Energy Vision

06/18/2026

New York State recently took major strides in reforming its landmark climate law, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). As part of a broader trend to accelerate real, on-the-ground climate and clean energy progress, Energy Vision has long advocated for making legislative changes to the CLCPA to more feasibly achieve its ambitious goals, and NYS has finally followed through on most of those recommendations, seven years after passage.

Some key changes include:

- Switching from a 20-year to a 100-year Global Warming Potential (GWP) accounting framework, in line with every other jurisdiction except Maryland (which uses both).

- No longer counting biogenic CO2 emissions toward the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, following suit with the federal government, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and other leading jurisdictions around the world.

- No longer counting emissions associated with out-of-state fossil fuel production and distribution in the state’s GHG inventory, also in line with best practice.

These changes, passed as part of the annual budget law in late May, remove major obstacles to investment and set the stage for scaling up the bio-economy in NYS. In recognition of just how hard it is to decarbonize the state’s economy quickly and cost-effectively, the CLCPA’s emissions reductions goals were revised as well. Specifically, the requirement of a 40% reduction by 2030 was changed to a 60% reduction by 2040, while maintaining the goal of at least an 85% reduction by 2050.

While the CLCPA now recognizes the biogenic carbon cycle by distinguishing biogenic CO2 emissions from fossil CO2 emissions, the amended law does not specifically include the anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste as a form of renewable energy.

This may sound like a small detail, but it has major ramifications for AD in the state. Until/unless NYS clarifies that AD is renewable, the state likely won’t be able to directly procure renewable natural gas (RNG) for its zero-emissions electricity grid, nor will it be able to provide grants or other incentives for RNG like it does for solar, wind, etc. RNG should be part of a broader strategy to incentivize and accelerate all clean energy production and deployment across New York.

The implementation of additional rapid-decarbonization policies such as a Clean Fuel Standard, an RNG blending requirement for statewide gas supply, expanded grants and incentives for clean energy projects, and the forthcoming Cap and Invest program would further support New York in achieving its long-term climate goals.

06/03/2026

New Clean Fuel Standard in Hawaii!

On May 6th, Hawaii became the fifth state to pass a Clean Fuel Standard (CFS)! This new CFS aims to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels used in Hawaii by at least 50% by 2045, relative to 2019 levels. The law sets a baseline target of at least a 10% reduction by 2035 and directs the Hawaii Department of Transportation to implement new regulations for the program by January 1, 2028.

The program will primarily tackle carbon emissions from cars and trucks. Aircraft, trains, military vehicles, and interstate waterborne vessels are exempt from the requirements, but may voluntarily opt in to generate credits. Alternative fuel users can also opt in to earn credits by displacing fossil fuels in heating, cooling, and temporary power generation.

Following in the footsteps of California, Oregon, Washington State, and New Mexico, Hawaii’s CFS will disincentivize fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel while incentivizing cleaner alternatives such as electricity and renewable natural gas (RNG). Produced by capturing methane emissions from decomposing organic waste, RNG can significantly reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.

Energy Vision has long advocated for more states to adopt Clean Fuel Standards as a proven way to cut transportation-related emissions at virtually no government expense. We are excited to see further progress on this front!

05/28/2026

Energy Vision’s Director of Research and Publications, Michael Lerner, had an op-ed published in the Journal of Commerce!

“War-driven energy shock makes case for more alternative fuels”

The war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have increased volatility in bunker fuel prices, with average VLSFO costs worldwide rising from $540/mt in early February to over $930/mt today.

And even as the fate of the International Maritime Organization’s proposed Net-Zero Framework remains up in the air, the case for adopting low carbon shipping fuels is getting stronger by the day.

Read the full op-ed here → https://www.joc.com/article/war-driven-energy-shock-makes-case-for-more-alternative-fuels-6213918

Check our new report The Future of Shipping: Cleaner Fuel Options for the Maritime Sector →https://energy-vision.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TheFutureOfShipping-EnergyVision.pdf

05/08/2026

Energy Vision’s Joanna Underwood has published an Op-Ed in Environment + Energy Leader!

New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) largely ignores organic waste as a major and ongoing source of methane emissions, despite being one of the most potent greenhouse gases.

This oversight can be corrected through two crucial changes:

Updating CLCPA’s definition of renewable energy to include anaerobic digestion of organic waste.
Adopting lifecycle carbon accounting.

Together, these proposed changes could help close critical policy gaps and unlock scalable climate solutions that are available today.

Read the full article here → https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/stories/new-yorks-climate-law-has-a-blind-spot-heres-the-fix,125237

RNG captured from organic waste could slash emissions and boost grid resilience. Two changes to New York's climate law would make it happen.

05/01/2026

Check out case studies in Energy Vision’s new report, The Future of Shipping: Cleaner Fuel Options for the Maritime Sector!

While international policy sets the tone, real momentum in maritime decarbonization is increasingly coming from companies willing to act ahead of regulation, such as:

Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) is a coalition of major consumer brands aiming to accelerate the adoption of zero emission maritime fuels by pooling demand and signing long-term agreements on the most competitive terms. Its member companies (including Amazon, Patagonia, and Tchibo) are responsible for paying fuel premiums in the short term in exchange for long-term economic and environmental sustainability.

