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The document defines the virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) as a purely financial transaction where a corporate buyer guarantees a fixed price for renewable energy generation in exchange for renewable energy certificates (RECs) and a floating market price. Unlike physical PPAs, VPPAs do not involve the buyer taking ownership of physical electrons, allowing companies with distributed loads or those in regulated markets to meet sustainability goals without changing their retail utility relationship. The guide highlights that VPPAs are the fastest-growing transaction structure in the US corporate renewable energy market because they are scalable and accessible to buyers without energy trading expertise.

The 2018 Climate Accountability Scorecard evaluates eight major oil, gas, and coal companies, finding that while some have made minor improvements due to shareholder and legal pressure, their overall actions remain insufficient to align with the Paris climate agreement. The report highlights continued reliance on trade associations that spread disinformation and a systemic failure to set company-wide net-zero emissions targets.

The ACLU is urging Endeavour Capital to exit its investment in Aladdin Bail Bonds and Seaview Insurance. The ACLU argues that for-profit bail bonds create cycles of debt that disproportionately affect Black, Latino, and low-income communities. The document highlights Aladdin's financial efforts to oppose reform in California and its attempts to establish commercial bail in Oregon and New Mexico.

The report finds that Endeavour Capital's Funds V, VI, and VII have underperformed their peers in terms of quartile rankings and capital return rates as of early 2018. It highlights significant risks within its portfolio, including the impact of bail reform on Aladdin Bail Bonds, financial instability and regulatory issues at ZOOM+Care, and poor student outcomes and federal funding reliance at Southern Careers Institute.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) reports widespread PFAS contamination at US military bases, with many sites exceeding risk levels established by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The document highlights the health risks of these 'forever chemicals', the history of industry disinformation, and the failure of the US military to transition to fluorine-free firefighting foams.

The FUTURE Act provides tax credits for CO2 captured from power plants, industrial sources, and direct air capture, with rates ramping up to $50/ton for saline storage and $35/ton for enhanced oil recovery by 2026. The credits are available for 12 years to projects that commence construction within a six-year window. Assessments by the IEA and DOE suggest the act could increase capture capacity or reduce emissions by 10 to 30 million tons by 2030, with significant interest from industrial sources and companies like Occidental Petroleum.

Climate Central analyzed temperature data from 244 U.S. cities to determine the increase in days falling within the 61-93°F range suitable for disease transmission by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes. The analysis found that 94% of these cities are experiencing an increase in these 'disease danger days' since 1970, with significant increases noted in California, the Southwest, and some northern cities. While most areas face higher risks, some locations like Phoenix may become too hot for mosquito survival. The report also highlights that warmer temperatures shorten the Extrinsic Incubation Period (EIP) of viruses, potentially increasing the number of infectious mosquitoes and expanding the range of species like Aedes albopictus.

The document argues that the U.S. is unprepared for an accelerating wave of nuclear plant shutdowns. It highlights critical risks including deteriorating spent fuel pools, inadequate dry cask storage, and the potential for long-term environmental contamination. The briefing emphasizes the lack of state and local oversight, the insufficiency of decommissioning funds—estimated by some to be $40 billion short—and the dangers of transporting radioactive waste to consolidated interim storage (CIS) sites. It uses case studies from Zion, Illinois; Rowe, Massachusetts; and San Clemente, California, to illustrate the devastating economic impacts and public health risks associated with decommissioning failures.

Climate Central's analysis of 244 U.S. cities reveals that 93% have seen an increase in cooling degree days and 87% have experienced more warm nights since 1970. The report highlights the role of urban heat islands and the increasing reliance on air conditioning, which costs Americans over $27 billion annually for home cooling as of 2015. While energy efficiency standards may reduce cooling electricity consumption by nearly 20% by 2040, the report warns that fossil-fuel-powered cooling and improper appliance disposal exacerbate climate change.

The oil and gas industry emits over 8 million tons of methane and toxic pollutants annually, contributing to ozone smog and respiratory issues in rural America. Case studies in Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Mexico highlight increased rates of asthma, cancer risks, and other respiratory ailments among residents living near facilities. The report advocates for federal standards to reduce methane emissions by half through leak detection, reduced venting, and gas capture.

