UCS Ranks States that Import Coal
(2010)

The Union of Concerned Scientists' report "Burning Coal, Burning Cash" ranks the states that import the most coal. The cost of imported coal is a drain on the economies of many states that rely it to produce electricity. These states could reap economic and environmental benefits by reducing their use of imported coal and investing in energy efficiency and local, renewable energy sources.

Report: The Hazards of Investing in Coal
(2011)

In the report "A Risky Proposition: The Financial Hazards of New Investments in Coal Plants", Union of Concerned Scientists analyzes the financial risks of investment in coal plant construction and retrofits. Replacing coal-fired power plants with cheaper, cleaner, and less risky alternatives (such as energy efficiency and renewables) would save lives, safeguard public health, and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas and toxic air pollution.

Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study
(January 2010)

The Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study (EWITS) is a large regional wind integration study that looks at the operational impact of 20-30% energy penetration of wind on the power system in the Eastern Interconnect of the United States. It was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy with project coordination by the National Renewable Energy Lab.

Wind Power Myths Debunked
(January 2010)

A recent issue of Power & Energy, the journal of the Power Engineering Society (PES) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) featured wind power, including a very informative article called Wind Power Myths Debunked . The article looks at the most common questions (e.g., "Doesn't wind power need backup generation?") and addresses them in detail with appropriate graphics.

Community Wind 101
(September 2008)

Community Wind 101: A Primer for Policy makers, was released today by the 25x'25 Alliance, The Energy Foundation and Harvesting Clean Energy. The report makes clear that community wind must be an integral part of the nation's energy strategy and lays out a set of public policies designed to grow local wind investment and ownership. See also the Executive Summary and the Press release.

Governors' Wind Energy Coalition
(February 2009)

Twenty-three governors launched the Governors' Wind Energy Coalition by releasing a report on the economic benefits of wind power.

Attached Files

1. GWEC Wind Energy & Green Jobs
   Acrobat | 2 MB
   

New Study Shows Extending Solar Tax Credits Will Increase Jobs
(September 2008)

A new economic study issued today by Navigant Consulting shows that more than 1.2 million employment opportunities, including 440,000 permanent jobs, and $232 billion in new investment would be generated in the U.S. by the solar energy sector alone through 2016 if Congress extends the solar investment tax credit (ITC) for 8 years. To read more, visit the Solar Energy Industries Association website.

Laying a Foundation for Nevada's Energy Future
(February 2008)

Facing uncertainty in meeting future demand for electricity, Nevada should concentrate on building a "flexible infrastructure" that leverages a mixture of resources and avoids risks associated with large-scale centralized generation, according to "Laying a Foundation for Nevada's electricity Future." This report was led by former Nevada Energy and Economic Advisor and Public Utility Commissioner Carl Linvill.

Attached Files

1. Press Release
   Acrobat | 223 KB
   
2. Laying a Foundation for Nevada's Electricity Future
   Acrobat | 3 MB
   
3. Coal is Not the Future-Las Vegas Sun
   Acrobat | 84 KB
   

A Solar Grand Plan
(December 2007)

Scientific American Magazine published an article last December outlining the potential of solar power. The article states that by 2050 solar power could end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and slash greenhouse gas emissions.

Attached Files

1. A Solar Grand Plan
   Acrobat | 2 MB
   

Renewable Energy Atlas of the West

The Atlas is an 80-page, full-color presentation of the renewable energy resources in the West, including newly-released high-resolution wind maps of the Pacific Northwest. The Atlas profiles wind, solar, geothermal and biomass power. Sponsored by the Hewlett Foundation and The Energy Foundation, the Atlas was created by the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (SEED), Green Info Network and Integral GIS. To view the atlas, visit energyatlas.org.

Community Wind Toolbox
(October 2007)

Windustry's new online Community Wind Toolbox offers high-quality practical information for farmers and rural landowners looking to develop commercial-scale wind projects.

Report Details Potential Devastation of Sea Level Rise
(September 2007)

A coastal impact study issued by Architecture 2030 makes clear that without a moratorium on coal, the United States will be unable to avert the dangerous impacts of climate change. The full report is available at the Architecture 2030 website.

Governor of Illinois Signs Electricity Rate Deal
(August 2007)

Governor Blagojevich signed the electricity rate bill, making Illinois a national leader in standards for electricity created by renewable sources such as wind power, biomass and solar power. The bill also requires energy efficiency programs that will effectively stop the growth of electric use in the state. Each of these two provisions is among the strongest in the country, and together they will substantially reduce global warming emissions from electricity generation in Illinois. To read the full article, visit the U.S. PIRG website.

American Solar Energy Society Report

A new report by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) shows how efficiency and renewable energy technologies can work together to solve global warming. Visit the ASES website to read their report on Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.

The Union of Concerned Scientists on Renewable Electricity Standards
(May 2007)

The Union of Concerned Scientists has created a comprehensive toolkit guide to state Renewable Power Standards and the proposed Federal RPS.

Community Wind Information Packet
(April 2007)

We assembled a small packet of documents related to Community Wind as an introduction to the concept of farmer-owned wind farms.

Attached Files

1. Community Wind Information Packet
   Acrobat | 2 MB