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The document outlines a framework for evaluating the economic impact of transmission infrastructure, focusing on three primary benefit categories: congestion relief, resource adequacy, and public policy savings. It describes the specific calculations used for these benefits, the financial models applied to different ownership structures (investor-owned, public power, and merchant developers), and compares the results against original project projections for three specific case studies. The authors acknowledge several conservatisms in their approach, including the exclusion of certain benefit categories and the use of isolated line capacity estimates rather than complex power flow simulations.

Varanasi has seen a rapid increase in rooftop solar (RTS) installations, growing from 549 in February 2024 to nearly 10,000 by December 2024. This growth is attributed to a coordinated 'Varanasi model' involving state, district, and city administrations, which utilizes targeted deployment, aggressive consumer outreach, expanded vendor networks, and streamlined financial and technical processes.

The report warns that 'relining' seven aging coal-based blast furnaces in the US Great Lakes region is a multi-billion dollar risk that locks in high emissions and health-harming pollution for another 20 years. While these plants represent only about a quarter of US steel production, they generate approximately 75 percent of the industry's emissions. The authors argue that instead of spending $150M to $425M per furnace on relines, companies should invest in hydrogen-ready Direct Reduction (DRI) coupled with electric arc furnaces (H2-DRI-EAF), which can achieve near-zero carbon emissions. Although a new DRI plant costs more ($600M to $800M) and faces a near-term energy cost gap of approximately $2.50/kg H2 compared to coal, the transition is projected to protect skilled union jobs and create additional employment in renewable energy and hydrogen production. The report concludes that federal and state support—via tax credits, grants, and infrastructure investment—is necessary to close the remaining economic gap and avoid stranded assets.

The document outlines four pathways for low-carbon ammonia production: blue ammonia using carbon capture and storage (CCS), green ammonia via electrolysis, and novel methods including electrochemical and plasma-catalysis ammonia. It highlights that conventional ammonia production accounts for over 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions due to its reliance on steam-methane reforming (SMR) for hydrogen.

Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCWR) is implementing a two-part strategy to reduce methane emissions: diverting organic waste into compost and utilizing the Smart Landfill Program (SLP). The SLP employs real-time data, drones, and robotic dogs to identify leaks and optimize gas collection, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 15%. Additionally, OCWR is exploring the conversion of excess landfill gas into biomethane and the installation of solar energy on closed landfills to support California's clean energy goals.

The briefing highlights that iron production accounts for over 80% of steel supply chain emissions and argues that a common 'near-zero emissions' iron definition is necessary to guide investment and trade. It proposes a threshold of 350 kgCO2e/t iron to exclude coal-based production and suggests that hydrogen-based direct reduction (DRI) is the primary commercial pathway to achieve this. To overcome supply chain complexities, the document advocates for direct procurement and 'book and claim' systems, announcing that RMI will design and test a climate-credible book and claim system for iron and steel in 2025.

The document proposes a shift from traditional technology-replacement efficiency to a 'whole-systems' approach. It argues that combining electrification with energy end-use efficiency (reducing the demand for energy services) can reduce overall energy demand by 50-75%. The author provides sector-specific examples: in buildings, through passive design and compact urban development; in mobility, via land-use reforms and smaller, lighter electric vehicles; in freight, through modal shifts to rail and material demand reduction; and in steel, via circularity and material substitution. The brief concludes that achieving the COP28 goal of doubling energy efficiency improvement rates requires engaging a diverse range of stakeholders to trigger social tipping points.

The US chemical industry, specifically the production of hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, ethylene, propylene, and benzene, accounts for a significant portion of industrial emissions. RMI identifies 20 emissions reduction levers, 10 of which are commercially viable today and could reduce sector emissions by 34%. With additional policy and infrastructure support, this near-term reduction could reach 48%. The report emphasizes that while supply-side interventions like carbon capture and methane leak mitigation are critical, they must be paired with demand-side measures and long-term innovation in electrification and alternative feedstocks to achieve a net-zero sector by 2050.

The report analyzes the lifecycle emissions of polyester t-shirts to identify decarbonization opportunities for chemical producers and retailers. It argues that defining emissions reduction thresholds at upstream stages, such as the PET resin step rather than the fabric step, is essential to stimulate investment in low-emission chemical production. The analysis categorizes solutions into near-term operational changes (reducing up to 47% of footprints), near-term capital investments (reducing 31%), and long-term innovations (reducing 13-28% or up to 45% with transformative feedstocks). To derisk these capital-intensive transitions, the report suggests aggregated demand from multiple sectors (automotive, healthcare, construction), the formation of buyers alliances, and the implementation of green public procurement, noting that a 10-50% shift in US military procurement for polyester and nylon equipment could represent $100-$500 million in spending.