Maersk has positioned itself at the forefront of maritime decarbonization, pledging that 25% of its global fleet will run on low-carbon methanol by 2030. The company has begun launching dual-fuel methanol vessels, while also aiming for faster emission cuts this decade by ordering dual-fuel LNG ships and signing supply agreements for bioLNG.

Nestlé has committed to shipping 100% of its ocean containers via Maersk’s ECO Delivery program, which uses second generation biofuels (likely renewable diesel) made from waste feedstocks. This shift is expected to cut its annual emissions by 200k metric tons of CO2e annually (equal to avoiding 500k barrels of crude oil each year).

Fortescue owns and operates the Green Pioneer, the world’s first ammonia-powered ship. The Australian mining company, which burns the equivalent of 450-500 million gallons of diesel annually, is betting big on green ammonia to decarbonize profitably. The Green Pioneer’s successful safety and bunkering demonstrations have helped set the stage for the first ammonia-powered cargo ships, which are under construction and expected to debut in the next few years.

United European Car Carriers (UECC) has embraced bioLNG supplemented by liquid biofuels and other sustainability measures (like battery-hybrid models) on the way toward its goal of net-zero emissions by 2040. In 2016, the company debuted the world’s first dual-fuel LNG “pure car and truck carriers” (PCTCs), with high-pressure, two-stroke engines, that have the lowest rates of methane slip. In 2024 and 2025, non-fossil fuels made up >40% of its total bunkering, up from 10% in 2022, and it’s forecasting close to 60% by 2030. Customers can cut Scope 3 emissions via UECC’s Sail for Change program, where their vehicles are transported on its five PCTCs (in European waters) that run on bioLNG; the company has ordered four more bioLNG-capable PCTCs to be delivered in 2028.

These leadership examples show a growing alignment between shippers, customers, and fuel producers that is key to building a scalable, low-emission global shipping system.

Full report →https://energy-vision.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TheFutureOfShipping-EnergyVision.pdf

04/22/2026

This year, Earth Day can't just be about awareness. It must be about action.

The truth is, we already have solutions. Right now, in Harrisburg, PA, Capital Region Water is transforming wastewater into clean, renewable natural gas (RNG) — with guidance from Energy Vision. Instead of letting methane escape into the atmosphere, it's captured and put to work.

Less waste. Cleaner air. Immediate impact.

This isn't theoretical — it's working. And it could be replicated in nearly every community across the U.S.

So this Earth Day, ask your community one simple question: What are we doing with our organic waste? Because the answer could help shape our climate future.

Let's stop waiting and start scaling what works.

04/20/2026

New Energy Vision report!

The Future of Shipping: Cleaner Fuel Options for the Maritime Sector

Maritime shipping is the backbone of global trade, yet it remains one of the most fossil fuel-dependent sectors in the world. Today, shipping consumes over 87 billion gallons of marine fuel each year and is responsible for almost 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Beyond its impact on climate, shipping also poses serious risks to public health from its emissions of air pollutants, which are linked to higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease in and around port communities. At the same time, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) projects that maritime trade could increase 40-115% by 2050 relative to 2020 levels. As this demand increases, climate impacts and public health risks will only intensify. There’s an enormous opportunity here and momentum is finally growing in the transition to cleaner maritime fuels.

In this report, EV analyzes a suite of low-carbon alternative maritime fuels: renewable diesel, biodiesel, bio-liquefied natural gas (bioLNG), biomethanol, green hydrogen, green ammonia, and e-fuels. We compare these options across lifecycle GHG emissions, cost, infrastructure needs, and scalability, finding that all fuels have tradeoffs and all can be part of the solution set moving forward. As the chart shows, we found that fuels derived from food waste and livestock manure provide the deepest lifecycle emissions reductions, though challenges related to cost and supply remain.

We also outline the current deployment of ships capable of running on alternative fuel. Of the roughly 106,000 commercial ships in the global fleet, just over 1,300 run on alternative fuels, but this number is growing each year. This report examines how regulatory measures from the European Union and IMO are accelerating the adoption of cleaner maritime fuels, and emphasizes the critical role of private sector initiatives. Major consumer product companies and shippers are increasingly developing their own clean fuel programs. Challenges and tradeoffs are prevalent, but so are emerging solutions, including ways to cut problematic “methane slip” from LNG engines. The financial challenge may also be less daunting than it appears—we calculated that the costs of one of the more expensive cleaner fuel options for a trans-Pacific cargo shipment could be covered by an extra 12¢ per pair of sneakers or less than a quarter of a cent more per smartphone.

Ultimately, accelerating maritime decarbonization will require a portfolio approach: one that combines low-carbon biofuels in the near term with continued investment in next-generation fuels. With the right combination of policy support, private sector leadership, and innovative financing, a cleaner maritime sector is both technically achievable and economically viable.

Full report →https://energy-vision.org/pdf/TheFutureOfShipping-EnergyVision.pdf