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Geothermal energy in the U.S. is positioned for rapid growth due to bipartisan support and advancements in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), with 1.16 GW of capacity expected to come online by 2028. While the Trump administration has deprioritized wind and solar, geothermal has benefited from new categorical exclusions in permitting and expanded tax credits. EGS technology, leveraging oil and gas drilling techniques, allows for expansion beyond traditional geological constraints and is increasingly viewed as a viable 24/7 power source for AI data centers. However, the report notes that geothermal alone cannot meet 2030 electrical demand without the continued rollout of prospective wind and solar capacity.

The briefing highlights the bipartisan support and technological advancements, particularly in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), that are driving geothermal growth in the U.S. It notes that 1.16 GW of capacity is expected by 2028 and that the Trump administration's policies, including permitting exclusions and support from Energy Secretary Chris Wright, favor the sector. However, the author argues that geothermal cannot replace wind and solar, which are necessary to meet a projected 128 GW increase in demand by 2030.

The report argues that superhot rock (SHR) geothermal energy, defined as leveraging rocks at 374°C or above, has the potential to provide scalable, renewable baseload power at costs competitive with fossil fuels. While much of the necessary technology exists due to progress in unconventional oil and gas and next-generation geothermal, significant gaps remain in materials science, drilling efficiency, and reservoir stimulation. The most critical need identified is the establishment of laboratory and field facilities to test equipment under actual SHR conditions. Key technical hurdles include improving rates of penetration in hard basement rock, developing casing and cement that can withstand extreme thermal swings and corrosion, and creating reliable fracture networks in the brittle-ductile transition zone (BDTZ). Power production is the most mature segment, with most components at TRL 8-9, though integrated system prototypes and cost-effective turbine designs are still needed.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are emerging nuclear energy technologies producing 300 MW or less, offering a potential source of reliable, emission-free electricity for Canada's energy transition. While Canada possesses a strong nuclear industry and uranium reserves, SMRs are currently classified as a 'wild-card' technology due to high costs, regulatory hurdles, and a lack of commercial viability. Despite these challenges, several Canadian provinces and the federal government are investing in SMR development, with projects planned for Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick.

In October 2024, 185 of 191 analyzed U.S. cities were warmer than normal, with the Southwest experiencing particularly high anomalies. The report highlights that 19 cities saw their hottest October on record and identifies specific states, including Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, where climate change significantly increased the likelihood of extreme temperatures as measured by the Climate Shift Index.

The document outlines a four-step process for utility climate risk planning: identification, quantitative assessment, mitigation, and risk distribution. It emphasizes the need for utilities to move beyond siloed resilience plans by incorporating both physical risks (e.g., extreme weather) and transition risks (e.g., carbon taxes, policy changes) into core planning documents like Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs). The authors advocate for the use of high-resolution, long-term climate datasets (30+ years) to accurately model extreme events and argue that clean energy portfolios reduce financial volatility for residential customers compared to fossil-heavy portfolios. Finally, it provides actionable recommendations for regulators to mandate risk assessments, create financial incentives for transitioning away from fossil assets, and explore self-insurance funds to protect low- and middle-income customers from catastrophic costs.

A coalition of national and regional organizations is calling on Utah's House representatives to support S. 3853, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act, noting that for the first time since 1990, affected downwinders and uranium miners lack access to compensation and cancer screenings.

In October 2024, 185 of 191 analyzed U.S. cities were warmer than normal, with 19 cities recording their hottest October on record. The Southwest experienced particularly high anomalies, and cities in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida saw the highest frequency of days where temperatures were made at least three times more likely due to climate change.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis indicates that reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) through increased transportation choices could save the U.S. up to $201 billion in energy infrastructure and $5.9 trillion in vehicle ownership costs by 2050. The report contends that current car dependence is driven by industry lobbying from the auto, fossil fuel, and road-building sectors, which receive over 75 percent of transportation spending. UCS recommends investing in diverse transportation networks, applying equity and climate lenses to project prioritization, and making planning processes more democratic to benefit the 30 percent of Americans who do not drive.

