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The report outlines a vision for the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) to leverage its land and industrial base to become a hub for clean energy, focusing on solar, bioenergy, and hydrogen. Using modeling from the RAND Corporation, it argues that a diverse energy portfolio can create thousands of high-wage jobs and reduce local pollution. The authors emphasize the need for a coordinated, valley-wide community benefits framework to ensure that rural and disadvantaged communities receive equitable economic gains from new developments.

The report argues that Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) climate strategy is misaligned with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. It finds that Oxy's net-zero targets are inadequate, focusing primarily on scope 1 and 2 emissions while ignoring the vast majority of its carbon footprint in scope 3. The analysis highlights a heavy overreliance on unproven direct air capture (DAC) technology, which the report claims is used as a 'licence to pollute' and a mechanism to prolong oil and gas extraction through enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The report further asserts that Oxy's 'net-zero oil' claims are scientifically invalid and that its lobbying efforts for government subsidies for carbon removals contradict its public climate commitments.

The document examines the integration of clean electrolytic hydrogen into the U.S. electric system, emphasizing its potential as long-duration energy storage for 'last mile' decarbonization. It analyzes how the design of the Section 45V tax credit—specifically the 'three pillars' of incrementality, temporal matching, and deliverability—will determine whether hydrogen production increases net greenhouse gas emissions or supports grid reliability. The authors warn that without these pillars, electrolysis could drive significant load growth (up to 32% by 2032) and potentially increase emissions. The brief also highlights risks related to NOx emissions, water consumption, and public safety, urging developers to engage early with host communities to ensure an equitable transition.

Private equity firms have invested in 85% of operating and 73% of proposed US LNG terminals, contributing significantly to global emissions. The briefing highlights that six firms—PIMCO, Brookfield, KKR, Blackstone, York Capital Management, and Global Infrastructure Partners—account for over 75% of these financed emissions. It argues that LNG may be worse than coal when lifecycle methane emissions are considered and uses the Rio Grande LNG project as a case study of private equity acquiring assets after more accountable investors exit due to climate risks.

Earthjustice warns that a new 'model' bill for cryptocurrency mining, promoted by the Satoshi Action Fund, would shield miners from local zoning and noise ordinances and interfere with utility regulators' ability to set fair electricity rates. The briefing details how proof-of-work mining strains electric grids, increases electricity costs for residents, causes significant noise and environmental pollution, and fails to deliver promised economic benefits.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) testifies that private equity firms use extractive financial tactics—such as high leverage, sale-leasebacks, and debt-funded dividends—to maximize returns, often resulting in the bankruptcy or closure of hospitals. The document highlights specific cases including Prospect Medical Holdings, Steward Health Care, and Apollo Global Management's Lifepoint/ScionHealth, noting severe impacts on patient safety and staffing. PESP proposes state-level policy solutions including stricter merger reviews, financial transparency, anti-looting measures, and joint and several liability for investors.

In 2022, the United States had over 4.2 million climate jobs, with clean energy job creation outpacing overall job growth. Energy efficiency was the largest sector with 2.2 million jobs, followed by public transportation (821,220) and electricity transmission and distribution (over 703,000). Significant growth was observed in clean vehicles, which grew by 14.7%, and grid modernization, which saw an 11.6% increase in electricity transmission and distribution. Federal laws like the Inflation Reduction Act are expected to create over 303,500 annual construction jobs and 100,000 permanent jobs. Adaptation and resilience jobs are emerging across all 50 states, though exact total figures are unavailable.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project warns the Teacher Retirement System of Texas that Blackstone's acquisition of Tricon Residential will exacerbate the housing affordability crisis and harm tenants. The author highlights that Blackstone would own 9,000 single-family rental homes in Texas following the deal and cites a history of poor property management at Invitation Homes and Home Partners of America, including maintenance failures and inflated rents.

The document argues that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for Europe to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, particularly for hard-to-abate industrial sectors like cement and steel. It details the technical processes of capture and geological storage, asserts that leakage risks are extremely low, and outlines current project developments in the North Sea region and across the EU. The text also addresses the economic viability of CCS, noting that while costs vary by industry, the technology is often the lowest-cost path for specific industrial decarbonisation and carbon dioxide removal (CDR).

The report analyzes the U.S. Treasury's proposed regulations for the Section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, specifically focusing on the 'incrementality' requirement. It argues that a proposed 'general carve-out'—exempting a percentage of existing clean energy from incrementality rules—would lead to significant 'dirty' hydrogen production and increase CO2 emissions by inducing fossil fuel power plants to run more often. The authors suggest that such a carve-out would also discourage investment in flexible electrolyzers and hydrogen storage. Instead, the report recommends targeted exemptions for curtailed power, retirement prevention, and binding emissions caps, provided they include rigorous guardrails to prevent emissions leakage and market manipulation.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) urges the EPA to finalize Phase 3 regulations for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) covering model years 2027-2032. The document highlights that HDVs contribute 59% of ozone- and particle-forming NOx emissions and 55% of particle pollution in the US, leading to significant health damages and deaths. It asserts that the industry is already transitioning toward zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), citing new battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) models from manufacturers like Mercedes, Nikola, and Tesla. Furthermore, the document details extensive federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) intended to build out charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, arguing that these resources make strong regulatory standards feasible and necessary.

