved significant energy savings, current programs are insufficient to meet its 2012 Kyoto-based emissions targets. Residential lighting programs and audits are the most cost-effective, while renewable energy systems show below-average returns. The report recommends transitioning to a longer-term, integrated approach focusing on deep retrofits and exploring municipalization of the energy supply to close the emissions gap.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that U.S. farm policy disproportionately supports non-perishable commodity crops while hindering 'healthy-food' farms—those growing fruits and vegetables using sustainable or organic practices. Key barriers include planting restrictions in subsidy programs, a lack of accessible whole-farm-revenue insurance, and credit constraints for small-scale or diversified operations. The report recommends eliminating planting restrictions, reforming the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) insurance pilot to be more flexible and national in scope, removing arbitrary surcharges for organic farmers, and expanding micro-lending programs to support rural economic development.

The report finds that King County's 2008 emissions were 23.4 million MTCO2e via geographic accounting and 55 million MTCO2e via consumption accounting. Transportation and buildings are the primary local sources, while consumption-based emissions are driven by imported goods and services. The report recommends a 'Core' tracking framework focusing on buildings, transportation, and waste.

The document argues that GHG offsets are a critical component of effective climate policy, providing flexibility for regulated industrial emitters and expanding emission reductions to non-regulated sectors. Through a review of international and domestic systems and original CIMS modelling, the brief demonstrates that offsets can significantly lower the societal cost of carbon policies. It proposes two primary implementation paths: integrating offsets as a compliance mechanism within sector-by-sector regulations or establishing a separate, independent offset regime to cover sectors like agriculture and waste.

The document argues that integrating offsets into Canada's GHG regulations can significantly lower compliance costs for industrial emitters and expand emission reductions to difficult-to-regulate sectors like agriculture and forestry. It highlights that offsets are not exclusive to cap-and-trade systems but can complement performance standards, as seen in jurisdictions like Alberta and New South Wales. Modelling suggests that unlimited access to domestic offsets could reduce costs for industrial emitters by up to 40% and nearly double total emission reductions when expanding coverage. The brief proposes two implementation paths: allowing offsets for direct compliance within sector regulations or establishing a separate, independent carbon management fund.

The report argues that US utilities must move beyond a 'business-as-usual' mindset to meet increasingly aggressive energy efficiency targets. It proposes a 'turbocharging' strategy that combines 'broader' savings (acquiring more participants) with 'deeper' savings (increasing energy saved per participant). The authors identify systemic barriers, including utility complacency, lack of competitive experience, and rigid regulatory frameworks, and offer a framework of recommendations centered on improving marketing, sales execution, reducing transaction costs, and embracing collaboration with third-party partners and regulators.

The study finds that building energy codes in the U.S. are associated with a roughly 10% decrease in primary energy use per housing unit and a 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per average code household. These results are consistent with, and potentially higher than, standard engineering simulation estimates. The analysis also identifies a fuel-switching effect, where codes encourage a shift toward natural gas and away from other fuels like fuel oil, likely due to code provisions allowing tradeoffs between building envelope efficiency and high-efficiency equipment.

The report finds that Oregon's consumption-based emissions footprint in 2005 was 78 million metric tons of CO2e, which is 47 percent greater than the emissions released within state boundaries. The largest contributors to these emissions are personal vehicles, appliances, and food and beverages, which together account for half of the total impact. The analysis highlights that a significant portion of Oregon's emissions (54%) are released outside the state due to international and national supply chains. The authors recommend that Oregon adopt regular consumption-based inventories and set specific emissions-reduction targets for consumption to maximize global climate benefits.

The report examines the growth of local and regional food systems in the U.S., highlighting their potential to create tens of thousands of jobs and improve public health and environmental sustainability. It identifies barriers to scaling these systems, such as inadequate infrastructure and safety nets, and recommends increased federal funding and research to support small-scale farmers and low-income consumers.

