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How Wyoming Benefits from Federal Fuel Economy and Vehicle Emissions Standards
The document asserts that federal light-duty vehicle standards set by the EPA and NHTSA in 2012 benefit Wyoming by reducing gasoline consumption and increasing household wealth. It claims that Wyoming has already saved $60 million and that the average household will be $2,100 richer by 2030 due to gas savings. Environmentally, the standards are said to eliminate global warming emissions in Wyoming equivalent to more than those produced by providing electricity to Cheyenne.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Comments on the 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan Update regarding Carbon Capture and Sequestration
The authors argue that the Proposed Plan underestimates the readiness and effectiveness of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS). They assert that CCS is technologically viable, citing sixteen integrated projects in North America and the necessity of the technology for deep decarbonization in industrial sectors like steel and cement. The coalition recommends that the Scoping Plan explicitly include CCS for both industrial and power sectors, identify potential synergies with the reduction of toxics and criteria pollutants, and remove regulatory barriers, such as the requirement that carbon capture occur onsite at crude oil production facilities.
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Document type: Statement
Clean Energy Momentum State Ranking
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) developed the Clean Energy Momentum State Ranking to evaluate how US states are driving the transition to clean energy. The ranking uses 12 metrics across three categories: technical progress (renewable energy generation, energy savings, and electric vehicle sales), direct effects (job creation and pollution reduction), and future-oriented policies (renewable energy, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction). California is identified as the overall leader, while Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Hawaii also rank in the top five. The analysis concludes that state-level leadership is critical for national momentum, particularly in creating jobs and improving public health, and recommends that states facilitate business involvement and improve energy equity for low-income communities.
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Document type: Executive summary
Clean Energy Momentum Ranking State Progress
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) created the Clean Energy Momentum State Ranking to evaluate how US states are advancing renewable energy, energy efficiency, and vehicle electrification. California, Vermont, and Massachusetts are identified as top overall leaders. The report emphasizes that state-level policy is a critical driver of progress, particularly in the absence of consistent federal leadership, and that clean energy momentum creates jobs and improves public health by reducing power plant emissions.
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Document type: Report
Clean Energy Momentum: Ranking State Progress
The Union of Concerned Scientists ranked U.S. states on their clean energy momentum using 12 metrics divided into technical progress, direct effects, and policy environments. California ranked first overall, followed by Vermont and Massachusetts. The analysis found that 13 percent of U.S. electricity was generated from renewable energy in 2015, and 36 percent of generating capacity being built between 2016 and 2019 is expected to be renewable. Significant reductions in power plant emissions were noted between 2011 and 2015, with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide declining by 47, 24, and 11 percent, respectively.
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Document type: Report
Resumen ejecutivo Clasificación del avance de los estados
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) evaluated the 50 US states using 12 indicators to rank their progress in clean energy, focusing on renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, and transport electrification. California leads the ranking, followed by Vermont and Massachusetts. The analysis highlights that clean energy progress is tangible across the US, with wind farms in 41 states and over half a million electric vehicles on the road. The report argues that state-level leadership is critical for job creation and public health improvements, and recommends that states adopt multi-dimensional policies, facilitate corporate participation, and improve energy equity for low-income and minority communities.
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Document type: Executive summary
Shifting Currents
The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has emerged as a leader in renewable energy, offering significant opportunities for corporate buyers through wind power purchase agreements (PPAs). Market improvements since 2014, including the integration of the Integrated System (IS) transmission system, have increased dispatch efficiency and reduced energy costs. The region possesses some of the highest wind resource quality in the U.S., with nine of the top 10 states for high-capacity-factor wind generation located within the SPP footprint. This high capacity factor allows for lower unit costs and more competitive PPA prices. While there is a strong pipeline of planned wind capacity—including an estimated 19 GW of planned additions and nearly 7 GW expected in 2017—corporate buyers are cautioned to monitor the pace of transmission infrastructure investment to avoid curtailment risks and track regional policy changes, such as potential tax credit eliminations in Oklahoma.
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Document type: Briefing
Don’t Let the Senate Waste the BLM Methane Rule!
The Clean Air Task Force opposes the repeal of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Methane Waste Rule via the Congressional Review Act. The organization argues that the rule saves up to 41 billion cubic feet of natural gas annually, increasing royalties for states and tax revenue for the federal government. Furthermore, it claims the rule supports small businesses specializing in waste mitigation technology, such as infrared cameras, and notes that a majority of voters in Western states oppose the rollback.
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Document type: Statement
Federal Coal Program Programmatic EIS Scoping Report
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is conducting a comprehensive review of the Federal coal program via a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). This scoping report identifies key areas for reform, including increasing royalty rates to ensure fair market value, accounting for greenhouse gas emissions through carbon budgets or royalty adders, and improving lease process efficiency. The document summarizes extensive public input and proposes several combination packages of policy options to be analyzed in the Draft PEIS, alongside 'no action' and 'no leasing' alternatives.
