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Coal Cost Crossover 3.0
The report 'Coal Cost Crossover 3.0' analyzes the economic viability of existing coal-fired power plants in the United States compared to new renewable energy alternatives. Using 2021 data and accounting for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the study finds that nearly all coal plants are more expensive to operate than replacing them with wind or solar, particularly when resources are sited locally to leverage existing grid interconnections and energy community tax credits.
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Document type: Report
Which Electric School Bus Business Model Is Right for Your District?
This guide by the World Resources Institute (WRI) examines the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) school buses to electric school buses (ESBs) in the United States. It analyzes how the shift in cost structures—from lower upfront costs and higher operating expenses to higher upfront costs and lower operating expenses—creates a need for new business models to manage capital, risk, and infrastructure.
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Document type: Guide
Climate Change Loss and Damage
This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) introduces a discussion on climate change loss and damage—defined as impacts that cannot be adapted to—ahead of the COP27 negotiations in Egypt. The document outlines the focus of a panel discussion involving experts from Climate Analytics, the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and E3G, covering funding, measurement, and the implications for U.S. policymakers.
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Document type: Briefing
IMPLEMENTING THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT: A ROADMAP FOR STATE ELECTRICITY POLICY
This report by Energy Innovation provides a guide for state policymakers to leverage the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 to accelerate the transition to clean electricity. It details the mechanics of clean energy tax credits, reinvestment financing for fossil infrastructure, and transmission provisions, while analyzing independent modeling of the IRA's potential to reduce U.S. electricity sector emissions and lower household energy costs by 2030.
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Document type: Report
Rewarding What Matters in Energy Efficiency
This report by RMI examines the shift toward "climate-forward efficiency," which prioritizes energy efficiency, electrification, and demand flexibility specifically to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It analyzes the use of Performance Incentive Mechanisms (PIMs) to align utility business models—which traditionally favor capital investment and sales growth—with state climate goals.
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Document type: Report
Electrifying the US School Bus Fleet: How to Put Children First in the Zero-emission Transition
This statement from the World Resources Institute advocates for the electrification of the United States school bus fleet to protect children's health, address environmental inequities, and stimulate domestic manufacturing. It specifically supports the Clean Commute for Kids Act and the American Jobs Plan to overcome the high initial procurement costs of electric buses.
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Document type: Statement
Pandemic as Campaign Stage: On Trump’s Handling of Covid-19 in the United States
This research paper analyzes US President Donald Trump's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, arguing that he treated the crisis as a campaign stage. The author contends that Trump pursued a laissez-faire 'herd immunity' strategy, not for epidemiological reasons, but to frame himself as a protector of the working class and small business owners against a perceived 'elite' scientific and political establishment.
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Document type: Research paper
How Coal Country Can Adapt to the Energy Transition
This issue brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the economic and workforce challenges facing coal-dependent communities in the United States as they transition to a clean energy economy. It analyzes the drivers of coal's decline, evaluates proposed federal strategies for a 'just transition,' and highlights regional opportunities for economic diversification in sectors such as renewable energy, environmental remediation, broadband deployment, and entrepreneurship.
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Document type: Briefing
A RESILIENT FUTURE FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES
This report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides 30 federal policy recommendations to enhance the climate resilience of U.S. coastal communities. Based on a series of 16 Congressional briefings featuring 42 experts, the document outlines strategies across six themes: community engagement, land use and development, cultural heritage, climate data, disaster preparedness, and financing. It emphasizes the need for policies based on future climate projections, the integration of climate justice, and the prioritization of nature-based solutions over traditional gray infrastructure.
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Document type: Report
POLICIES TO SUPPORT A COMPETITIVE WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKET IN THE SOUTHEAST U.S.
This report argues that establishing a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) in the Southeast U.S. could reduce electricity costs by 29% and emissions by 37% by 2040. It recommends a combination of full market restructuring, the adoption of all-source procurement, and the integration of distributed energy resources to achieve these goals. The authors also emphasize the need for 'just transition' policies to support coal-impacted communities by leveraging the fact that most coal plants have cheaper renewable alternatives within 35 miles.
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Document type: Report
Five Tips for Utility Regulators: Staying on Course through the COVID-19 Storm
This guide by RMI provides five strategic tips for utility regulators to maintain progress on long-term climate and energy goals during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the use of virtual technology and the prioritization of decarbonization efforts.
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Document type: Guide
Assessing National Park Asset Flood Risk: Retreat, Adapt, Fortify?
This briefing transcript features Rob Young, Director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, discussing a multi-year collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct asset-level vulnerability assessments for coastal parks. The project aims to guide adaptation and resilience policy by quantifying the exposure and sensitivity of individual infrastructure assets to coastal hazards, providing a science-based framework for funding allocation and planning.
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Document type: Briefing
MAKING THE MOST OF THE POWER PLANT MARKET: BEST PRACTICES FOR ALL-SOURCE ELECTRIC GENERATION PROCUREMENT
This report analyzes electric generation procurement by vertically integrated utilities in the United States, contrasting 'all-source' procurements—which are technology-neutral—with single-source processes. Using case studies from states like Colorado, Georgia, and New Mexico, the authors argue that utilities often exercise monopsony power to favor self-built, gas-fired generation over cheaper renewable alternatives. The report provides five best practices for regulators to ensure fair, competitive, and cost-effective procurement of power plants.
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Document type: Report
Fighting for My Community
A personal statement from a North Carolinian activist describing their arrest during a protest at the Supreme Court to oppose the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), highlighting the project's environmental impacts and its disproportionate effect on marginalized communities.
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Document type: Statement
Fossil Fuel Subsidies: A Closer Look at Tax Breaks and Societal Costs
This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the scale and impact of fossil fuel subsidies in the United States and globally. It details specific tax provisions and federal funding mechanisms that support the coal, oil, and natural gas industries, arguing that these subsidies are outdated and undermine climate goals. The document also analyzes the 'externalities' of fossil fuel use—societal, health, and environmental costs—that are not reflected in market prices.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience
This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes employment trends in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience, focusing on the United States and global leaders. It utilizes data from the 2019 U.S. Energy Employment Report (USEER) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to quantify jobs across various green technology sectors.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience
This fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of employment statistics in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience sectors, focusing primarily on the United States while providing global comparisons. It utilizes data from various sources, including the U.S. Energy Employment Report (USEER) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), to detail job growth, sectoral distributions, and the challenges of quantifying emerging fields like climate adaptation.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Green Bond Fact Sheet
A Green Bond Fact Sheet detailing a USD 362 million private placement issued by Dominion Energy Inc. on November 2, 2018, to refinance solar energy projects.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Electric Buses: Benefits Outweigh Costs
This fact sheet, based on interviews with EESI staff, examines the transition from diesel to battery-powered electric buses (BEBs), highlighting their environmental and health benefits, economic trade-offs, and the current state of deployment in the United States and globally.
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Document type: Fact sheet
The U.S. Climate Alliance and Related Actions
This fact sheet describes the formation and goals of the United States Climate Alliance and other subnational efforts to uphold the 2016 Paris Agreement following the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw the United States from the accord.
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Document type: Fact sheet