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Research by the Union of Concerned Scientists and University of California, Merced, indicates that emissions from the 'Carbon Majors'—the 122 largest industrial carbon producers—are responsible for approximately half of the climate-driven reductions in snowpack and streamflow, and increases in irrigation demand across the western United States. The analysis highlights specific 'hot spots' in California and the Pacific Northwest, noting that these emissions contributed to a 15% reduction in April snowpack and a 6.1% decrease in warm season streamflow. In California's Central Valley, 10% of observed groundwater loss is attributed to these companies. The document argues that the fossil fuel industry should be held financially accountable for these damages, as local governments and vulnerable communities currently bear the economic costs of adaptation and infrastructure failure.

The policy brief outlines how western US states can unlock next-generation geothermal energy—which uses advanced drilling and stimulation to access deeper heat sources than conventional hydrothermal systems—to provide carbon-free firm capacity. It identifies five critical policy levers: improving subsurface data availability, streamlining regulatory processes, providing early-stage financing, integrating projects into transmission and procurement frameworks, and sustaining R&D innovation. The author emphasizes that regional coordination among states is essential to overcome transmission constraints and build investor confidence.

The United States has the potential for significant next-generation geothermal deployment, which could meet 15% of U.S. energy demand growth by 2050. However, the industry faces financing barriers due to slow and uncertain federal leasing and permitting processes, particularly on federal lands. The Clean Air Task Force advocates for increasing the technical capacity of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), implementing evidence-based categorical exclusions for low-impact exploration, and establishing clear permitting timelines to accelerate deployment while maintaining safety and environmental protections.

The document explains that rising global temperatures increase 'atmospheric thirst,' where the atmosphere absorbs more moisture from the land. In the western U.S., this heat-driven demand has replaced lack of precipitation as the leading cause of exceptional drought since 2000, contributing to a multi-decade megadrought in the Southwest and increasing wildfire risk in California and Nevada.

The policy brief outlines five strategic recommendations for Western U.S. governors to address rising energy demand driven by electrification, industrial reshoring, and AI data centers. It advocates for the deployment of clean firm energy technologies, the acceleration of interstate transmission, the fostering of private investment through policy innovation, the implementation of multi-use public land planning, and the modernization of regulatory frameworks and federal coordination.

A heat event in the Western U.S. from July 8-11, 2025, is forecast to bring temperatures 5-12°F above normal, with human-caused climate change making the event at least three to five times more likely for tens of millions of people.

The report identifies four primary drivers of resource adequacy risk in the Western United States: load growth uncertainties, extreme weather and climate change, delays in planned resource builds, and slow transmission expansion. To mitigate these risks, it proposes ten specific options for regulators categorized into three strategies: improving planning practices, widening the suite of resource adequacy solutions, and reforming utility business models.

The guide explains how climate change creates conditions for more severe and frequent wildfires in the US, while offering practical reporting tips for journalists to cover the long-term impacts, public health risks, and the role of 'good fire'.

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.

Climate Central analyzed 2,041 U.S. monitoring stations from 1970 to 2023, finding that 64% of locations experienced a decrease in annual snowfall. The report highlights regional disparities, noting that while the western U.S. faces shrinking snowpack and increased snow drought, the Great Lakes region sees a trend toward more lake effect snow due to reduced ice cover, though the overall snow season is projected to shorten. These shifts threaten water security in the West, the winter recreation industry in the Northeast, and aquatic ecosystems in the Northern Great Plains.

Wildfires in the western United States are increasing in size and severity due to climate change and historical fire suppression, posing significant risks to water resources. High-severity fires destroy vegetation and alter soil chemistry, leading to increased streamflow, flooding, and the contamination of drinking water with sediments, toxins, and carcinogens. The document advocates for a combination of emissions reductions, active forest management—including prescribed and Indigenous cultural burns—and investments in climate-resilient water infrastructure to mitigate these threats.

President Biden has ordered federal agencies to conduct a one-year inventory of mature and old-growth forests on federal land to identify threats and inform future protection policies. Earthjustice argues that protecting these forests is critical for climate mitigation, noting that federal forest lands sequester 35 million metric tons of carbon and that logging is the primary driver of forest carbon loss across the United States. The organization advocates for a nationwide rule to safeguard these forests from logging and the continued defense of the Roadless Rule.

The document reports that winter is the fastest warming season for most of the U.S., leading to a general decrease in fall and spring snowfall between 1970 and 2019. It details regional impacts, such as a 15-30% reduction in snow-derived freshwater in the Western U.S. since 1955, a shift toward rain over snow in the Northeast, and a shortened lake effect snow season in the Great Lakes region. These changes threaten water security for agriculture and municipalities, increase wildfire and drought risks, and negatively impact the winter recreation industry.

Climate Central's analysis of weather station data from 225 locations across 17 U.S. states reveals a significant increase in fire weather days since the 1970s, driven primarily by warming and decreasing relative humidity. The report highlights that interior regions have seen higher increases than coastal areas, with some parts of New Mexico experiencing two additional months of fire weather compared to nearly 50 years ago. Beyond increasing wildfire risk, these conditions have led utilities like PG&E to implement public safety power shutoffs (PSPSs) to prevent equipment-related ignitions, resulting in significant economic impacts and health risks. The document argues that while land management and localized grids can mitigate risk, long-term stabilization requires reducing carbon pollution to net zero by 2050.

The document argues that fossil fuel extraction on U.S. public lands and waters is incompatible with climate goals, noting that nearly 25% of U.S. climate emissions originate from these areas. It highlights President Biden's early actions, including a pause on new oil and gas leasing and the protection of the Arctic Ocean and Atlantic canyons from drilling. The author calls for further measures, such as reinstating a coal leasing moratorium, strengthening methane regulations, and shutting down the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Climate change is intensifying wildfires in the United States by raising temperatures and drying out forests, while a century of fire suppression has increased fuel loads. These fires cause significant loss of life, property destruction, and high federal costs, while simultaneously releasing greenhouse gases that further accelerate global warming.

The document describes how rising temperatures and forest management issues are increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfire smoke waves in the Western U.S. It highlights the danger of PM2.5 particles, which can enter the bloodstream and exacerbate respiratory conditions, potentially increasing the risk of death from COVID-19. The text also notes that other pollutants, such as industrial emissions and tear gas, further increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) condemns the rollback of the BLM Methane Waste Rule, noting that the rule previously reduced annual methane emissions by 175,000-180,000 tons. CATF asserts that the rollback will cost taxpayers millions of dollars due to wasted natural gas and increased air pollution, while threatening the health of tens of thousands of people living near oil and gas wells on public lands.

The author opposes S. 1966, claiming it would mandate logging in up to 25 percent of designated "logging emphasis areas," leading to the loss of at least 7.5 million acres over 15 years. The text argues the bill eliminates judicial review and environmental safeguards, threatens drinking water supplies in the West, and provides less revenue for rural communities than the Secure Rural Schools Act of 2000.

The document argues that climate change is creating hotter, drier conditions in the American West, leading to more frequent and severe wildfires. This risk is compounded by increased residential and commercial development in fire-prone areas and federal policies that prioritize immediate fire suppression over proactive forest management. The report details the escalating economic costs of suppression and the broader impacts on infrastructure, public health, and water supplies, while recommending zoning reforms, fireproofing, and carbon emission reductions to build resilience.