Each week, we review the papers, studies, reports, and briefings posted at the “indispensable” RFF Library Blog, curated by RFF Librarian Chris Clotworthy.
The Untapped Potential of California’s Water Supply
[From Press Release] California could be saving up to 14 million acre-feet of untapped water – providing more than the amount of water used in all of California’s cities in one year – with an aggressive statewide effort to use water-saving practices, reuse water, and capture lost stormwater, according to a new analysis released today by the Pacific Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council… — via National Resources Defense Council
The State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network (SEE Action), a state- and local-led effort facilitated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to achieve all cost effective energy efficiency, recently published a new report that provides an overview of the current state of on-bill lending programs with actionable insights for consideration by state policymakers, utility regulators and program administrators. States and utilities are increasingly turning to on-bill financing to stretch their limited efficiency program dollars and encourage the uptake of energy improvements in residential and non-residential properties... — via US Department of Energy
[Digital Journal] As recent reports on the impact of climate change underscore the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a new study finds that a tax on carbon can reduce those emissions while also adding jobs to the economy. The study, conducted by Regional Economic Models, Inc., examined a tax on the carbon-dioxide content of fossil fuels. The tax would start at $10 per ton, increasing at $10 per ton each year. Revenue from the tax would be returned to households in equal shares as direct payments. Under this approach, the REMI study found that recycling the revenue back into the economy would add 2.1 million jobs over ten years. Improvements in air quality would save 13,000 lives a year. Emissions would decline by 33 percent... — via Citizens' Climate Lobby
Rooftop Solar Adoption in Emerging Residential Markets
Solar energy has become a tangible solution to rising electricity costs and carbon emissions for many Americans. Declining installation prices and solar-friendly policies in many states have led to tremendous growth in rooftop solar installations. In 2013, residential solar photovoltaic, or PV, capacity increased 60 percent over the previous year, reaching 792 megawatts. Today, a new solar power system is installed every four minutes in the United States... — via Center for American Progress
The Obama administration’s pending rules to limit CO2 emissions from power plants could have the side benefits of limiting air toxins as well (SO2, NOx, particulate matter, ozone, etc.) It would all depend on how it’s done. The authors look at three scenarios... — via Syracuse University and Harvard School of Public Health
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