The report finds that commercial fisheries in the Bristol Bay base study area generate annual economic activity between $4.1 billion and $5.4 billion. Using a value-chain analysis and input-output modeling, the study tracks value from an average annual landings value of $463 million to a final retail value of $2.2 billion to $2.9 billion. The analysis emphasizes that the economic benefits extend globally, as permit holders reside in multiple U.S. states and international markets purchase the processed seafood. The authors argue that these figures provide strong economic support for protecting the region's marine ecosystems from threats such as climate change and infrastructure projects related to oil, gas, and mining.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is implementing a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. These initiatives aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower long-term costs, and enhance mission effectiveness by decreasing dependence on liquid fossil fuels. Key goals include achieving 'net-zero' energy for numerous installations by 2020 and 2030, increasing the use of alternative fuel blends for aviation and naval vessels, and deploying diverse renewable technologies—such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass—at domestic and overseas bases. The DoD's efforts are guided by internal strategies, a 2010 Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Energy, and federal mandates including Executive Orders 13423 and 13514.

The report examines the 'water-energy nexus' in the western United States, specifically the eleven states of the Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC). It models eight scenarios from 2008 to 2100, varying by carbon emission goals, water conservation mandates, and energy efficiency levels. The primary finding is that while power plants require water, their total consumption is small compared to agricultural and urban use, making the water-energy nexus a secondary concern in the region's broader water crisis. The analysis suggests that carbon pricing (around $70 per ton) is a more likely driver for shifting energy strategies than water pricing, as water prices would need to exceed $4,000 to $7,000 per acre-foot to make water-conserving energy scenarios the least-cost option.

Earthjustice is representing a coalition of groups to prevent the development of coal export facilities in the Pacific Northwest, specifically targeting projects in Longview, Washington, and Coos Bay, Oregon. The organization argues that these terminals facilitate the export of coal to China, worsening global warming and threatening the health of communities along rail lines. Key actions include the 2011 withdrawal of a permit application by Millennium Bulk Logistics after discrepancies in project scope were discovered and a 2013 petition to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a comprehensive environmental and health review of all proposed terminals in the region.

The document examines the technology and global status of offshore wind energy, noting that while Europe leads in operational capacity, the United States has significant untapped potential. It details the technical requirements for different water depths, the regulatory frameworks in countries like Denmark, and the specific siting and permitting complexities in the U.S. The text also addresses public concerns regarding tourism, wildlife, and military radar, while highlighting the economic benefits in terms of job creation and greenhouse gas reduction.

The CLEAR Act proposes a carbon price with 100% permit auctioning and consumer rebates to stimulate investment in energy technologies and protect taxpayers from rising energy costs.

The document analyzes the challenges facing the U.S. advanced biofuels industry, including the 'valley of death' between pilot projects and commercialization, volatile petroleum prices, and regulatory uncertainties. It argues that while the federal government provides essential broad-scale support, state governments are uniquely positioned to guide the industry by leveraging local geography and resources. The report proposes ten specific policy options for states, ranging from resource inventorying and sustainable feedstock guidelines to the implementation of low carbon fuel standards and interagency cooperation, highlighting examples from states like California, Oregon, and Tennessee.

The document describes a specific oceanographic mechanism on the Patagonian shelf where deep ocean currents force nutrient-rich cold water to the surface. This process, unlike wind-driven upwelling, remains active year-round, sustaining a vast food chain including phytoplankton, hake, and squid, and contributing to the ocean's role as a carbon sink. The influence of this system extends northward, fertilizing waters as far as Brazil.

The Patagonian shelf upwelling is a unique system driven by deep sea currents and bottom topography rather than wind, providing a year-round supply of nutrients that supports major fisheries and carbon sequestration in the South Atlantic.

The World Resources Institute analysis finds that while existing federal and state tools can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even the most ambitious 'Go-Getter' scenario falls short of the U.S. Copenhagen pledge to reduce emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The report models three levels of regulatory ambition—Lackluster, Middle-of-the-Road, and Go-Getter—across key sectors including power plants, transportation, and industry. It concludes that additional legislative action is necessary to meet international climate targets and the long-term goal of 80 to 95 percent reductions by 2050.

The document outlines the job creation potential of the clean energy economy, citing that renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) industries created over nine million jobs in the U.S. in 2007. It provides specific employment projections for various technologies, including wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal, across U.S. states and international markets such as Germany, Brazil, and India. The text also compares these figures to employment trends in the fossil fuel and nuclear sectors and details U.S. legislative efforts, such as the Green Jobs Act of 2007 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to support workforce training and clean energy deployment.