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The report analyzes two policy scenarios for Pennsylvania's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet: the adoption of California's Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule and a more aggressive '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. Both scenarios project significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter (PM) emissions, leading to substantial public health benefits and net societal gains. While initial costs for fleets are higher, the report finds that ZEVs will reach lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles as purchase prices fall and fuel/maintenance savings accumulate. The transition is projected to generate positive macroeconomic effects, including net national job gains and increased GDP by 2035, and could potentially lower electricity rates for residential and commercial customers due to increased utility net revenue from EV charging.

The report identifies 19 private equity firms investing in 35 oil and gas companies that have received federal drilling permits since 2017. It estimates that U.S. taxpayers could face up to $384 million in cleanup costs for nearly 2,700 wells operated by these private-equity-backed companies across eight states, with Colorado and New Mexico facing the highest liabilities. The authors argue that the private equity business model—characterized by high leverage and quick exits—combined with outdated federal bonding requirements (averaging only $2,122 per well) and bankruptcy laws, allows firms to externalize environmental costs. The document also highlights 'greenwashing' strategies, such as the promotion of 'certified gas,' used to maintain investor support despite ongoing fossil fuel expansion.

A July 2023 survey of 400 likely voters in Pennsylvania indicates that 65% believe human activity causes climate change and 73% believe Pennsylvania taxpayers face increased costs due to its effects. A significant majority (90%) believe oil and gas companies should pay at least some of the costs for local community adaptation, and 69% support suing these companies to ensure they pay their share. Additionally, 69% of respondents would be more likely to support a political candidate who advocates for suing oil and gas companies to fund infrastructure rebuilding and prevention of climate-related damage.

The survey finds that a majority of Pennsylvania likely voters attribute climate change to human activity and support holding oil and gas companies financially responsible for climate adaptation costs.

Pennsylvania's municipal governments are projected to spend at least $15.47 billion by 2040 to adapt to climate change, with stormwater drainage capacity representing the largest expense at $7.8 billion. The report highlights that these costs will disproportionately affect rural, high-poverty, and Environmental Justice areas, with some small municipalities facing annual per capita costs exceeding $1,000. The authors argue that major oil and gas companies should be held legally accountable for these costs rather than taxpayers.

A survey of 2,000 registered voters across four US states reveals high concern over food prices and strong support for agricultural policies that promote climate resilience, support small-scale farmers, and prioritize nutrition over commodity crop subsidies.

The Transit to Trails Act aims to provide grants to underserved communities to create mobility to public lands, waters, and parks. The author asserts that this legislation is critical because communities of color are three times more likely than white communities to live in nature-deprived places. The document highlights significant underrepresentation of Black, Hispanic, Asian-American, and Native American populations in national parks, often due to transportation barriers. It specifically notes that urban Latino Americans are twice as likely to rely on public transit than urban White Americans, and that 69% of Bay Area Latinos lack access to a personal vehicle. The act is presented as a means to improve public health, air quality, and environmental liberation.

The report evaluates the potential for offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the US mid-Atlantic to compensate for limited onshore capacity. Using the SimCCS modeling toolset, the study identifies 199 facilities across 15 industry sectors with a total of 31.47 Mt of annual capturable CO2. It finds that while offshore storage capacity is vast—estimated at 621,221 MtCO2 across 125 candidate sites—the costs are significantly higher than onshore benchmarks, ranging from 95.5 to 147.9 $/tCO2. This cost disparity is primarily driven by offshore pipeline installation and storage expenses. The analysis suggests that capturing the full 31.47 MtCO2 would require a 7,789 km branched pipeline network and that emission prices between $95.5 and $103.5 per tonne could incentivize initial capture efforts.

The report finds that The Carlyle Group invested in 91 energy companies owning 972 assets between 2011 and 2021, with 90% of these being fossil fuel investments. These assets emitted an estimated 277 million metric tons of CO2e, with emissions growing at an average annual rate of 95%. The analysis highlights a significant disparity between Carlyle's fossil fuel investments ($22.4 billion) and its renewable energy commitments ($1.4 billion). Furthermore, the report documents that 84% of Carlyle's downstream US assets are located in areas with higher concentrations of low-income residents or people of color than state averages, and 47% of these plants have a record of environmental violations.

The report finds that The Carlyle Group invested in 91 energy companies owning 972 assets from 2011 to 2021, with 90 percent of both companies and assets being fossil fuel investments. These investments emitted an estimated 277 million metric tons of CO2e, with a compound annual growth rate of 95 percent. The analysis highlights a significant disparity between Carlyle's fossil fuel capacity (peaking at nearly 10,000 MW in 2021) and its renewable capacity (just over 1,300 MW). Furthermore, the report documents that 84 percent of Carlyle's current US downstream fossil fuel assets are located in areas with higher percentages of low-income residents and/or residents of color than state averages, and 47 percent of these plants have a record of environmental violations.

