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David J Mattson, Ph.D. Short Biography
The document consists of a short biography of Dr. David J. Mattson, detailing his academic background and extensive research on large carnivores, particularly grizzly bears and mountain lions. It includes a comprehensive list of his publications and research projects focused on behavioral ecology, habitat suitability, and the intersection of science and conservation policy. Additionally, the document contains three figures analyzing Yellowstone grizzly bear population data, indicating a lack of population increase and a rise in mortalities and human-wildlife conflicts following the loss of whitebark pine.
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Document type: Statement
BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE LAW PROFESSORS IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS
A group of over 30 law professors argues that the public trust doctrine (PTD) is an inherent attribute of state sovereignty that obligates Utah to protect the Great Salt Lake. The brief contends that Utah has violated this duty by failing to restrain upper basin water diversions, which have reduced the lake's footprint by half and threatened species extinction. The authors assert that the PTD applies not only to navigable waters but also to non-navigable tributaries and groundwater that sustain the lake, citing legal precedents from other Western states like California, Nevada, and Hawaii.
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Document type: Legal commentary
Utah’s Path to an Energy-Efficient Future
The document outlines the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency in Utah, stating that specific policies could save residents $5.8 billion on utility bills and avoid 4 million tons of CO2 by 2030.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Fact Sheet Critical Mineral Deep Dive: Lithium
Lithium is a critical mineral essential for electric vehicle batteries and grid storage, with demand for these applications expected to reach 97% by 2035. While deposits are globally abundant, viable extraction is concentrated in the 'lithium triangle' (Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile) and Australia. The United States relies on imports for over 50% of its consumption as of 2025, with limited domestic production and processing. Extraction and processing cause significant environmental damage, including water depletion in arid regions and toxic contamination, disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. Recycling remains limited but could potentially reduce the need for new mines by 25% by 2050.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Presenter’s Guide for the Idle Reduction and Clean School Bus Curriculum For Drivers and School Officials
The guide outlines a 45-minute workshop designed to initiate local idle reduction programs in school districts. It argues that while school buses are safer and more efficient than private cars, diesel exhaust poses significant health risks, particularly to children. The curriculum focuses on debunking myths about idling, explaining the health impacts of particulate matter, and providing implementation strategies such as policy enforcement and the use of auxiliary heaters.
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Document type: Guide
nirs-maps-state_nuclear_waste_transport_route_maps-5e936ce1772e71fd.pdf
The document consists of a collection of 45 figures mapping the FSEIS routes for nuclear waste transport through nearly every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.
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Document type: Report
ENERGY LEADERSHIP IN A TIME OF NEED: A BLUEPRINT FOR STATES
The document argues that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will negatively impact the U.S. economy by increasing energy bills and reducing GDP. To counter this, it urges state governments to accelerate the procurement and permitting of wind and solar projects to ensure they qualify for federal investment tax credits (ITC) and production tax credits (PTC) before the December 31, 2027 deadline, specifically noting a 'safe harbor' eligibility for projects beginning construction by July 4, 2026.
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Document type: Guide
COAL POWER 28 PERCENT MORE EXPENSIVE IN 2024 THAN IN 2021
Analysis shows that the weighted average cost of coal power in the U.S. rose from $36/MWh in 2021 to $46/MWh in 2024, a 28 percent increase that outpaced inflation. This rise is attributed to higher fuel, operations, and maintenance costs, as well as declining capacity factors. Despite these economics, some U.S. federal policies and state regulators have extended the lives of expensive plants, such as Plant Bowen in Georgia and the Hunter and Huntington plants in Utah, potentially increasing the financial burden on electricity consumers.
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Document type: Report
Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case on the Consideration of Downstream Costs in NEPA Analyses
The document advocates for a broad interpretation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), arguing that agencies must analyze indirect environmental impacts beyond proximate effects, specifically in the context of a Surface Transportation Board decision regarding a railway in Utah's Uinta Basin.
