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The report argues that California can reliably reach an 85 percent clean electricity target by 2030 through a diverse portfolio of resources, including offshore wind and geothermal, while retiring significant natural gas capacity. It emphasizes the need to prioritize the retirement of gas plants in disadvantaged communities (DACs) to improve environmental justice. The authors recommend leveraging demand-side resources as a risk mitigation strategy and expanding regional coordination through a West-wide Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) to enhance grid resilience and reduce costs. The report serves as a policy companion to a technical analysis that stress-tested these portfolios against extreme weather events.

The study finds that California can reliably meet an 85% clean electricity target by 2030 using portfolios primarily composed of wind, solar, and battery storage. Through 264 PLEXOS simulations, the authors tested three portfolios—Base Case, Diverse Clean Resources, and High Electrification—against stressors including gas and coal retirements, low hydro availability, and extreme weather. Results indicate the system remains robust even under simultaneous stressors, though it remains dependent on a strategic amount of in-state natural gas and economic imports. The report emphasizes that diversifying resources with offshore wind and geothermal reduces the need for solar and storage and improves grid stability by lowering instantaneous inverter-based generation. While demand flexibility can offset some storage needs, the study concludes that further nodal transmission and grid stability analyses are required for a complete reliability assessment.

The study finds that in most U.S. states, financing and owning an EV is cheaper on a monthly basis than an equivalent gasoline car, despite higher sticker prices. This advantage is heavily dependent on the $7,500 federal tax credit; without it, most EVs become more expensive during the loan repayment period. The research highlights that while total cost of ownership (TCO) is significantly lower for EVs over a vehicle's lifetime, consumers are often deterred by upfront costs. Increasing the federal tax credit to $10,000 would make EVs cheaper in nearly every state-vehicle comparison evaluated.

The report analyzes the EU's proposed CBAM, which will impose fees on carbon-intensive imports starting in 2026. It finds that the overall impact on China's exports will be moderate due to the limited number of covered sectors, primarily aluminum, iron, and steel. The authors recommend that China expand its national emissions trading system (CN ETS) to reduce exposure to fees and enhance competitiveness. For the EU, the report suggests dedicating CBAM revenues to technical assistance for developing countries and recognizing non-price-based decarbonization policies to reduce international tensions.

The report argues that expanding the CN ETS beyond the power sector to include iron and steel, aluminum, cement, chemicals, papermaking, and civil aviation is essential for China's decarbonization strategy. It identifies key obstacles including data collection challenges, industry concerns over international competitiveness (carbon leakage), and bureaucratic inertia. To address these, the authors recommend implementing a price collar to limit economic risk, simplifying allocation benchmarks to one per unique product to reduce information burdens, and highlighting the economic advantages of clean tech innovation. The report also uses green hydrogen as a case study to illustrate how CN ETS expansion can enhance the global competitiveness of Chinese enterprises.

Research using the Oregon Energy Policy Simulator indicates that Oregon's current climate policies will reduce emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2035 and nearly 30% by 2050. However, implementing stronger policies across the economy, particularly in transportation and buildings, could achieve a 50% reduction by 2035 and 74% by 2050, while significantly increasing GDP and job creation.

The report argues that blending green hydrogen into existing natural gas infrastructure for buildings and power generation is inefficient, costly, and risky. It finds that electrification is a superior alternative for the building sector due to higher energy efficiency and lower costs. In the power sector, hydrogen-fired turbines face significant NOx pollution challenges and risk becoming stranded assets. The authors recommend that green hydrogen be reserved for 'hard-to-decarbonize' sectors like industrial feedstocks, aviation, and marine shipping, while urging regulators to maintain a high burden of proof for any ratepayer-funded hydrogen projects.

The report argues that increasing fossil fuel production is an ineffective short-term solution for energy security due to the global nature of oil and gas markets. Instead, it uses the U.S. Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) to demonstrate that clean energy incentives—such as EV tax credits and building electrification—would significantly reduce U.S. fossil fuel demand. In a 'Moderate Scenario', these policies would reduce annual oil consumption by over 180 million barrels by 2030, more than offsetting 2021 Russian oil imports, and reduce natural gas consumption by 4.7 trillion cubic feet, roughly 85% of the EU's 2021 Russian gas imports. The report also estimates GHG emission reductions of 740 to 1,230 million metric tonnes by 2030.

The policy brief outlines the Build Back Better Act's (BBBA) allocation of $12.5 billion for building electrification and energy efficiency incentives, alongside additional investments for affordable housing and public infrastructure. It details specific rebate programs for electric appliances and energy efficiency retrofits, emphasizing support for low- and middle-income (LMI) households and underserved communities. The document argues that these measures, combined with updated building codes, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower consumer energy costs, improve public health, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the U.S.

The policy brief argues that the Build Back Better Act's EV incentives would accelerate market transformation, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution-related deaths while boosting U.S. manufacturing. It details specific tax credits for passenger and heavy-duty vehicles, emphasizes the importance of income caps to reach moderate earners, and explains how BBB charging infrastructure complements the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by focusing on community-level access.