The document highlights a significant disparity in Utah's transportation funding, noting that the state has spent 8.5 times more on highways than transit over the last 50 years. It emphasizes that over 800,000 people in rural Utah have no access to transit, creating barriers to healthcare, employment, and community participation, particularly for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income residents. The report cites the Moab Area Transit pilot program as a successful model and notes that over 50 percent of rural Utahns support investments in statewide passenger rail and transit services to connect smaller towns to larger cities.

Analysis by Climate Central indicates that June-August 2024 was the hottest season on record, with carbon pollution significantly increasing the frequency and intensity of risky heat days globally and in the U.S. Approximately 2 billion people worldwide experienced 30 or more risky heat days made at least three times more likely by climate change. In the U.S., the average person experienced 20 additional risky heat days, with the highest impacts concentrated in the South, Southeast, and Southwest, particularly in Florida and Puerto Rico.

Analysis of 242 U.S. cities shows that fall temperatures have increased by an average of 2.5°F since 1970, with the most intense warming occurring in the Southwest. This trend is characterized by a higher frequency of above-normal temperature days, which prolongs risks related to heat-related illness, wildfires, and allergies, while also affecting agricultural growing seasons and energy demand for cooling.

The report finds that June 2024 was historically hot across the United States, with climate change making temperatures 2.3 times more likely on average. The Southwest experienced the most extreme anomalies, with Nevada's temperatures being 8.2 times more likely due to climate change and the region seeing an average of 4.2 additional days above 90°F. Analysis of 191 ACIS stations showed that 12 experienced their hottest Junes on record, and 168 stations had at least one day where temperatures were at least twice as likely due to climate change.

The document highlights the risk of insufficient electricity generation during summer heat waves in North America, driven by projected peak load growth of 38 GW through 2028. It proposes Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)—aggregations of distributed energy resources (DERs)—as a key tool to enhance grid reliability and community resilience. VPPs are presented as more affordable than gas peakers or batteries and can be deployed in 6-12 months. The briefing outlines three essential policy principles: expanding the DER asset base, ensuring fair compensation, and enabling value stacking. Case studies from the US and Canada demonstrate VPPs' ability to provide peak capacity, reduce infrastructure costs, and offer backup power during extreme weather.

The Rocky Mountain region (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) possesses the feedstocks, industrial infrastructure, and legislative support necessary to develop a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry, yet it currently lacks substantial production. This roadmap examines regional feedstock availability and policy mechanisms to align the region with the US SAF Grand Challenge and outlines actions for short-, medium-, and long-term SAF development.

The Southwest United States experienced an extreme heat event from June 6 to June 13, 2024, with human-caused climate change making high temperatures at least five times more likely. The event caused record-setting temperatures in cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas, led to numerous hospitalizations for heat exhaustion, and contributed to wildfires in California.

The report details significant economic distress in the Navajo Nation, characterized by low median household incomes, high unemployment, and a workforce that must largely seek employment outside the community. While average annual wages have increased, they remain below living wage standards for most industry clusters. The region faces demographic challenges, including a declining youth population and limited housing availability due to complex land-use and leasing requirements.

An analysis of 476 weather stations from 1973 to 2023 shows that fire weather seasons are lengthening and intensifying across the contiguous United States, with the most significant increases occurring in the West. While the East has seen more modest increases, both regions are experiencing a notable rise in fire weather days during the spring. The Southwest has seen the most dramatic growth, with some areas experiencing fire weather twice as often as they did 50 years ago.

The report asserts that Western US states must collaborate on regional electricity transmission expansion to realize significant economic gains. It highlights that energy export states could see their market access grow from $3 billion to $40 billion per year by 2050 with increased capacity, while states with clean energy standards could reduce costs by over 30% through expansive regional planning.

The report analyzes the federal permitting process for high-capacity electric transmission lines in the U.S., identifying systemic delays caused by poor interagency coordination, capacity shortages, and regulatory misalignment between federal and state authorities. Based on a dataset of 37 projects and case studies, it argues that while litigation is often cited as a primary barrier, it is rarely the sole cause of project failure. The authors recommend that the President prioritize transmission as a national priority, that Congress consolidate siting authority for multi-state projects, and that agencies adopt more agile, transparent, and collaborative environmental review processes, including expanded use of programmatic EISs and categorical exclusions.