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4,185 results
High Voltage, High Reward Transmission
An analysis of seven large-scale transmission projects across the United States, ranging from California to Oklahoma, found that all projects delivered benefits exceeding their costs. Projects designed for economic benefits significantly surpassed the FERC 1.25 benefit-to-cost ratio standard and exceeded original planning expectations. Reliability-driven projects also provided unintended economic benefits, often approaching or exceeding the FERC threshold.
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Document type: Executive summary
UN votes on Ukraine: shifting alliances and the Global South’s role
This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes UN voting patterns on Ukraine as of February 2025. It highlights a divergence between European demands for Russian accountability and the Trump administration's shift toward de-escalation, alongside a more strategic, pragmatic approach by Global South nations seeking diplomatic mediation over binary confrontation.
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Document type: Research paper
Paying for Clean Building Materials with C-PACE
This briefing by RMI argues that Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing rules should be updated to include low-embodied-carbon building materials and material-efficient construction practices to unlock billions of dollars in investment.
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Document type: Briefing
During a Historic Hurricane Season, Microgrids Kept Communities Running
RMI describes the role of solar-plus-battery-storage microgrids in creating community resilience hubs, particularly during extreme weather events like hurricanes. Based on a cohort of leaders from various institutions, the guide outlines five key factors—facility suitability, electricity costs/net metering, energy efficiency, battery sizing strategies, and available funding—that can help non-taxable entities successfully implement microgrid projects in low-to-moderate income US communities.
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Document type: Guide
Rebalancing “Return on Equity” to Accelerate an Affordable Clean Energy Future
This RMI guide argues that allowed Return on Equity (ROE) for US electric utilities is currently set too high, exceeding the actual Cost of Equity (COE) required by investors. This discrepancy creates a 'capex bias,' incentivizing expensive capital projects over cost-effective solutions and increasing customer bills. By correcting flawed model assumptions—such as overestimating growth rates and using arithmetic instead of geometric means—and debunking myths about capital access and credit ratings, regulators can lower ROEs to reduce consumer costs and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
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Document type: Guide
Advance Market Commitment Policy Brief
This policy brief by RMI explores the use of advance market commitments (AMCs) as a public procurement tool to decarbonize the concrete and cement sectors, specifically focusing on the United States.
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Document type: Policy brief
Finding US Clean Power Development Sees Record Progress, As Well As Stronger Headwinds
This report by the World Resources Institute analyzes the state of clean energy in the United States through 2024, highlighting record growth in solar and battery storage alongside significant headwinds including grid capacity limits, rising local opposition, and policy uncertainty under the Trump administration.
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Document type: Report
How “Power Couples” Can Help the United States Win the Global AI Race
RMI proposes a "Power Couples" strategy to meet the surging electricity demands of AI data centers in the United States. This approach involves pairing large electricity consumers with new-build wind, solar, and battery resources located near existing generators with approved grid interconnections, allowing for rapid deployment of clean energy without compromising grid reliability or increasing costs for other ratepayers.
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Document type: Report
Unlocking Capital for Zero-Emission Trucks
This briefing by RMI discusses the financial barriers to the adoption of zero-emission trucks (ZETs) in India and proposes the adaptation of global financial models—specifically risk-sharing facilities, tailored insurance, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)—to accelerate market growth.
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Document type: Briefing
Clean Energy 101: Nationally Determined Contributions - RMI
This briefing explains the nature and function of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Agreement, detailing how these national climate plans serve as frameworks for emissions targets, financial needs, and the global energy transition.
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Document type: Briefing
Building Bigger and Cleaner Industries in US States
This report by RMI analyzes the impact and potential of US federal clean energy tax credits on the industrial sector. It finds that these incentives have already spurred significant private investment and job growth, with the potential to bring nearly $235 billion in federal investment to US states by 2030 under a high-growth scenario.
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Document type: Report
Competition and Climate Policy in the Steel Transition
This research paper examines the influence of subsidies and renewable energy costs on the competitiveness of low-carbon steelmaking in the United States and the European Union, analyzing the tension between industrial policy and climate action.
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Document type: Research paper
World Resources Institute Addresses Recent Trump Administration Actions
The World Resources Institute (WRI) issued a statement on February 6, 2025, criticizing the Trump administration's actions to reduce U.S. climate action and foreign assistance, including the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the freezing of international climate finance.
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Document type: Statement
Clean Energy 101: Thermal Batteries
This guide by RMI explains the function, types, and potential of thermal batteries as a decarbonization tool for industrial heating and grid stability. It details how these systems convert renewable electricity into stored heat using abundant materials, offering a cheaper and less complex alternative to hydrogen for high-temperature industrial processes.
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Document type: Guide
Blueprint for Success: Overcoming Challenges in Industrial Heat Decarbonization Projects
This briefing by RMI provides a guide for technology providers and partners to navigate the execution of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) industrial heat decarbonization projects in the United States. It identifies common cost-inflating pitfalls—such as poor customer connections, inaccurate site evaluations, and ambiguous contracts—and offers five recommended practices to increase the likelihood of reaching a final investment decision (FID). The document emphasizes that successful FOAK projects are essential for creating replicability and unlocking a potential 2%–5% overall emissions reduction in the US.
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Document type: Briefing
global-climate-and-health-alliance-healthy-ndcs-3.0-05778a33373f8409.pdf
This report by the Global Climate and Health Alliance evaluates the integration of health objectives within the third generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) submitted by several countries. The analysis finds that while many nations recognize the health benefits of climate mitigation, most NDCs lack measurable health targets, dedicated funding for health adaptation, and alignment with 1.5°C pathways necessary to protect human health.
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Document type: Report
GRID RELIABILITY IN THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION
This briefing from Energy Innovation examines the challenges and opportunities for maintaining electric grid reliability during the transition to clean energy in the United States. It defines the components of reliability—resource adequacy, operational reliability, and resilience—and argues that while the shift to inverter-based resources (IBRs) and the retirement of fossil fuel plants create risks, these can be managed through interconnection reform, demand-side solutions, and a diverse portfolio of clean energy resources.
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Document type: Briefing
Proposed gas-fired power plants in the United States rise due to AI energy demand speculation, but remain largely in early development stage
A Global Energy Monitor briefing reports a surge in proposed gas-fired power plants in the United States, driven by speculation over AI energy demand. While the U.S. now has the world's second-largest pipeline of such projects, most remain in early development stages, risking billions in stranded assets if demand forecasts prove inaccurate.
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Document type: Briefing
Reforming Environmentally Harmful Subsidies
This guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Porticus, provides a strategic framework for philanthropic organizations to advance the reform of environmentally harmful subsidies (EHS). It argues that redirecting a portion of the USD 2 trillion annually spent on EHS could significantly fund biodiversity and climate goals. The document outlines a theory of change based on defining problems, identifying solutions, and creating political support to open 'policy windows' for reform.
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Document type: Guide
Get a Load of This
This report by RMI examines the challenges of forecasting large electricity loads—such as data centers and advanced manufacturing—in the United States. It argues that traditional forecasting methods are insufficient for the rapid growth and unique operational characteristics of these loads, which can lead to risks in grid reliability and customer affordability. The document provides a framework for understanding load characteristics, outlines best practices for utilities, and offers specific regulatory actions to ensure forecasts are thorough, up-to-date, and validated.
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Document type: Report