The report uses the Louisiana Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) to compare a Business As Usual (BAU) trajectory with a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) scenario. Under BAU, Louisiana's economy-wide emissions are projected to increase by 30% by 2050. Conversely, the NDC scenario, which aligns with Paris Agreement targets, could reduce statewide emissions by 97% below 2020 levels by 2050. This transition would rely heavily on industrial fuel switching and green hydrogen, potentially creating 263,000 new job-years and avoiding 2,300 premature deaths annually by 2050.

The Build Back Better Act's methane fee is projected to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions by 172 million metric tons of CO2e annually by 2050, accounting for 65 percent of the Act's total industrial GHG reductions. The fee is expected to create approximately 70,000 jobs and add over $250 billion to the U.S. GDP by 2050. With abatement costs for over 95 percent of the potential being under $40/ton CO2e, the total cost to the oil and gas industry—including fee payments and abatement measures—is estimated at $133 billion, representing only 0.77 percent of projected industry revenues.

The analysis finds that the 'Infrastructure Bills' could reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,067 to 1,510 million metric tonnes by 2030, potentially putting the U.S. on track to meet its NDC of 50-52% below 2005 levels. The most critical drivers are the Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP) and clean energy tax credits, which together could drive the power sector to 70-85% clean generation. Additional benefits include the creation of 449,000 to 638,000 job-years and the avoidance of 4,600 to 7,000 premature deaths annually by 2030, with health benefits concentrated in communities of color.

The report analyzes 11 recent studies, concluding that a transition to 80% clean electricity by 2030 in the U.S. is feasible, affordable, and critical for meeting national climate goals. Key findings indicate that such a transition would be driven primarily by wind, solar, and battery storage, resulting in significant job growth, reduced premature deaths, and substantial avoided health and climate damages, with minimal impact on consumer electricity bills.

A meta-analysis of eight recent studies indicates that the United States can achieve approximately 80% clean electricity by 2030 at minimal cost. The findings suggest that such a transition would drive 500,000 to 1 million net new jobs, avoid up to $3 trillion in health and climate damages by 2050, and is essential for meeting the Biden administration's GHG emissions reduction targets. The analysis concludes that a strong national clean electricity standard (CES) is the most effective policy mechanism, primarily driving the deployment of wind, solar, and battery storage.

Analysis of 2017 and 2018 model year non-luxury used electric vehicles (EVs) in California shows that they deliver total ownership savings of $1,100 and $500 respectively over a 5.5-year period compared to similar gas cars. While EVs carry a purchase price premium, this is offset by lower fuel and maintenance costs. The report highlights that targeted incentives, such as the Clean Cars 4 All program's maximum $9,500 rebate, can reduce total ownership costs by nearly 40% for lower-income households. The author recommends expanded EV financing, electricity rate reductions using cap-and-trade revenue, and increased support for charging infrastructure in multi-unit dwellings to ensure an equitable transition.

The report finds that a vast majority of U.S. coal capacity is now more expensive to operate than building new wind or solar power. As of 2020, 72% of coal capacity (166 GW) was deemed uneconomic or slated for retirement by 2025. The authors argue that this 'cost crossover' is accelerating due to rapid declines in renewable costs and falling coal capacity factors. The document recommends that policymakers implement all-source competitive procurement and coal asset securitization to transition to cleaner, cheaper energy portfolios while managing the financial risks of early plant retirement.

The report evaluates Colorado's emissions trajectory and proposes a '1.5°C Scenario' to bridge the gap between current policies and climate goals. This scenario emphasizes a rapid transition to 100% clean electricity by 2035, the electrification of transportation and buildings, and the reduction of industrial methane leaks. Implementing these measures is projected to reduce net emissions by 85% below business-as-usual levels by 2050, while creating up to 36,000 new jobs and providing significant public health benefits, including the prevention of over 1,400 deaths annually by 2050.

The document analyzes the 'Big Freeze' in Texas, attributing the disaster to a combination of inadequate building codes, failures in the natural gas supply chain, and an 'energy-only' electricity market design that failed to incentivize winterization. It argues that scarcity pricing is insufficient for managing 'high-impact common-mode events' and recommends a holistic approach to risk management, including emergency price caps, improved building codes, and demand-side investments.

This executive summary outlines a strategic policy framework to accelerate the transition to clean, electrified transportation in the U.S. by 2035. It argues that achieving 100 percent EV sales by 2030-2035, paired with a 90 percent clean grid, would generate $2.7 trillion in consumer savings and avoid 150,000 premature deaths by 2050. The report prioritizes national fuel economy and tailpipe emissions standards, equity-focused programs for underserved communities, targeted consumer incentives, the expansion of charging infrastructure, and 'Made in America' policies to bolster domestic battery and EV manufacturing.