Each week, we review the papers, studies, reports, and briefings posted at the “indispensable” RFF Library Blog, curated by RFF Librarian Chris Clotworthy. Check out this week’s highlights below:
Climate Change: Evidence and Choices
The National Academy of Sciences and its British counterpart, the Royal Society, have published “Climate Change: Evidence and Causes,” a fresh primer on greenhouse-driven global warming that is a useful update on past reports from both organizations. You can find helpful summaries of the findings on the National Academy of Sciences website. — via National Academy of Sciences
Why Is Electricity Use No Longer Growing?
...Our various analyses suggest that energy efficiency has likely had a substantial impact on electricity use. Our analysis indicates that over the 1993-2012 period, changes in electricity use were most influenced by energy efficiency programs and policies, warmer weather, changes in gross domestic product (GDP), changes in electricity prices, and long-term trends. Over the more recent period of 2007-2012, savings from energy efficiency... — via American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Colorado Draft Regulations Limiting Methane Emissions
Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission approved comprehensive changes to rules governing oil and gas activities in the state, including the nation’s first-ever regulations designed to detect and reduce methane emissions. — via State of Colorado, Departent of Public Health and the Environment
CATF’s study, Power Switch, proposes a common sense, highly cost-effective approach under Clean Air Act Section 111(d) for reducing carbon pollution from existing power plants. Simply by setting performance standards that result in displacing electricity generated by high emission rate coal-fired power plants with generation from existing currently underutilized, efficient natural-gas power plants... — via Clean Air Task Force
The Status of the Highway Trust Fund and Budget Basics for the Treatment of New Programs
The debate among transportation wonks over how to fashion and pay for a long-term federal transportation bill roiled on in Washington this week, as a new number was injected into the picture: $100 billion. That’s how much the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates will have to be generated by additional taxes or transferred from the general fund if lawmakers... — via US Congressional Budget Office
For more from the RFF Library Blog, click here.
