Residential Electric Vehicle Time-Varying Rates That Work: Attributes That Increase Enrollment

Forecasts show electric vehicle (EV) adoption is going to increase. Without a thoughtful approach to encourage off-peak residential charging, these EVs could lead to costly distribution system impacts and infrastructure upgrades. SEPA gathered empirical research in partnership with The Brattle Group and Enel X that identifies how EV-specific time-varying rates can successfully incentivize customers to charge during off-peak hours.

Download this report to discover the benefits of EV time-varying rates and what rate design and program implementation features will increase enrollment in your service territory. The research also includes insights into the current EV time-varying rates landscape, utility motivations for …

Clean Energy Opportunities and Dirty Energy Challenges – 2019

The U.S. energy sector has entered a new phase in the energy transition. Although there is still much left to do, we are making real progress in many clean energy arenas. Solar and wind energy are thriving, and the technologies to help smooth out the highs and lows of renewable energy generation and integrate these clean resources into the electric grid are becoming commercial realities. The costs of clean energy continue to fall rapidly. Wind and solar already outcompete coal power and are likely to put similar
economic pressure on natural gas within the next decade and a half. Meanwhile, …

Solar and wind energy enhances drought resilience and groundwater sustainability

Water scarcity brings tremendous challenges to achieving sustainable development of water resources, food, and energy security, as these sectors are often in competition, especially during drought. Overcoming these challenges requires balancing trade-offs between sectors and improving resilience to drought impacts. An under-appreciated factor in managing the water-food-energy (WFE) nexus is the increased value of solar and wind energy (SWE). Here we develop a trade-off frontier framework to quantify the water sustainability value of SWE through a case study in California. We identify development pathways that optimize the economic value of water in competition for energy and food production while ensuring …

An Assessment of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act

Growing public concern about the social, economic, and environmental impacts of climate change, along with pressure for lawmakers to introduce policy proposals that reduce emissions, have brought carbon taxes to the center of policy discussions on Capitol Hill. Thus far in 2019, seven different carbon tax legislative proposals have been introduced in Congress. The proposal with the most cosponsors, totaling 64 Democrats and 1 Republican as of the end of September 2019, is the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (EICDA), introduced in February 2019 by lead sponsor Ted Deutch (D-FL). This study assesses the potential impacts of EICDA on …

Returning Champions: State Clean Energy Leadership Since 2015

Returning Champions: State Clean Energy Leadership Since 2015, a new report from the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), highlights the essential role that states are playing to develop and implement effective policies and programs. The report describes the range of strategies and initiatives that states are using to grow clean energy markets, and it provides readers with a concise overview of clean energy trends at the state level.…

Investing in Resilience

The climate is changing, and society is facing significant climate impacts including more frequent and severe weather, ocean warming and acidification, extended periods of drought, and extreme temperatures. The ability to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to these impacts is known as “climate resilience.” Resilience efforts must be made at the local level, sometimes even at the level of individual structures or facilities. This requires an unprecedented combined and coordinated effort. Fortunately, addressing these risks will not only protect people and property, but also generate economic activity that will create domestic jobs and help with U.S. competitiveness globally. For …

Why Fee and Dividend Will Reduce Emissions Faster Than Other Carbon Pricing Policy Options

The Fee and Dividend carbon pricing policy is the single most effective way to quickly and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels, is causing the Earth to heat up, resulting in dangerous changes to the climate system. To minimize future impacts, GHG emissions must be lowered dramatically and urgently. To do so, financial incentives must be aligned with climate realities by “putting a price on carbon.” While there are many carbon pricing policies being considered, only Fee and Dividend has all the …

Innovations and Markets in Carbon Emissions Management

Leading climate science highlights why the buildup of GHG emissions is unlikely to reverse without significant contributions from carbon emissions management (CEM) technologies. This report, prepared by AJW, Inc. on behalf of ICAC, highlights a surprisingly diverse range of viable CEM technologies currently under development. The report also proposes policy improvements that will be necessary to provide a competitive and stable market where these technologies have the ability to scale-up to meet the challenge and thrive globally.…

U.S. Natural Gas: Becoming Dominant

In the beginning of the 21st century, natural gas prices were increasing and the United States was viewed as a growing natural gas importer. Multiple liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals were built while existing ones were recommissioned and expanded. However, the market conditions also drove domestic producers to innovate. As average U.S. prices peaked in 2008, domestic shale gas production was brought to market. Improvements in technologies such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling made the development of unconventional natural gas resources such as shale and other lower-permeability rock formations economically possible. Improved efficiency has lowered production costs, making …

U.S. Natural Gas: Becoming Dominant

In the beginning of the 21st century, natural gas prices were increasing and the United States was viewed as a growing natural gas importer. Multiple liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals were built while existing ones were recommissioned and expanded. However, the market conditions also drove domestic producers to innovate. As average U.S. prices peaked in 2008, domestic shale gas production was brought to market. Improvements in technologies such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling made the development of unconventional natural gas resources such as shale and other lower-permeability rock formations economically possible. Improved efficiency has lowered production costs, making …