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Document type: Report
Preserving Scientific Integrity in Federal Policymaking
The report examines the systemic challenges to scientific integrity in the US federal government, contrasting the widespread suppression of science during the George W. Bush administration with the partial progress made under Barack Obama. It argues that while the Obama administration established scientific integrity policies and improved morale, significant gaps remained in implementation, transparency, and the prevention of political interference in rulemaking. The document provides a framework and specific recommendations for the Trump administration to protect independent science, increase government transparency, and enhance public participation to ensure evidence-based decisionmaking.
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Document type: Report
Coal Transition in the UNITED STATES
The US coal industry has faced a sharp decline driven by the shale gas revolution, increasing competitiveness of renewables, and federal environmental regulations. This transition has led to significant job losses and bankruptcies among major coal producers, particularly impacting regions like Appalachia and the Powder River Basin. To mitigate these effects, the Obama administration introduced the Power Plus Plan to fund economic diversification and worker retraining. However, low-income households still face high electricity costs, and bankrupt companies have shifted reclamation and pension liabilities to state budgets.
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Document type: Case study
Final Report Modeled Impacts of Oil and Gas on air quality and human health
The report uses photochemical modeling to compare a 2025 'Baseline' scenario with a 'Zero-Oil&Gas' scenario to quantify the contribution of the oil and gas sector to ozone concentrations and associated health burdens across the continental United States.
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Document type: Report
Gasping for Breath
The report estimates that oil and gas emissions will cause over 750,000 summertime asthma attacks in children under 18 across the U.S. in 2025. It identifies volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) as the primary precursors to this ozone smog, noting that pollution travels far downwind to affect all 48 contiguous states. The analysis highlights Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Pennsylvania as states with the highest number of asthma attacks. To mitigate these effects, the report recommends implementing leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, replacing high-emitting pneumatic equipment, and using vapor recovery units on storage tanks.
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Document type: Report
WESTERN WILDFIRES
Climate Central's analysis of U.S. Forest Service records shows that the average annual number of large wildfires in the western U.S. more than tripled between the 1970s and 2010s, with the area burned increasing more than six-fold. The report attributes these trends to rising temperatures, decreased snowpack, and earlier snowmelt. Projections using the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) suggest that high-risk fire days will increase substantially by 2050, particularly in Southwestern states. The report also highlights the growing risk to populations living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and the health impacts of wildfire smoke.
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Document type: Report
Feds Should Close Loopholes, Tighten Enforcement in Methane Rule
Earthjustice supports the BLM's proposed methane rule, which covers both new and existing equipment and aims to reduce flaring and leaks. The organization argues that the rule is essential for climate mitigation, as methane is 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, and could capture up to $800 million in taxpayer revenue over a decade. However, Earthjustice urges the BLM to close loopholes regarding leak inspections and flaring allowances to ensure the rule's effectiveness.
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Document type: Statement
wyoming_cpp_letter_3.2.16-ea2f043629c39e70.pdf
A coalition of organizations urges Governor Matt Mead of Wyoming to prioritize energy efficiency as the lowest-cost method for reducing emissions and meeting Clean Power Plan goals. The letter argues that expanding utility and non-utility efficiency programs—such as building energy codes and combined heat and power—would save Wyoming residents $2 billion and avoid over 2.6 million tons of carbon dioxide while supporting local job growth.
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Document type: Statement
Impact of phasing out federal coal and oil leases on CO2 emissions and 2°C goals
The document analyzes the climate impact of phasing out federal fossil fuel leases in the U.S. It finds that while current policies project an 11% increase in production by 2040, a 2°C pathway requires a 40–60% reduction. Ceasing new federal leases could reduce global CO2 emissions by approximately 100 million tonnes per year by 2030, primarily through reduced coal and offshore oil production.
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Document type: Policy brief
The Genesis of ‘Coywolves:’ A Story of Survival
The text describes the evolution of the 'coywolf'—a hybrid of the eastern gray wolf and western coyote—which emerged as a survival mechanism following European settlement, deforestation, and hunting in North America. It uses this example of hybridization to warn that current legislative efforts to remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act in Wyoming, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota could lead to the extinction of pure-bred wolf populations due to unregulated killing.
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Document type: Statement
Rating the States on Their Risk of Natural Gas Overreliance
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis finds that two-thirds of U.S. states may be exposing electricity consumers to financial risks due to overreliance on natural gas. These risks include price volatility, potential carbon pricing costs, and the possibility of stranded assets such as underused plants and pipelines. The report rates states across five categories, identifying Florida as the only state with a "High" risk rating in all five. To mitigate these risks, the report advocates for prioritizing renewable energy and energy efficiency over natural gas as a primary solution for carbon reduction under the federal Clean Power Plan.
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Document type: Report
Managing the Risks of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development
The report outlines a toolkit for local governments to manage the rapid expansion of unconventional oil and gas development, such as hydraulic fracturing. It details regulatory options like zoning and setbacks, non-regulatory strategies including community engagement and contractual agreements, and fiscal tools such as severance taxes and road maintenance agreements. The document emphasizes the challenge of state-level preemption and the need for local officials to act as 'honest brokers' between industry and concerned residents.
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Document type: Report