Reports & Multimedia

Renewable energy—wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and biomass—provides substantial benefits for our health, our climate, and our economy.

An overview of the environmental impacts of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass.

Biomass (plant material and animal waste) is the oldest source of renewable energy, used since our ancestors learned the secret of fire.

Learn how heat from the Earth is converted into electricity in this comprehensive overview, including a discussion of the geothermal resource, its environmental and societal impacts, and its potential for future expansion.

Learn how moving water is converted into electricity in this comprehensive overview, including a discussion of the hydropower resource, its environmental and societal impacts, and the potential for future expansion of hydroelectic energy.

Learn the basic terminology for how electricity is measured in this quick primer from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

A comprehensive overview of solar power technologies, benefits, costs, and more from the Union of Concerned Scientists, including rooftop solar panels, large-scale solar power plants, and how solar panels work.

Harnessing the wind is one of the cleanest, most sustainable ways to generate electricity.

Renewable energy technologies tap into natural cycles and systems, turning the energy all around us into usable forms.

Strong U.S. investment in independent science has brought the nation economic progress, science-based public policy, and global scientific leadership.

A high-profile appointment of a scientist with questionable credentials is the selection of Dr. Joseph McIlhaney to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

G.W. Bush's Executive Order (EO) 13422 of 2007 injects political appointees into agency rule-making, cripples an agency's ability to issue guidance to public, and promotes free market concerns over public welfare.