Who’s Influencing Connecticut Climate and Clean Energy Politics? Five Questions

Who is testifying at the Connecticut Capitol on climate and clean energy? What arguments are those testifying against climate action using? What happens to clean energy bills? Who’s lobbying? What economic sectors are most actively among those opposing climate solutions legislation in Connecticut, and what positions are they taking?

To address these questions, we analyzed publicly available written testimony on 48 bills that key
organizations and coalitions working on climate policy in Connecticut saw as priority legislation from
2013-2020. In total, we analyzed 2,940 pieces of testimony, comprising 3,958 positions on legislation.

We carefully read and summarize 263 pieces of …

Leveraging Transatlantic Cooperation to Promote Industrial Decarbonization of High Carbon Industries: Pathways for Green Steel

For the world to meet its climate commitments, emissions from heavy industry must be dramatically reduced. The production of steel, which accounts for roughly 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, is at the forefront of the challenge. The recent announcement of a joint European Union and United States initiative to reach a Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminum provides a new window of opportunity for the transatlantic relationship to bolster the momentum of and discover alternative pathways to industrial decarbonization.

In this paper, which was written in collaboration with the Atlantic Council and the European Union, we examine …

Making Buildings Better: Building Electrification Provisions In The Build Back Better Act

Electrification can decarbonize the building sector when combined with energy efficiency, putting the United States on the path to a stable climate future while removing fossil fuel appliances that harm human health from our buildings. The House version of the Build Back Better Act includes $12.5 billion for building electrification and energy efficiency incentives to decarbonize the building sector, improve public health, and reduce consumer bills.…

Energy Storage for Winter Grid Reliability: How Batteries Became the Low-Cost Solution for Power Assurance in Massachusetts

Winter electric peaking capacity (called “winter reliability” in New England) provides an important value
to the electric grid by helping to avoid winter blackouts. As heating and transportation are increasingly
electrified to meet climate goals, winter peak energy needs will grow; and as fossil–fueled generators are
phased out due to emissions caps, new, clean sources of winter peaking capacity will need to be found.

Although winter peaking capacity has traditionally been provided by gas and oil peaking generators
(peaker plants), it can also be provided by cleaner, “behind–the–meter” customer …

Issues, Questions, and a Research Agenda for the Role of Pricing in Residential Electrification

This working paper examines the objectives and implementation of utility rates, while exploring how mispricing energy can affect incentives for residential electrification.…

Colorado Transmission Coordination Act: Investigation of Wholesale Market Alternatives for the State of Colorado

This study, conducted by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (Commission or PUC) as part of the Colorado Transmission Coordination Act (CTCA), finds that enhanced market participation through greater regional coordination can reduce total annual costs for Colorado electric utilities by as much as 4 to 5 percent, while helping to accelerate the achievement of our state’s clean energy goals. At the same time, this investigation also identifies significant concerns with shifting core aspects of electric utility regulation (involving new generator interconnection, transmission expansion, …

Biofuels and the Water-Energy Nexus: Perspectives for the United States

This paper focuses on liquid biofuels, especially corn-based ethanol, and the energy-water nexus. It examines the implications of potential land area expansion for increased biofuel production and on water supply availability. Given the potential expansion of the use of irrigation in crop production for biofuels, the associated water footprint can be challenging in some areas, depending on the assumptions and trends considered in the projections. On average, biofuels are among the most water-intensive energy products. Producing a gallon of conventional gasoline requires 3 to 7 gallons of water, whereas a gallon of corn ethanol requires from 11 gallons up to …

Renewables 2021: Analysis and Forecasts to 2026

Renewables 2021 is the IEA’s primary analysis on the sector, based on current policies and market developments. It forecasts the deployment of renewable energy technologies in electricity, transport and heat to 2026 while also exploring key challenges to the industry and identifying barriers to faster growth.

Renewables are the backbone of any energy transition to achieve net zero. As the world increasingly shifts away from carbon emitting fossil fuels, understanding the current role renewables play in the decarbonization of multiple sectors is key to ensuring a smooth pathway to net zero.

While renewables continued to be deployed at a strong …

The Renewable Energy Economic Benefits of Microgrids

Microgrids are increasingly becoming part of a new, modern electrical energy system. Communities, businesses, and government institutions see them as unique solutions to meet the demand for clean, resilient, and efficient energy. Breakthroughs and cost reductions in solar and battery technologies are making microgrids increasingly accessible and cost–effective. Microgrids can be designed for varying sizes and purposes with a primary benefit of serving diverse community needs. For example, microgrids can link communities and provide people’s energy needs, ranging from isolated rural communities to helping support grids in large cities and regions.…

A Cautionary Tale of Petrochemicals from Pennsylvania

Beaver County, Pennsylvania is a real-time case-study in the local economic impacts of petrochemical development. It is home to the construction site of a Shell petrochemical facility estimated to cost $6 billion. First announced in 2012, the project is nearing completion and is likely to open in 2022 or 2023. Since the project’s inception, industry executives and government officials have argued that it would spur local economic growth, renewed business investment, and the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.

Yet, so far, prosperity has not arrived. Since the petrochemical project was announced, the most recent available data show that …