The document analyzes the Rhode Island Department of Health's approval of an $85 million sale of 10 nursing homes to Tryko Partners and Kadima Healthcare. It highlights the use of 'standard conditions' regarding debt-to-equity ratios and the implementation of a five-year quality maintenance requirement to protect residents from the extractive business models of private equity. The author argues that while Rhode Island's quality measures are a positive step, the state's financing limits are too lenient, allowing debt levels that may divert funds from clinical care.

The World Resources Institute analyzes CEJST 1.0, finding that while it identifies more disadvantaged populations than the beta version, it lacks a mechanism to prioritize communities facing multiple overlapping burdens. The analysis reveals that non-white populations are disproportionately exposed to higher cumulative burdens, yet the tool treats all disadvantaged communities as equal for funding purposes. The authors recommend incorporating cumulative burden metrics, adjusting low-income eligibility for severely burdened areas, and establishing a rigorous monitoring framework for the Justice40 Initiative.

The report examines the lifecycle of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery, from its 2012 formation via private equity and public subsidies to its 2019 explosion and subsequent closure. It highlights how a reliance on discounted Bakken crude, high regulatory costs, and private equity management contributed to financial instability. The author argues that the lack of proactive city planning and community capacity left Philadelphia unprepared for the refinery's demise, resulting in a bankruptcy auction that determined the land's fate with minimal public input. Key lessons include the need for technical resources for community oversight, the importance of honest engagement with labor unions for worker transitions, and the increased operational risks associated with financially distressed refineries.

The Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program provides financial aid to agricultural producers in 16 specific US states to manage financial risk through conservation, marketing, and crop diversification. Administered by the NRCS, AMS, and RMA, the program is permanently authorized at $10 million per fiscal year and covers up to 75 percent of the cost for conservation practices like agroforestry and cover crops to mitigate climate change.

An analysis of 215 U.S. locations reveals that 84% have experienced a long-term decrease in winter chill since 1980. This trend threatens the $27 billion U.S. non-citrus fruit and nut industry, as many temperate trees require sustained cold temperatures to ensure proper flowering, pollination, and fruit yield. The study highlights significant chill decreases in key producing regions, particularly in California, Washington, and the Southeast, affecting high-value crops such as grapes, almonds, and strawberries.

A coalition of environmental justice organizations argues that the EPA's proposed regulations for the oil and gas sector must be strengthened to protect Black, Latine, tribal, and low-income communities. The commenters detail how these groups suffer disproportionate health risks from air and water pollution, economic burdens from orphaned wells and property devaluation, and heightened climate vulnerability. They recommend specific policy enhancements, including stricter leak detection and repair (LDAR) requirements, the elimination of routine flaring, and more robust community monitoring and well-closure mandates.

The report details the significant financial backing provided by private equity firms for both approved and proposed LNG export terminals in the United States. It argues that the rapid growth of this industry, driven by short-term price spikes, is incongruent with diminishing international demand and the EU's carbon reduction goals. The document highlights specific firms like KKR, I Squared Capital, and Fortress Investment, noting that such investments expose institutional investors to climate-related financial risks and cause environmental and social harm to frontline communities.

The report demonstrates that implementing five core policies—clean electricity standards, zero-emission vehicle standards, clean building equipment standards, industrial efficiency and emissions standards, and methane detection and capture standards—can dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), the authors find that these policies not only reduce emissions but also drive job growth, increase GDP, and prevent premature deaths by reducing air pollutants. The analysis highlights that while state emissions profiles vary—with Louisiana dominated by industry and New Mexico by methane from oil and gas—these five policies provide a consistent framework for decarbonization.

The 2022 U.S. midterm elections resulted in a divided government with a Republican-controlled House and a Democratic-controlled Senate. The document argues that this political landscape necessitates a focus on bipartisan, 'election-proof' policies and the effective implementation of existing landmark laws like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It highlights specific funding allocations for carbon capture, hydrogen, and nuclear energy, while emphasizing the role of the EPA in finalizing methane regulations and the capacity of 17 states with aligned governors and legislatures to pursue net-zero goals by 2050.

The report details how private equity firms are acquiring and managing rural hospitals and other health services, such as air ambulances and behavioral health centers. It argues that the pursuit of high short-term returns often leads to cost-cutting, asset-stripping through sale-leaseback transactions, and reduced access to essential services. The document provides case studies of hospital closures and quality failures, and it calls for increased regulatory oversight, limits on dividend recapitalizations, and direct public investment to safeguard rural health systems.