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The report identifies a significant investment opportunity in U.S. community-scale solar (CSS), estimated by NREL to be between $8.2 and $16.3 billion by 2020. It argues that CSS, typically sized between 0.5 and 5 MW, offers a cost-effective middle ground between residential and utility-scale solar. To unlock this potential, the document suggests adapting existing project finance and securitization models, utilizing innovative tools like New Markets Tax Credits, and implementing risk mitigants such as anchor tenants and subscription cushions to address customer attrition and regulatory uncertainty.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) asserts that Ontario's coal plant phase-out significantly reduced air pollution and improved public health. In 2002, Ontario's five coal plants were responsible for 23% of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, 14% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, 23% of airborne mercury, and 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. Between 2003 and 2012, SO2 emissions from these plants dropped by approximately 140,000 tonnes, contributing to a nearly 50% decline in annual air levels of SO2 and a 25% decline in PM2.5 across the province. A 2005 estimate valued the health impacts of coal plant pollution—including over 600 premature deaths and 1,900 hospital or emergency room visits annually—at $3 billion per year. Additionally, Toronto Public Health found that air quality improvements from 2000 to 2011 reduced premature deaths in Toronto by 23% and hospital admissions by 41%, attributing these gains in part to the coal phase-out.

The document details a spreadsheet model designed to quantify the effects of hypothetical green banks in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont from 2017 to 2031. It outlines the financial assumptions, including initial capitalization based on New York's per-capita rates, a 5% borrower interest rate, and a 5:1 private-sector leverage ratio. The methodology explains how funds are allocated across energy efficiency, solar photovoltaics, and community wind, and how these investments are translated into installed capacity, electricity savings, and avoided carbon emissions using data from NREL, ACEEE, and the EPA.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) proposes that Vermont could leverage an initial $7 million public investment into $148 million of total clean energy investment over 15 years. This expanded financing capacity would support nearly 50 MW of new solar and wind power, save homes and businesses $14.6 million annually on electricity bills, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 111,500 tons by 2031. The report details existing Vermont programs—such as Efficiency Vermont, PACE financing, and the Clean Energy Development Fund—and suggests a more comprehensive, coordinated public-private financing initiative to meet the state's long-term goal of 90% renewable energy and efficiency by 2050.

The document advocates for increasing electric vehicle (EV) availability in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, noting that while 55% of regional consumers are interested, availability lags significantly behind California. It calls for the expiration of a regulatory exemption that allows sales in California to count toward compliance in Northeast states and suggests updating ZEV program credits to account for rapid improvements in battery range.

The report analyzes the US electric vehicle (EV) market as of 2016, finding that while cumulative sales were nearing 500,000, progress among automakers is uneven. BMW, General Motors, Nissan, and Tesla are identified as leaders, while Honda, Toyota, and Fiat Chrysler are characterized as laggards. A significant disparity in vehicle availability exists between California and the rest of the US, largely attributed to California's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program. The authors argue that limited model availability and poor dealership inventory outside California hinder the national transition to electric transportation.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica calls on 750,000 supporters to vote for candidates who prioritize environmental values. He argues that an environmental majority in the US government is necessary to repeal fossil fuel and nuclear subsidies, protect pollinators from chemicals, and uphold the Clean Power Plan.

The report analyzes various policy scenarios for China's energy transition, highlighting that carbon pricing and renewable energy standards are the most powerful tools for reducing emissions. It emphasizes that regulatory policies, particularly energy efficiency standards in buildings and industry, are highly cost-effective. The analysis suggests a transition toward a service-based economy and a decarbonized electricity grid to meet emissions peaking goals by 2030.

The National Program for fuel efficiency and emissions standards is critical for the Northeast, where passenger vehicles account for over 25% of regional emissions. The program has already reduced oil consumption by 1.3 billion gallons since 2011 and is projected to lower global warming pollution by 75 million metric tons per year by 2030. Economically, it is estimated to save the average Northeast household over $2,400 annually by 2030 and create more than 125,000 regional jobs.

