| January 2023 |
By Ryan Hidden, Sierra Club Beyond Coal
Hey there, eco-conscious readers!
I have some not-so-great news to share with you today. The Sierra Club recently released its updated Dirty Truth Report, and it looks like utilities have made little progress in the fight against climate change.
Sierra Club Releases Updated Dirty Truth Report
For those unfamiliar, in 2021, the Sierra Club analyzed the plans of 77 utilities owned by the 50 companies most invested in fossil fuel generation. While most of these utilities had stated goals of significant carbon reduction, there was a massive gap between their ongoing practices and the steps needed to combat the climate crisis.
In the new report, the Sierra Club checked in on the progress in retiring coal plants, stopping the construction of new gas plants, and building clean energy in the following crucial decade. Unfortunately, the results are disappointing but not surprising.
While utilities have focused on making profits and maintaining the status quo, calls for a transition to clean energy have only increased at the federal level, in states, in the financial sector, and among the public.