Utilities need to put their money where their mouth is, and start investing in the clean energy future. So far, despite all their pledges, they’re moving way too slow.
We looked at the top 50 utilities, which generate the most power from fossil fuels—coal and gas.
We gave them a grade based on plans to: 1) retire coal by 2030 2) stop building new gas plants 3) start building clean energy.
How did they do? Most utilities failed the test.
These dirty utilities are not cleaning up their act fast enough.
As @sustainablejohn, Cara Bottoroff and I found, there is so much new gas in the pipeline. Only 4 utilities are doing what is necessary to limit warming to 1.5 °C.
Congress must act, passing an 80% by 2030 CES!
Many utilities are greenwashing with meaningless pledges. How do we know? We compared utilities with pledges to those without.
These utilities were almost indistinguishable on the things that matter: coal retirements, moving away from gas + building clean power.
Don't just take our words for it! Check out the amazing, underlying data that @sustainablejohn and Cara put together.
This is the first time that this data has been put together, allowing us to get a comprehensive view of utilities' plans. public.tableau.com/profile/john.r…
I learned a lot writing this report with @SierraClub. And if you read it, I think you'll learn a lot too!
Let's make 2021 the year that our utilities finally became clean energy champions! Let's get Congress to pass a CES, for 80% clean by 2030! coal.sierraclub.org/the-problem/di…
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Tonight, @SenSchumer went on @maddow. The interview wasn't supposed to be about climate, but Schumer made sure that's what they talked about. Again. And again.
Schumer is the climate champion we need. A THREAD of all his statements on climate...🧵
"We have to do something about climate. We don’t have any more time. We need strong bold action. One way or another, we’ve got to get it done. We can even use reconciliation for a much broader proposal, Biden's Build Back Better." - @SenSchumer
"Our North Star has to be the legislation itself. It has to be big and bold and strong.
We’re look at ways. There may be things that are reconcilable. … We’re looking at how much of Biden's Build Back Better, as much as we can, can fit into reconciliation." - @SenSchumer
We have an energy bill with some climate flourishes, folks! Hopefully passed and signed into law soon. What's in the stimulus bill?
- Energy Policy Act
- Energy for the Environment Title
Now, I'll break down key provisions in this THREAD...🧵
Big top lines:
- HFC phaseout 85% by 2035
- 35 billion on energy RD&D
- Energy tax extenders
- Reforms + extensions for DOE programs
- Electricity bill assistance for renters
- Permitting improvements for renewables on fed lands
- Efficiency, including fed buildings
MUCH MORE...
The HFC phaseout was difficult to negotiate and is probably the biggest climate piece.
HFCs are potent GHGs. In the global the Kigali amendment, countries have agreed to phase them out. This US commitment will help the globe avert 0.5 °C of warming. nytimes.com/2017/11/17/cli…
"The Energy Act of 2020" was in the stimulus bill, which just became a law. There's lots in there:
- HFC phase out by 85% by 2035
- Extensions of ITC/PTC tax credits for offshore wind, solar, wind, etc.
- $35 bn for energy R&D
- Much more
Proper thread tomorrow...
Evidently Trump signed the continuing resolution after midnight, not the bill. So... We've got another day to wait! But this is fingers crossed happening.
I'm hearing bill text will come out in a few hours. So stay tuned for some more key highlights in a thread once it does!