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The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that the NRC has inconsistently enforced safety regulations for radioactive releases, allowing numerous accidental leaks to occur without sanction. While the NRC previously issued sanctions for monitoring and control failures, the report claims the agency has tolerated 27 accidental releases over a four-year period with impunity, effectively breaching its safety contract with the public.

A survey of over 1,700 FDA and USDA employees reveals significant political and corporate interference in food safety science, with many respondents reporting the suppression of technical data and inadequate resources, particularly at the FDA. The report argues for legislative reforms to mandate recalls and increase surveillance of imported foods, which were identified as the least secure category of the food supply.

The report details the implementation of a survey conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and Iowa State University's Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology (CSSM) to examine the role of science and government oversight in food safety. It outlines the sampling process for 8,122 employees across the FDA, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS), the data collection procedures used between March and May 2010, and the resulting response rate of 21.62%. The document also includes the full survey instrument, which investigates political interference in science, job satisfaction, and the influence of business interests on public health decisions.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of nuclear power, detailing the process of fission and the operation of pressurized and boiling water reactors. It examines the uranium fuel cycle, noting that the U.S. relies heavily on imports from countries like Russia and Canada. The text also addresses the challenges of radioactive waste storage, specifically mentioning Yucca Mountain, and analyzes the economic decline of the U.S. nuclear industry following the 1970s due to cost overruns, declining energy demand, and public opposition.

The document argues that implementing fuel-efficiency standards and technologies for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. would generate significant job growth, increase GDP, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights that while these vehicles represent only 4% of U.S. highway vehicles, they consume over 20% of fuel, and that widespread adoption of efficiency technologies could save 100 billion gallons of fuel by 2030.

A group of economists argues that California's clean energy policies, specifically AB 32, provide economic benefits through innovation, job creation, and reduced health costs, and that delaying these actions during an economic recession would be more costly than proceeding.

The report argues that improving the fuel economy of medium- and heavy-duty trucks through advanced technologies would create significant net job growth, increase GDP, and reduce global warming emissions, provided that policy interventions overcome existing market barriers.

The document argues that improving the fuel economy of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. would create significant job growth, increase GDP, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provided that market barriers are overcome through performance standards and incentives.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that the nuclear power industry is seeking tens of billions of dollars in new federal subsidies through the American Power Act (APA) and the American Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA). The report estimates that if eight new reactors are built, subsidies could exceed $40 billion, and if all 31 reactors pending with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are built, total subsidies could range from $65 billion to $147 billion. The document contends that these incentives—including expanded loan guarantees, accelerated depreciation, and investment tax credits—mask the high costs of nuclear power and disadvantage more cost-effective alternatives like energy efficiency and renewable energy. It further asserts that the industry already benefits from significant subsidies under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, citing a case study of the Calvert Cliffs reactor where public subsidies are estimated to approach or exceed private investment.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that current U.S. biofuels policy is costly and ineffective, primarily supporting mature food-based industries while cellulosic biofuels remain stalled. The report proposes the 'Billion Gallon Challenge' to provide capital support for the first billion gallons of annual cellulosic capacity and a 'Biofuels Performance Tax Credit' to replace existing credits with incentives based on actual life-cycle emissions reductions.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that current U.S. biofuel policies are costly and ineffective, primarily supporting mature corn ethanol industries while cellulosic biofuels remain stalled. The report proposes 'The Billion Gallon Challenge' to provide investment tax credits and loan guarantees for 10 to 20 new commercial-scale cellulosic facilities. Additionally, it suggests replacing existing tax credits with a 'Biofuels Performance Tax Credit' that rewards fuels based on their ability to replace oil and reduce global warming emissions. Together, these measures could reduce global warming emissions by nearly 100 million metric tons annually by 2022.

The report analyzes the financial burden on U.S. states that rely on imported coal, identifying those with the highest spending and per capita costs. It highlights a trend of increasing dependence on coal from Wyoming and international sources, particularly in the Southeast and Midwest. The authors argue that these states can redirect funds from coal imports toward energy efficiency and homegrown renewables to create local jobs and reduce carbon emissions.

The report identifies 38 U.S. states as net importers of coal in 2008, with 11 states spending over $1 billion each on these imports. It highlights a growing dependence on coal from Wyoming and international sources, particularly in the Southeast and Midwest. The authors argue that states can mitigate these economic losses and environmental damages by investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that cellulosic biofuel production in the U.S. is failing to meet government mandates due to a lack of investment capital and high risks for first-movers. To address this, they propose the 'Billion Gallon Challenge,' which would provide a 30-percent investment tax credit and loan guarantees to establish 10 to 20 commercial-scale facilities with a combined capacity of 1 billion gallons per year. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between current Energy Information Administration forecasts and the Renewable Fuel Standard's 2022 goal of 16 billion gallons, potentially saving 7 billion gallons of gasoline and reducing global warming emissions by 45 million metric tons annually by 2022.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that current U.S. biofuels tax credits, particularly the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), are ineffective because they primarily benefit oil companies and fail to stimulate additional production beyond the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The document proposes a Biofuels Performance Tax Credit of $10 per million Btu, which would reward producers based on their ability to reduce global warming emissions and replace oil. This proposed shift could save $5 billion annually starting in 2011 and reduce global warming emissions by up to 50 million metric tons per year by 2022.

In 2008, Alabama imported 79% of the coal used for its electricity generation, resulting in a net expenditure of $1.39 billion. The state's electricity mix was dominated by coal (51.1%) and nuclear (26.7%). Alabama spent the most per person ($297) and the most relative to gross state product (0.82%) on net coal imports compared to other US states. To reduce this dependence, the document suggests investing in energy efficiency—noting that Alabama spent only 49 cents per person on such programs in 2007—and utilizing renewable resources which could technically meet 56% of the state's 2008 power demand.

In 2008, Arkansas imported all the coal used by its power plants, resulting in $463 million leaving the state, primarily to Wyoming. The state's electricity mix was 47.5% coal, with Entergy Arkansas and its White Bluff plant being the largest importers. The document argues that Arkansas could reduce this dependence and stimulate its local economy by adopting energy efficiency resource standards and renewable electricity standards, leveraging its potential for wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass energy.

In 2008, Connecticut imported all the coal used by its power plants, spending $130 million on these imports, a significant portion of which came from Indonesia. While coal accounts for only 14.4% of the state's electricity mix, the state spent $37 per person on imported coal in 2007, exceeding the $27 per person spent on electricity efficiency programs. To reduce this dependence, Connecticut has implemented energy efficiency resource standards and renewable electricity standards, requiring utilities to source at least 23% of in-state power demand from renewables by 2020. The document notes that land-based renewables could technically meet 37% of the state's 2008 electricity needs, and offshore wind resources in New England could potentially supply over 24 times the region's power requirements.

In 2008, Delaware imported all the coal used by its power plants, resulting in over $161 million leaving the state. While coal provided 70 percent of in-state power generation, the state has implemented an energy efficiency resource standard requiring a 2.5 percent annual reduction in electricity use from 2010 to 2015 and a renewable electricity standard targeting 20 percent of power from renewable resources by 2019.

Florida imported all the coal used by its power plants in 2008, resulting in over $1.56 billion leaving the state economy. The document argues that investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables, such as biomass, solar, and offshore wind, can reduce this dependence and stimulate local economic growth.