Search Climate Insights Directory
19 results
ENERGY PARKS
This report defines "energy parks" as large-scale microgrids that co-locate renewable energy generation, storage, and electricity consumers (loads) behind a single point of interconnection (POI) to the bulk power grid. The authors argue that this model reduces equipment costs, accelerates the "time to power" for industrial loads, and provides flexible grid services. The document outlines the evolution of these parks from simple solar farms with high inverter-loading ratios to complex hybrids involving thermal batteries and hydrogen electrolysis. It identifies significant regulatory hurdles, including interconnection queue delays, wholesale market participation rules, and state-level utility monopolies, and proposes a shift toward treating energy parks as "digital resources" with a universal participation model.
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Document type: Report
Comparing the Cost to Travel: Electric Vehicle Fill-Up Savings by State
This report by Energy Innovation analyzes the cost savings of operating electric vehicles (EVs) compared to gas-powered vehicles across the United States, focusing on 'fill-up' costs for sedans, SUVs, and trucks. Using a custom cost comparison tool, the authors find that EV drivers in every state save money per trip and annually, though the magnitude of these savings varies significantly based on state-level electricity rates and gasoline prices.
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Document type: Report
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Frequently Asked Questions
This fact sheet by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) examines Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), arguing that the technology fails to meaningfully reduce greenhouse emissions and may prolong dependence on fossil fuels. It details the technical limitations, safety risks, and economic costs of CCS, while contrasting it with more effective climate solutions like renewable energy and demand reduction.
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Document type: Fact sheet
CEQ’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool Needs to Consider How Burdens Add Up
This research paper by the World Resources Institute analyzes version 1.0 of the White House Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST). While the update identifies more disadvantaged communities than the beta version, the authors argue it fails to account for cumulative burdens—where multiple environmental, health, and socioeconomic stressors overlap—which disproportionately affect communities of color.
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Document type: Research paper
The State of Electric School Bus Adoption in the US
This report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) analyzes the adoption of electric school buses (ESBs) in the United States as of March 31, 2022. It tracks 'committed' buses—those awarded funding, ordered, delivered, or in operation—highlighting a significant increase in commitments driven by large-scale contracts and specific funding sources like the Volkswagen Settlement. The report also examines the distribution of these buses across different demographics and pollution levels to assess the equity of the transition.
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Document type: Report
Carbon Capture and Storage: An Expensive and Dangerous Proposition for Louisiana Communities
This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an unviable climate solution that poses significant economic, environmental, and safety risks, particularly for communities in Louisiana.
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Document type: Policy brief
Nature-based Resilience for Gulf Coast Communities: Using Regional Sediment Management to Sustain the Coast
This briefing by Derek Brockbank of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) argues that shoreline recession in the Gulf Coast is caused by human activity benefiting the navigation industry and advocates for Regional Sediment Management (RSM) and nature-based resilience to sustain the coast.
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Document type: Briefing
Nature-Based Resilience for Gulf Coast Communities
This briefing transcript discusses the implementation of nature-based infrastructure—such as wetlands, oyster reefs, and dunes—to enhance coastal resilience against sea level rise and extreme weather in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Experts highlight the cost-effectiveness and co-benefits of these solutions compared to traditional 'gray' infrastructure and call for federal policy reforms to prioritize the beneficial use of dredged sediment and pre-disaster mitigation funding.
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Document type: Briefing
NUCLEAR WASTE CONSENT AND NON-CONSENT: A BRIEF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
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.
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Document type: Briefing
Should the Renewable Fuel Standard Be Reformed?
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute argues against reforming or repealing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), asserting that the policy has successfully reduced petroleum dependence and stimulated the rural economy. While acknowledging challenges such as land use change and the 'blend wall,' the author contends that these issues should be addressed through the Farm Bill and EPA flexibility rather than statutory changes, which could jeopardize billions in private investment in next-generation biofuels.
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Document type: Statement
High‐Performance Manufactured Housing
This policy brief from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the potential for high-performance manufactured housing to provide sustainable, affordable housing in the United States. It highlights the energy inefficiency of older mobile homes, the advantages of factory-built construction, and recommends federal actions to update energy standards and improve financing options.
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Document type: Policy brief
Moving Away from Oil: Biofuels and Biobased Products
A statement from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute advocating for a transition from petroleum to biofuels and biobased products to reduce national oil dependence, improve climate outcomes, and create jobs.
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Document type: Statement
State Actions on Climate Change: A Focus on How Our Communities Grow
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.
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Document type: Report
Energy by the Numbers: VIRGINIA
This 2009 fact sheet from the World Resources Institute provides data on energy consumption, electricity generation, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Virginia, based on 2006 and 2005 data.
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Document type: Fact sheet
investment_10nov03-538ba8e76fcf2a12.pdf
This report by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the evolution and application of the Minimum Standard of Treatment (MST) for foreign investments in international law, with a specific focus on NAFTA Chapter XI and the tension between customary international law and bilateral investment treaties (BITs).
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Document type: Report
The U. S. Experience with Economic Incentives for Protecting the Environment
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.
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Document type: Report
HYBRID BUSES COSTS AND BENEFITS
This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute outlines the technology, environmental benefits, and economic considerations of hybrid-electric buses compared to conventional diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in North America.
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Document type: Fact sheet
COAL POWER 28 PERCENT MORE EXPENSIVE IN 2024 THAN IN 2021
This report by Energy Innovation analyzes the rising costs of coal-fired power generation in the United States between 2021 and 2024, concluding that coal is becoming increasingly uneconomic compared to alternatives like wind, solar, and natural gas.
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Document type: Report
ENERGY LEADERSHIP IN A TIME OF NEED: A BLUEPRINT FOR STATES
This briefing from Energy Innovation provides a blueprint for U.S. state policymakers to maintain energy efficiency and electrification progress in buildings and industry following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which the author projects will negatively impact the U.S. economy.
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Document type: Briefing