UTILITY REGULATION
Promoting the public good, when it comes to public goods
Utility regulation can be complex and multifaceted. To promote clear policy solutions, is critical to any process, and promoting positive goals that are in the interest of ratepayers and public policy goals.
POLICY
Connecting stakeholders with policy solutions, and developing policy that meet their organization goals
To adapt to a changing energy system; new policy solutions will need to be developed and implemented on city, state and federal levels that capture the greatest amount of benefit for all who are impacted by these changes.
Focusing on the deployment of commercially viable and economically competitive zero emission solutions is important in this process, as well as implementing solutions that can bring evolving technologies that can provide economic opportunities to scale.
FOCUS AREAS
DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES
Competitive Solutions for Consumers and the Grid
Distributed energy resources, like rooftop solar, battery energy storage, demand response, energy efficiency, and even electric vehicles are becoming increasingly important in efforts to decarbonize the electricity system. These solutions also provide a great benefit to the public in terms of job creation and a competitive marketplace for energy products. Policy solutions should be designed to increase public access to distributed energy resources, and encourage growth in distributed energy resource industries.
WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY
Transmission Planning is Key to a Clean Energy Future
Adapting to a future that has more variable renewable energy, increased electrification of transportation, commercial, industrial and residential energy, as well integration of aggregated resources and energy storage are all challenges related to wholesale markets.
Promoting meaningful engagement in transmission planning processes for clean energy is key to the facilitation of an equitable, reliable, and affordable clean energy system that can meet climate goals.
ELECTRIFICATION
Changing the Energy System
To meet emission reduction goals, electrification of fossil fuel based processes is essential. Whether it is transitioning to electric vehicles or electrifying homes and businesses there are clear benefits to communities. It is even more essential that industries, responsible for up 29% of emissions nationally move towards heavier electrification.
Policy goals should aim to not simply increase benefits for utilities through electrification, but to ensure that new load is met with zero emission energy, and efforts are coordinated with energy efficiency, demand response and increased engagement in transmission planning that brings greater access to zero emission affordable energy options.
JUST TRANSITION
An Economic Agenda for Workers and Communities
The greatest challenge of the energy transition is one that is a part of every economic disruption. How are workers and communities affected? Deindustrialization has had enormous impacts on cities like Detroit and port cities. As demand for fossil fuels decline, it is incumbent upon decisionmakers to plan for communities impacted by the oncoming challenges of the energy transition. Engagement with workers and long term planning is necessary for understanding the scope of this challenge, as well as workforce and economic development needs along with ensuring that impacts are mitigated through support for workers and communities.