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This briefing transcript features a panel of experts discussing coastal resilience in the Great Lakes region, focusing on climate impacts, nature-based solutions, tribal adaptation strategies, and climate-smart agriculture. The discussion emphasizes the economic and environmental importance of the Great Lakes, the role of coastal wetlands in mitigating flooding and improving water quality, and the necessity of integrating traditional ecological knowledge and local leadership into federal and state policy.

A fact sheet detailing a USD 45 million green bond issued by the Oregon School District on March 1, 2019, to finance the construction of the first net zero carbon/zero energy school building in Wisconsin.

This case study describes how the Organic Valley agricultural cooperative partnered with OneEnergy Renewables and the Upper Midwest Municipal Energy Group (UMMEG) to source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2019. By utilizing a community solar model in the U.S. Midwest, the partnership developed 12 MW of solar for Organic Valley and an additional 17 MW for local communities, totaling approximately 29 MW of new installations.

This briefing, presented at Stanford University on March 9, 2016, provides a historical analysis of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) attempts to site nuclear waste repositories and storage facilities. The author argues that the DOE has a history of failing to keep promises and ignoring 'non-consent,' leading to a pattern of litigation and failure in establishing long-term high-level waste (HLW) and spent nuclear fuel (SNF) solutions.

A letter dated March 2, 2016, addressed to Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, urging the state to maximize investments in energy efficiency to meet Clean Power Plan goals cost-effectively. The signatories argue that energy efficiency is the cheapest demand-side resource for reducing emissions and creating local jobs.

This summary report details a September 2013 briefing in St. Paul, Minnesota, regarding 'America’s Power Plan' (APP), a policy roadmap for achieving a high-renewables energy future. The document outlines the regional context of the Midwest, discusses the need for new utility business and regulatory models to accommodate distributed energy resources (DERs), and highlights Xcel Energy's experience in integrating variable wind power.

This briefing synthesises the IPCC SREX report's findings on climate extremes and the agriculture sector. It highlights that disaster risk is increasing due to higher exposure and vulnerability, particularly in developing countries. Key threats include intensified droughts, heatwaves, and flooding, which cause significant economic losses and threaten food security. The document advocates for 'climate-smart' agriculture, improved disaster risk management, and a combination of short-term coping strategies and long-term structural adaptations to build resilience.

This report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes how state climate action plans in the United States incorporate land use, transportation, and green building policies as of July 2009. It finds that while transportation and green building are common, specific 'smart growth' land use practices are the least frequent component of these plans.

This July 2008 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) details the status of cellulosic biofuel production in the United States, highlighting the number of biorefineries in development, the technologies and feedstocks used, and the federal and state investments supporting the industry.

This case study examines the conflict between the U.S. pulp and paper industry, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Greenpeace over the use of chlorine in bleaching processes. The central tension involves the production of toxic organochlorines, specifically dioxins, and the debate over whether the industry should move toward elemental chlorine-free (ECF) or totally chlorine-free (TCF) technologies. The document details the 'cluster rule' regulatory approach and the economic and environmental trade-offs associated with different bleaching standards.

This case study examines the legal and environmental controversies surrounding Mobil Chemical Company's introduction of 'degradable' Hefty garbage bags in 1989. It details the gap between consumer expectations of plastic degradability and the reality of landfill conditions, leading to lawsuits by seven U.S. states and the FTC for deceptive advertising.

This report section details the use of economic incentives—specifically pollution charges, fees, and taxes—to protect the environment in the United States. It examines various instruments including water and air emission fees, solid waste disposal charges, product taxes, and specialized fees for wetlands and grazing, analyzing their roles in raising revenue and incentivizing pollution reduction.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes a proposal by pesticide industry lobby groups CropLife America and the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) regarding the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). CIEL argues that the industry is using 'regulatory cooperation' as a mechanism to compel the European Union to lower its health and environmental standards to match the weaker standards of the United States, effectively creating a 'regulatory ceiling' that would hinder global pesticide regulation.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute outlines the economic, environmental, and health benefits of prioritizing energy efficiency in Wisconsin, specifically regarding carbon pollution goals and cost savings by 2030.

This fact sheet details the distribution of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants for high-speed rail projects across four US regions: West, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast, as well as additional planning awards.

This document consists of a list of figure captions for maps depicting Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) nuclear waste transport routes across various United States states and the District of Columbia.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines federal policy recommendations for coastal climate change adaptation and resilience in the United States. Based on a series of Congressional briefings held between June 2019 and April 2020, the document advocates for community-centered planning, the use of nature-based solutions, and the application of future-climate data to inform federal decision-making and funding.

This report chapter explores 'green development,' demonstrating how the integration of resource efficiency, environmental sensitivity, and human well-being can lead to superior financial performance in real estate. Through various case studies of commercial buildings, residential developments, and hotels, the text argues that intelligent design reduces operating costs, increases labor productivity, and enhances property value while restoring community and ecological health.

This case study by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) examines the Responsible Energy Plan (REP) launched by Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association in January 2020. The plan outlines a transition from coal-fired generation to a diversified portfolio of renewables to meet state carbon regulations and member demands while maintaining affordability and reliability.

The 'Midwest Manufacturing Snapshot' by the World Resources Institute provides estimated manufacturing subsector-specific energy use and economic activity data for the 10 member states of the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA), alongside summaries of state policies aimed at reducing energy intensity and costs.