Search Climate Insights Directory

The briefing examines the transition from flat residential electricity rates to demand charges, which bill customers based on their peak power usage rather than total energy consumption. It argues that as technologies like rooftop solar and electric vehicles create diverse consumption patterns, demand charges can better align customer costs with the actual strain they place on the grid. The author highlights that such rates incentivize load shifting and the adoption of DERs, citing examples from utilities like Salt River Project and Black Hills Power.

A coalition of 290 organizations and individuals opposes H.R. 1734, asserting that the bill would weaken the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2014 coal ash rule. The signatories argue the legislation would delay health protections, eliminate public access to information, and remove national standards for drinking water protection, thereby increasing risks to vulnerable communities and the environment.

Oil shale is a mixture of minerals and kerogen that requires energy-intensive heating to produce oil, resulting in significantly higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil. The document highlights that oil shale is largely commercially unviable and poses risks to air and groundwater, advocating for reduced oil consumption and fuel efficiency over the expansion of unconventional oil production.

The report identifies the U.S. oil and gas industry as the largest industrial source of methane and argues that the EPA should issue nationwide standards under the Clean Air Act to target the sector's top emitting sources. The authors propose three primary categories of intervention: regular leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, the replacement of outdated compressors and pneumatic equipment, and the capture of gas from oil and gas wells. These measures are estimated to reduce annual methane emissions by 3.2 to 3.7 million metric tons, a reduction of 42% to 48% of the sector's total. The report emphasizes that direct methane standards would be significantly more effective than regulating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or relying on voluntary programs. The estimated cost of these measures is low, ranging from $8 to $18 per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, and would represent less than 1% of the industry's sales revenue.

The document highlights the link between oil and gas emissions and ground-level ozone, asserting that methane regulations provide significant co-benefits by reducing VOCs more effectively than direct VOC regulations or previous EPA programs. It notes a high overlap between oil and gas production areas and regions exceeding proposed ozone standards, particularly west of the Mississippi River.

The report advocates for the EPA to establish direct methane standards for the oil and gas industry, which it identifies as the largest industrial source of methane in the U.S. It proposes three primary control measures: regular leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, upgrading older compressors and pneumatic equipment, and capturing gas from wells. The authors argue these measures are low-cost, commercially available, and would reduce methane emissions by 3.2 to 3.7 million metric tons per year, while also significantly lowering volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic air pollutants.

The Rocky Mountain forests are facing a "triple assault" of tree-killing insects, wildfires, and heat and drought, all driven by human-caused global warming. Bark beetle outbreaks killed trees on 46 million acres between 2000 and 2012, while large wildfires increased by 73 percent from 1984 to 2011. Iconic species like whitebark pines, aspens, and piñon pines are in catastrophic decline, with projections suggesting a 60 percent loss in suitable area for aspens by 2060 under medium-high emissions scenarios. The report argues that without reducing heat-trapping emissions and managing for resilience, these forests may be irrevocably degraded.

The forests of the Rocky Mountains are facing a 'triple assault' of tree-killing insects, wildfires, and heat and drought, all amplified by human-caused global warming. Bark beetle outbreaks killed trees on 46 million acres between 2000 and 2012, while large wildfires have increased in frequency and intensity. Iconic species like whitebark pines, quaking aspens, and piñon pines are in catastrophic decline. Projections suggest that if emissions continue unchecked, average regional temperatures could rise by 10°F by the end of the century, potentially replacing conifer forests with shrublands or grasslands. The report advocates for risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, managing for resilience, increasing agency capacity, addressing community vulnerability, and deep reductions in heat-trapping emissions.

The report argues that rising temperatures and drier conditions in the American West, combined with a trend of building homes in wildfire-prone areas, have led to longer fire seasons and soaring suppression costs. It highlights a misalignment of incentives where federal taxpayers bear the brunt of firefighting costs while local zoning allows risky development. The document details the broad economic impacts of wildfires—extending far beyond direct suppression to include public health crises, infrastructure damage, and tourism losses—and recommends a shift toward resilience, stricter building codes, and carbon emission reductions.

A joint statement from the Attorneys General of New York, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish formal emission standards and guidelines for methane in the oil and gas sector following the publication of five technical white papers.

The U.S. electricity grid is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with the average annual cost of severe weather rising from $20 billion in the 1980s to $85 billion in the 2010s. Aging infrastructure, graded D+ by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2013, is susceptible to sea level rise, wildfires, droughts, and heat waves. The report highlights that thermal power plants are particularly at risk due to their heavy reliance on water for cooling, which can lead to production cutbacks or shutdowns when water is too warm or scarce. To improve resilience, the document recommends 'hardening' measures, such as sea walls and burying power lines, alongside the adoption of distributed renewable energy and energy efficiency to reduce overall demand and carbon emissions.