In Q4 2024, US utilities updating their IRPs reduced planned wind and solar capacity by 20 GW and increased planned gas capacity by 12 GW, leading to an 8 percent increase in projected emissions despite a small downward adjustment in projected load.

The energy transition accelerated in 2024, driven by record uptake in solar, wind, and electric vehicles as costs for solar modules and batteries fell significantly. While renewables are poised to overtake coal as the leading power source in 2025 and many nations have set net-zero goals, progress in energy efficiency and methane reduction remains off track. The document argues that achieving 2030 targets requires shifting fossil fuel subsidies toward clean energy investments, particularly in emerging economies.

California's industrial permitting process is described as long and complicated, creating 'nonproductive friction' that can delay or cancel clean industrial projects. The document argues that because industry accounts for 23% of the state's emissions, streamlining these processes is essential for meeting climate goals. It suggests a dual approach: permit-seekers should prioritize industrial-zoned sites and proactive community engagement, while policymakers should standardize processes through GO-Biz, investigate centralized permitting for first-of-a-kind technologies, and reform the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to remove redundancies.

The document examines the role of Canadian financial institutions in managing climate disclosures and target setting for the agriculture sector, highlighting specific sectoral challenges and available measurement tools.

The RMI roadmap sets a target of 10 Gt CO2/y of durable technological carbon dioxide removal by 2050 and aims to advance non-CO2 greenhouse gas removal science to enable deployment decisions by the early 2030s.

The report presents the business case for limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) as a tool for industry decarbonization. It asserts that LC3 can reduce emissions and provide economic benefits, including rapid payback periods and operational savings, by decreasing the use of carbon-intensive clinker. The findings are based on an analysis of seven scenarios across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa.

The report argues that shifting from prescriptive 'recipe-based' concrete specifications to performance-based standards (PSS) is essential for scaling low-carbon concrete and meeting climate goals. It identifies key bottlenecks—specifically the lack of a standardized suite of tests for durability and workability—and proposes a collaborative model where project stakeholders (owners, engineers, contractors, and labs) use real-world projects as testbeds to gather data. The document outlines specific roles for each stakeholder, provides case studies from DOTs and private firms, and suggests starting points for testing strength, durability, and workability to build a robust, industry-wide PSS.

RMI has released the Plastics Extrusion and Molding Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Guidance to make emissions associated with plastic products more visible across the supply chain. The guidance aims to help stakeholders demonstrate decarbonization efforts and drive demand for low-emissions plastics. To support this, RMI provides an accompanying data format on GitHub to facilitate the seamless transmission of emissions data between producers, buyers, and consumers. The document notes that emissions vary significantly between and within different plastic resins, and argues that consistent accounting methods are necessary to allow producers to compete on the climate quality of their products.

The document examines how current electricity rate designs in the U.S. often overcharge heat pump users because their peak demand occurs in winter, while grid peaks typically occur in summer. Using data from NIPSCO in Northern Indiana, the brief demonstrates that aligning rates with the actual cost of service could save electrified customers hundreds of dollars annually. It proposes several rate reform options—including seasonal heating rates, time-varying rates, and separate customer classes—while emphasizing the need for affordability measures for low-income households and the long-term evolution of rates as the grid transitions to clean energy.

The report analyzes the Oko Oba Abattoir's anaerobic digestion (AD) facility, finding that while the current 'business-as-usual' (BAU) model is economically viable with a 6% IRR, scaling the facility to achieve a 100% fuel switch from charcoal to biogas would increase the IRR to 14%. The study highlights that high upfront capital expenditures (CAPEX) are a primary barrier to private investment, suggesting that grants, low-interest loans, and investment tax credits could improve project economics. Environmentally, the project reduces methane emissions by up to 726 MT/year and improves local air quality by avoiding PM2.5 emissions from charcoal burning. The facility is currently non-operational due to storm damage and requires approximately $21,400 for repairs.

The document examines rural energy cooperatives as a means to overcome technical, financial, and organizational barriers that have historically marginalized rural communities during the energy transition. It argues that these community-led models can improve energy access and affordability for the 2.4 billion people relying on traditional fuels while shifting energy systems from centralized to decentralized structures. The analysis explores various financing and benefit-distribution models to provide a framework for countries, specifically China and other developing nations, to drive rural revitalization through distributed renewable energy.