Federal Investment
Federal investment in research, development, and deployment can bring new, low-carbon technologies to the market in greater numbers and support America’s continued leadership in global emissions reductions.
Energy storage is considered the “holy grail” of energy because it allows for stockpiling unused power for when consumers need it the most. Currently, the U.S. electricity grid only has enough cumulative storage capacity to provide power for around 20 minutes – or a mere 10 seconds if only battery storage is considered. The development […]
Hydropower is the United States’ oldest and most reliable renewable energy resource, and its potential still is not fully tapped. As we work to decarbonize the power sector, hydropower’s unique benefits are an essential part of any climate solution. Moreover, hydropower has great potential to produce more power with a smaller environmental footprint than ever […]
Last year marked the third-strongest year for domestic wind power development. Wind developers added over 9,000 megawatts wind power to overall U.S. capacity. That’s 20 percent over the progress made in 2018, which sets 2020 on a course for strong progress in wind power. Now there are almost 60,000 wind turbines in operation across the […]
The United States is continuing to diversify its renewable energy sources, including a recent commitment to research and development in geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is a clean and renewable energy source that uses the heat of the Earth. It is growing rapidly in the U.S. and globally, with tremendous economic benefits and a bright future. […]
When we talk about the astounding advances in our national energy sector that have provided energy choice, freedom, and security for consumers and businesses alike—not to mention emissions reductions—the energy efficiency industry often gets brushed over. That’s probably due to the fact that the vital role energy efficiency plays in innovating American energy development is […]
New energy technologies inch closer to commercial viability every day. And although markets are beginning to open up to these technologies, there are still a number of financial hurdles that exist between the R&D phase and consumer-ready products. Green banks address these hurdles by financing clean energy projects through long-term, low-interest loans that would not […]
Facebook, Google, Walmart and Sony; Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Minneapolis—these are just some of the major corporations and U.S. cities that have pledged to transition to 100% renewable electricity sources over the next few decades. With new commitments being announced on a near- daily basis, it seems clear that growing numbers of citizens, civic organizations […]
As published in The Morning Consult on February 19, 2019. BY CHARLES HERNICK & LISA JACOBSON From coast to coast, America’s economy kicked into high gear in 2018 — and the clean energy sector had a record year, too. The Business Council for Sustainable Energy’s annual “Sustainable Energy in America Factbook” documents strong fundamental trends […]
New energy innovations have been entering the American marketplace at an increasing rate in recent years—and more importantly, becoming more and more competitive with traditional energy resources. With our nation’s future economic prospects and national security hanging in the balance, we are arriving at a crossroads with respect to energy solutions. A new report, “Advancing […]
Establishing a nationwide system for carbon reporting and an offset exchange will empower states, municipalities, and businesses to decrease emissions while increasing investment in clean energy and improving transparency and accountability Originally published in the The Environmental Forum (Environmental Law Institute) States and local governments have established their own policies to shift toward clean energy for over […]