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Document type: Legal commentary
THE ECONOMICS OF GRID DEFECTION
The report examines the economic viability of 'grid defection'—where customers use solar PV and battery storage to operate independently of the electric grid. It analyzes five U.S. geographies to determine when the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for these systems undercuts retail utility prices. The findings suggest that grid parity is already present in Hawaii and is imminent for millions of other U.S. customers, threatening to strand utility assets and trigger a 'utility death spiral' of rising prices and falling sales.
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Document type: Executive summary
VIRTUAL POWER PLANT FLIPBOOK
The VPP Flipbook outlines how utilities can aggregate distributed energy resources (DERs)—such as batteries, electric vehicles, and smart thermostats—to provide grid services like capacity, energy, and resilience. It details a six-step development process and provides specific examples from utilities including PG&E, National Grid, and Green Mountain Power. The document emphasizes the importance of open-access structures, third-party partnerships, and the integration of VPPs into long-term resource planning to address load growth and decarbonization goals.
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Document type: Guide
SCIENCE AND POLITICS AT THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) conducted a survey of 1,586 EPA scientists, finding that 60 percent experienced political interference in the five years preceding the report. The study details how political appointees and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) manipulated scientific findings on issues like climate change and mercury pollution. It also highlights barriers to free communication, such as fear of retaliation and restrictions on media contact, and notes a decline in job satisfaction and resources. The report recommends elevating the EPA to a cabinet-level agency, strengthening whistleblower protections, and increasing transparency in regulatory decision-making.
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Document type: Executive summary
State Progress Toward Clean Power Plan Benchmarks in 2020
The report provides a state-by-state breakdown of progress toward 2020 Clean Power Plan benchmarks, noting that some states have exceeded 500% of their goals while others show 0% progress. It highlights the role of energy efficiency, renewable energy standards, and regional initiatives in achieving these targets.
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Document type: Report
Microsoft Word - southwest.doc
The Southwest is projected to warm by 4-6°F under lower-emissions and 7-10°F under higher-emissions scenarios by the end of the century. The region faces severe water scarcity, expanding deserts, and reduced runoff, particularly in the Colorado River system. Public health risks include increased heat-related deaths in Los Angeles and worsening air quality. Economic threats include reduced yields for California specialty crops, diminished ski resort profitability due to snowpack loss, and reduced aircraft freight capacity at high-altitude airports like Phoenix and Denver. Biodiversity is critically threatened, especially in the Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands, while mountain ecosystems face range reductions and reproductive failures in wildflowers due to earlier snowmelt and spring frosts.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Bottom Line on Emerging Solar Metering Policies
The document outlines four types of solar metering arrangements designed to overcome the limitations of the traditional "one customer, one meter" model. Net metering provides benefits to a single customer via one meter. Virtual net metering (VNM) allows multiple customers with separate meters to share credits from a system, often in multi-tenant or municipal buildings, and is permitted in states including California, Colorado, and Massachusetts. Community solar enables joint ownership or sponsorship of systems for those unable to host arrays on-site, utilizing models such as utility-sponsored, special purpose entity, or non-profit "buy a brick" projects. Meter aggregation allows a single customer with multiple utility accounts to aggregate annual consumption across separate buildings, enabling the installation of larger systems and higher power sales back to the grid.
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Document type: Fact sheet
SEEING IS BELIEVING: STATUS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE UNITED STATES
The document highlights that wind power purchase agreements (PPAs) are cheaper than new coal and natural gas plants across most U.S. regions, even without federal tax incentives. It provides specific examples of solar PV projects outcompeting fossil fuels in states like Utah, Colorado, and Georgia. To sustain these trends, the text recommends increasing federal R&D funding, reforming tax incentives to be refundable, and establishing long-term regulatory certainty through carbon pricing or greenhouse gas standards.
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Document type: Fact sheet
The climate case for the not-so-big bad wolf
The document explains how wolves act as 'climate heroes' by regulating prey populations, which allows vegetation to recover and enhances carbon sequestration. Using Yellowstone National Park as a primary example, it describes how the reintroduction of wolves led to a resurgence of woody plants and beavers, improving wetland health. It also addresses the social conflicts between wolf conservation and rural communities, advocating for coexistence programs and science-based policies like the Endangered Species Act to protect these ecosystems.
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Document type: Fact sheet