The survey found that approximately 43-44% of households in California and the Northeast are technically suitable for current plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) based on parking, hauling, and passenger needs. Consumer interest in EVs is higher in California, where 54.63% are likely to consider one for their next vehicle, compared to 34.86% in the Northeast. The most cited barrier to ownership is the purchase price, and the most desired policy is a tax credit or rebate. While there is strong agreement that EVs reduce climate emissions, awareness of specific government and utility incentives remains low.

The paper argues that traditional cost-of-service regulation incentivizes utilities to invest in capital expenditures to meet peak demand. To counter this, it proposes a PIM based on an outcome-oriented metric—specifically the percentage reduction in peak load—rather than a measure-by-measure counterfactual approach, which it claims failed in California's Risk Reward Incentive Mechanism (RRIM). The author recommends setting long-term targets (five to eight years) with annual interim goals and utilizing a sloped, symmetrical incentive structure with upper and lower caps. To manage risk, the proposal suggests a gradual implementation starting with small revenue amounts, eventually scaling the PIM based on independent studies of the net societal benefits of peak reduction.

The report examines 'water balance' goals, where companies aim to restore a volume of water equivalent to what they consume. While these goals provide clear communication and incentive for action, the document argues that they must be grounded in local basin contexts and collective action to avoid 'greenwashing' and effectively mitigate physical, regulatory, and reputational risks. It highlights the transition toward 'context-based targets' aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 6.

The report outlines a three-step approach for improving the performance of publicly-owned utilities (POUs). The first step involves 'no regrets' actions, such as engaging diverse stakeholders to define goals and using Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) to balance reliability, cost, and environmental targets. The second step focuses on governance evolutions, specifically delineating the roles of boards and management and implementing board self-evaluations. The third step suggests more drastic measures for lagging performance, including revenue decoupling to support energy efficiency, performance-based employee compensation, and the use of third-party non-profit entities for specific utility functions.

The chemical industry is using federal TSCA reform and the TTIP trade agreement to prevent US states from enacting chemical safety laws that exceed federal standards, potentially turning federal regulations into a ceiling rather than a floor.

The document defines on-bill financing (OBF) as a mechanism where energy improvement costs are repaid via monthly utility bills. It argues that OBF reduces high up-front costs and expands access to financing by using utility payment history instead of traditional credit scores. The guide provides four case studies from Kansas, South Carolina, Florida, and Oregon, demonstrating that OBF can support a range of upgrades from weatherization to solar PV with very low default rates (typically under 3%).

The brief, submitted by Consumers Union of United States, Inc., Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, and Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc., supports the denial of a preliminary injunction against Vermont's Act 120. It contends that GE food labeling is a global norm, adopted by over 60 countries and sanctioned by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The authors argue that the law serves substantial state interests, including public health and environmental protection, and that compliance costs—specifically through nationwide relabeling—are minimal, one-time expenses that do not constitute irreparable harm.

Ben & Jerry’s advocates for more stringent US Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy regulations for freight trucks, noting that transportation accounts for 17% of the company's carbon footprint. The company argues that a 40% reduction in fuel consumption by 2025 is feasible and would reduce freight rates by nearly 7%, potentially saving the average American household $250 annually.

The report documents a significant decline in power plant-related health impacts and emissions in the U.S. and the RGGI region between 2004 and 2012, attributing these gains to stringent emission controls, the transition from coal to natural gas, and renewable energy policies.

The document details the vulnerability of agricultural and forest products to climate change, noting significant potential losses in cocoa, coffee, cotton, and wine production, as well as specific environmental pressures on flower exports from Kenya and silk production in India.

The report argues that TTIP's regulatory cooperation provisions, primarily based on EU proposals, would institutionalize oversight of US state-level legislation and regulations by federal and international bodies. This framework would likely lead to 'regulatory chill' through onerous procedural requirements, such as early warning systems and trade impact assessments, which favor industry influence over public interest. The document highlights that US states often act as the primary regulators of toxic chemicals and pesticides when federal action is lax, and that TTIP's goal of 'regulatory compatibility' could effectively set federal or international standards as a ceiling, preventing states from adopting more protective measures. It specifically warns that such mechanisms could be used to challenge state-level bans on substances like Bisphenol A (BPA) or pesticide residue monitoring programs in California.