The report identifies USD264bn in outstanding bonds from 1,436 climate-aligned US municipal 'pure-play' issuers, suggesting a significant opportunity to scale the green bond market through refinancing. While issuance grew to USD12bn in 2017, it declined in H1 2018 due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts of 2017, which reduced refunding bond volume. The water sector represents the largest potential, accounting for 64% (USD170bn) of the identified climate-aligned universe, followed by transport at 30% (USD78.5bn). The report highlights that waste, energy, and land use sectors are currently underrepresented in the green bond market despite having substantial climate-aligned activity.

RMI and Uber collaborated on an EV Pilot in Austin, Texas, to transition high-mileage rideshare drivers to electric vehicles. Through driver focus groups and education sessions, the project identified key barriers to adoption—including insufficient DC fast charging, range anxiety, and lack of awareness regarding cost savings—and developed strategies to address them, such as in-app notifications for riders and strategic charging infrastructure deployment by Austin Energy.

The document examines the global landscape of high-speed rail (HSR), highlighting the leadership of China, Japan, and Europe in deployment. It contrasts this with the United States, where HSR is largely absent due to factors like low population density, car culture, and property rights. The text argues that HSR offers significant energy and environmental advantages over air and car travel, while noting that China's rapid expansion is driven by government funding and strategic goals for economic integration and energy independence.

The report finds that building electrification is generally cost-effective for new construction and for customers switching from propane or heating oil, but often more expensive for existing natural gas customers at current prices. It argues that electrification reduces carbon emissions in most US regions, except those heavily dependent on coal, though this is expected to change as coal plants retire. The authors emphasize that demand flexibility—shifting energy use to low-cost or high-renewable periods—can further improve economics and grid integration. Key recommendations include prioritizing the electrification of oil and propane homes, stopping the expansion of natural gas infrastructure, and updating energy efficiency standards to account for total energy reduction across fuels.

The document examines how a warming atmosphere increases the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation, contributing to higher inland flood risks in parts of the United States, particularly the Midwest and Northeast. It highlights that while climate change is a driver, land-use changes—such as development in floodplains and the removal of wetlands—significantly exacerbate flood risk. The report argues that current FEMA flood maps are inadequate because they rely on historical data rather than future projections. To mitigate these risks, the authors recommend reforming the National Flood Insurance Program, increasing funding for river gauge networks and flood mapping, and implementing nature-based infrastructure and stricter zoning regulations to discourage floodplain development.

The report warns that sea level rise puts hundreds of thousands of US coastal properties at risk of chronic inundation, potentially leading to a collapse in real estate values and a significant erosion of local tax bases. Using a high sea level rise scenario, the analysis projects that by 2100, nearly 2.5 million properties valued at $1.07 trillion today will be at risk. The authors argue that current financial markets and government policies mask these risks, creating a 'narrowing window of opportunity' for communities to adapt. The report highlights particular vulnerabilities for low-income populations, the elderly, and specific states like Florida and New Jersey, while advocating for updated flood maps, transparent risk disclosure, and a shift away from subsidized insurance and disaster aid that encourages rebuilding in high-risk areas.

The document argues that demand flexibility—shifting electricity use to match renewable supply—can increase renewable energy revenues, reduce curtailment, and lower carbon emissions more cost-effectively than investing in new gas-fired generation.

The document describes Exxon's legal strategy of initiating discovery processes in Texas against public officials and attorneys from California and Massachusetts. The author characterizes these actions as intimidation tactics designed to disrupt lawsuits filed by California jurisdictions against fossil fuel producers for their role in the climate crisis. It highlights previous failed attempts by Exxon to claim a conspiracy involving NGOs and prosecutors in New York and Massachusetts, and argues that the company is attempting to use municipal bond disclosures to allege fraud against the cities suing it.

The briefing examines how commercial electricity rate designs, specifically noncoincident demand charges, incentivize customers to flatten their load profiles using battery storage. While this reduces individual bills, it often conflicts with the needs of grids with high renewable penetration, where flexible demand is required to match variable generation. The author suggests transitioning to peak-coincident demand charges, time-of-use rates, or real-time pricing to better align customer behavior with system-wide costs and grid stability.

The guide encourages people to overcome the 'spiral' of silence regarding climate change by engaging in interpersonal conversations. It suggests using a combination of scientific data on extreme weather, personal narratives of climate impacts, and economic arguments regarding the competitiveness and job-creation potential of clean energy to persuade others.