The analysis compares a 'No-Policy' scenario with a 'Policy Proposal' scenario for 2020, focusing on the upstream emissions from the production, processing, and transport of fuels. Under the base case using EPA figures, the policy proposal is projected to increase total upstream greenhouse gas emissions by 9.9 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2e, consisting of a 9.6 Tg increase in CO2 and a 0.3 Tg CO2e increase in methane. A sensitivity 'high case', which assumes non-hydraulic fracturing methane emissions are twice the EPA's 2011 reports, projects a total increase of 16.9 MMT CO2e. The document notes that upstream CO2 emissions are higher for natural gas (ratio of 0.108 to stack CO2) than for coal (ratio of 0.0193 to stack CO2).

The document examines the debate over the EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) and its application to Texas. It refutes arguments from Texas officials and energy companies regarding grid reliability, compliance timelines, and the validity of emission data. The brief highlights that many Texas coal plants already possess the necessary control technology and that the rule's implementation would provide significant public health benefits for both downwind states and Texas communities.

The report examines the risks associated with unconventional oil and gas development, specifically hydraulic fracturing, in the United States. It identifies significant threats to groundwater and surface water quality, air pollution, and induced seismic activity from wastewater injection. The authors highlight how corporate and political interference—including 'trade secret' exemptions and non-disclosure agreements—hampers scientific research and public knowledge. It critiques the 'patchwork' of state laws and federal loopholes, such as the 'Halliburton loophole,' and recommends mandatory baseline monitoring, full chemical disclosure, and the closing of federal regulatory gaps to protect public health and the environment.

The report details a workshop on U.S. nuclear weapons surety, distinguishing between safety (preventing accidental detonation) and security (preventing unauthorized use). While participants generally felt existing warheads were safe, they expressed greater concern over security and use control. The document examines the trade-offs of adding intrinsic surety features—such as insensitive high explosives (IHE)—during life extension programs (LEPs), noting that such changes can risk reliability and increase costs. It emphasizes that improvements outside the nuclear explosive package are faster and lower-risk. Additionally, the report addresses cybersecurity threats to command and control networks and the challenges of maintaining a 'foolproof' system involving human operators.

The U.S. Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which relies on federal fuel taxes that have not been adjusted since 1993, is facing insolvency due to rising costs and declining fuel consumption. The document argues that current funding is insufficient, contributing to a 'D' grade for national infrastructure and an annual funding gap of $112 billion. It evaluates several solutions, including indexing fuel taxes to inflation or construction costs, increasing the per-gallon tax rate, and transitioning to a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fee to better align costs with infrastructure wear, particularly from heavy trucks.

The U.S. Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which relies on fuel taxes unchanged since 1993, faces insolvency due to rising costs and declining fuel consumption. The document argues that current funding is insufficient to maintain a state of good repair, citing a $112B annual funding gap. It evaluates several solutions, including indexing fuel taxes to inflation, increasing the per-gallon tax rate, implementing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees, or shifting to a fuel sales tax, while highlighting the interdependence of highway and transit systems for economic efficiency.

Earthjustice and a coalition of environmental and tribal groups are appealing a July 2013 decision by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to lease approximately 13,175 acres for coal in the Canyon Creek area. The appeal argues that the lease is unconstitutional because it grants exploration rights for an indeterminate period, violating the Alaska Constitution's requirement for 'specific periods'. Furthermore, the appellants contend that the DNR ignored the foreseeable impacts of climate change, seismic risks, and severe health hazards to workers and local communities. They also argue that the economic benefits are exaggerated and that the project would cause irreversible damage to salmon habitats and watersheds, citing similar findings from the nearby Chuitna project.

A coalition of environmental and health organizations petitions the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move beyond project-specific reviews and undertake a comprehensive area-wide Environmental Impact Statement for proposed coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest. The petitioners argue that the combined capacity of approximately 100 million metric tons of coal per year creates systemic risks to rail infrastructure, public health, and global climate that cannot be adequately assessed on a site-by-site basis.

Coal mining accounts for 8 percent of global methane emissions. While significant potential exists for abatement through degasification and ventilation air methane (VAM) oxidation, progress is hindered by policy, financial, and technological barriers. In China, legal frameworks and conflicting safety/emission standards create hurdles, while India lacks resource assessments. Russia faces issues with licensing and inefficient degasification systems. In the US, split-estate ownership on federal lands and a lack of federal mandates limit viability. The report suggests that while large-scale investment is available, a lack of small-scale funding for design and demonstration is a primary obstacle, proposing revolving funds and micro-loans as solutions.