The City of San Antonio has approved a deal with Big Sun Solar to install approximately 13 MW of solar capacity across 42 city-owned facilities and parking lots. This project is notable for being among the first to use the 'direct pay' (Elective Pay) mechanism established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of August 2022, which allows tax-exempt entities to receive tax credits to reduce upfront costs. The project is expected to offset about 11 percent of electricity consumption for City operations and generate net savings of $7–$11 million over 25 years. The guide outlines four lessons for other cities: aggregating small projects for economies of scale, leveraging tax credit bonuses for low-income or energy communities, planning for the time lag in receiving direct pay refunds, and maintaining flexibility in procurement to compare different financial structures using net present value.

In 2023, the contiguous U.S. experienced its 5th-hottest year on record, with an annual average temperature 2.4°F above the 20th century average. The year saw a record 28 billion-dollar disasters, resulting in an estimated 492 lives lost and over $93 billion in damages. Severe storms were the primary driver, accounting for 68% of these events. The frequency of such disasters has increased significantly, with the average time between events dropping to 12 days in 2023, compared to 82 days in the 1980s.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project asserts that Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) faces significant risks through its $3.5 billion investment and at least 46% ownership stake in the Rio Grande LNG Terminal. The document highlights financial risks stemming from volatile gas prices, rising costs, and a projected decline in global equity returns if funds fail to align with Paris Agreement goals. Environmentally, it claims the terminal could emit 163 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually and may be more polluting than coal due to methane leakage. Socially, the project is opposed by the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, the city of Port Isabel, and other local councils in South Texas due to impacts on sacred land and local industries.

The document examines the vulnerability of the US gas-fired power plant fleet to extreme winter and summer weather, noting that gas plants are the primary source of generation failures during major storms. It argues that current resource adequacy metrics overvalue gas reliability and recommends transitioning to probabilistic modeling, increasing transparency, and prioritizing renewables, storage, and demand-side solutions to ensure a resilient power grid.

The document examines the reliability of natural gas power plants in the US, noting that they are disproportionately prone to failure during extreme weather, such as winter storms. It highlights the 2021 Winter Storm Uri as a critical example of how gas plant failures lead to catastrophic blackouts. To improve grid reliability and mitigate climate change, the author recommends transitioning to clean energy solutions—including renewables, energy storage, and demand-side efficiency—and urges regulators to restrict the approval of new gas plants.

The report analyzes over 2.4 million messages from approximately 1,000 US-linked DVE accounts. It finds that while Telegram was the most active platform by volume, X generated the highest engagement. Racially and Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists (REMVE) were the most active group, but Anti-Government & Anti-Authority Violent Extremists (AGAAVE) drove the most engagement. Key narratives centered on targeted hate, elections, and religion. The report highlights specific spikes in anti-migrant hate regarding Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, and reactions to the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov.

This summary report details the outcomes of the High-Level Think Tank Seminar on Energy and Climate Change held in Beijing on April 25-26, 2024. The event brought together representatives from China and the United States to discuss decarbonization strategies, methane reduction, energy efficiency, carbon capture, and climate finance, while coordinating positions for COP29 and COP30.

In 2024, WRI supported over 150 U.S. cities and counties in accelerating clean energy deployment and helped over 60 cities claim more than $12 million in tax credits via the Inflation Reduction Act's elective pay mechanism. The organization advanced next-generation geothermal technologies, launched a database of 50 community benefits frameworks for transmission projects, and supported the deployment of electric school buses (ESBs) through initiatives like the RVXDS project in California. WRI also focused on reforming power markets and grids, providing technical assistance to the PJM Cities and Communities Coalition and researching interregional transmission procurement.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocated $12.1 billion to advance carbon management technologies in the United States. Two years into implementation, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have launched several key programs. The Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program has selected nine FEED study projects and three demonstration projects, including the Baytown, Project Tundra, and Sutter projects. The Carbon Storage Validation and Testing Program has awarded funding to projects across multiple states, including Texas, Louisiana, and Wyoming, to develop large-scale sequestration and transport infrastructure. Additionally, the EPA has allotted $48 million to 25 state and Tribal recipients to support the regulation of UIC Class VI wells. In the realm of carbon removal, the Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs Program has selected two commercial-scale hubs in Texas and Louisiana for award negotiations. The document notes that while progress is underway, agencies have until 2026 to allocate remaining funds, and future success depends on shared transport networks and community engagement.