Electrify This! (Sara Baldwin, Energy Innovation, LLC)

Want to electrify your life and not sure where to start? Then tune in to a special two-part series of Electrify This! to find out how you can cut pollution and save money by making the switch to clean, efficient electric alternatives. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with Joel Rosenberg, the author of the new e-book called Electrify Everything in Your Home: A Guide to Comfy, Healthy, Carbon-Free Living, and Panama Bartholomy of the Building Decarbonization Coalition about the steps homeowners and renters can take to transition to a clean, electrified life. We’ll also discuss the big electrification wins of 2021 and the new The Switch is On campaign aimed at helping households and contractors plug in to the electrification movement. 

Guests:

Joel Rosenberg is an educator and entrepreneur focused on helping solve the climate crisis and is the Author of a new e-book, just released, called Electrify Everything in Your Home (which is a Rewiring America publication). Joel has worked on science and engineering education at the Museum of Science, Boston; the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany; the Lawrence Hall of Science at U.C. Berkeley; Maker Media; and Otherlab. He is also the co-founder of 3D Fab Light, an industrial laser cutter company. Joel has a mechanical engineering degree from MIT, and a master’s from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. 

Panama Bartholomy is the Director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, which is a multi-sector forum advocating for and creating solutions for our pollution-intensive building stock. Previously, Panama has served as the European Director of the Investor Confidence Project, an Advisor on Energy and Natural Resources to California Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, the Deputy Director of the California Energy Commission’s Efficiency and Renewables Division, and an advisor for Chairwomen Douglas and Pfannenstiel.  He is also a former board member on the U.S. Green Building Council and past president of the Northern California Chapter.  

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Electrify Everything in Your Home: A Guide to Comfy, Healthy, Carbon-Free Living, by Joel Rosenberg – A Rewiring America Publication
• The Switch Is On
• Building Decarbonization Coalition
• Energy Sage
• Database for State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIREUSA.org)

What burning questions do you have about what it takes to remove fossil fuels from your home or workplace and switch to all-electric appliances and equipment? What should you know before you choose a contractor? For example, do heat pumps work in cold climates? And what is a mini split, and is it right for my building? In part two of our how-to series, Electrify This! host Sara Baldwin speaks with residential HVAC contractor Larry Waters, founder of Electrify My Home, LLC and commercial HVAC specialist Steve Kroh, commercial manager for Shamrock Sales, Inc. Both contractors will respond to top questions from our listeners. Tune in to learn all you need to know to reduce pollution, address climate change, and plug in to the electrification movement where you live and work.

Guests:

Larry Waters is the Founder of Electrify My Home, LLC and is a 40-year veteran of the HVAC industry. Since 1994, Larry has focused on residential Heating and Air as a service technician and sales professional and in 2014, he shifted his focus to high-efficiency heat pump installations to replace gas. He has designed and installed over 400 electrification projects in the greater Bay area of California. Larry serves as an advisory board member of Gridworx and the Building Decarbonization Coalition. Larry is also a Building Performance Institute certified building analyst and earned a 2021 Eco leader award from Green Builder Magazine. 

Steve Kroh is Commercial Quotations Manager for Shamrock Sales Inc. a Manufacturers Rep firm in Denver, Colorado specializing in boilers, water heaters, pumps, expansion tanks, and controls for the Hydronic heating Industry. He has 25 years of experience in the field, and works with customers in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Montana.  

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Electrify My Home, LLC
• Shamrock Sales, Inc.
• Building Performance Institute
• Electrify Everything in Your Home: A Guide to Comfy, Healthy, Carbon-Free Living, by Joel Rosenberg – A Rewiring America Publication
• The Switch Is On

Russia’s unprovoked Ukraine invasion sent shockwaves across the world and shined a spotlight on the true costs of our global fossil fuel reliance, especially for the European Union (EU). The EU’s 27 members buy a quarter of their oil and more 40 percent of their gas from Russia, and EU households are facing high energy bills and accelerating impacts from the climate crisis.

On this episode of Electrify This!, host Sara Baldwin speaks with energy policy experts at the Regulatory Assistance Project and Agora Energiewende to explore how the EU can end its reliance on Russian gas and oil, achieve its climate goals, and ensure its consumers benefit from the transition. Tune in to learn how consumers can lead the way through electrification combined with a clean grid that puts the EU on a path to a more prosperous, safe, and peaceful future.

Guest Bios:
Michaela Holl is a Senior Associate at the independent thinktank, Agora Energiewende, working to influence EU clean energy policies. Prior to this, she worked as a policy analyst at the European Commission, the EU s executive arm for 16 years on a broad range of EU legislation from tobacco regulation to renewables and energy efficiency. She also worked as assistant to a Member of the European Parliament. Michaela holds a Master degree in European Economics from the College of Europe in Bruges and a Diploma in International Business and Cultural Studies.  She is also a visiting lecturer at Technical University Munich’s School on governance and co-host of the bimonthly Watt Matters Podcast. 

Jan Rosenow is a Principal and Director of European Programmes at the Regulatory Assistance Project and has several board appointments including the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the Coalition for Energy Savings and the Carbon Free Europe. Jan is also an Honorary Research Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute and has been appointed Special Advisor to the House of Commons’ inquiry into decarbonizing heating.  He was named one of the world’s Top 25 energy influencers and co-hosts the Watt Matters podcast.  

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Agora Energiewende
• Regulatory Assistance Project
• International Energy Agency Press Release, Energy saving actions by EU citizens could save enough oil to fill 120 super tankers and enough natural gas to heat 20 million homes (April 21, 2022)  
• International Energy Agency, A 10-Point Plan to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian Natural Gas (March 2022)
• Jan Rosenow and Michaela Holl, How Europe can rapidly reduce its gas dependency, Euractiv (February 25, 2022)  
• Watt Matters Podcast
• The perfect fit: Shaping the Fit for 55 package to drive a climate-compatible heat pump market, RAP, Agora, CLASP, GBPN, and Crux (March 2022)  

The hydrogen buzz is getting louder. Carbon-free hydrogen is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s strategy to achieve President Biden’s net-zero by 2050 target, and the bipartisan infrastructure law earmarked $8 billion for regional clean hydrogen hubs. Meanwhile, natural gas and electric utilities in more than a dozen states are proposing hydrogen-blending for use in buildings and natural gas plants. In this episode, energy equity advocates discuss which of these hydrogen applications have the most potential and which are the most problematic. You’ll also hear how hydrogen could harm environmental justice and frontline communities, as well as more promising and equitable solutions.

Guests:
Abbe Ramanan, Project Manager at Clean Energy States Alliance and Clean Energy Group. Abbe specializes in equitable low-income solar policy, managing the Solar with Justice: Connecting States and Communities project, and leading the Hydrogen Information and Public Education project. She also supports the Resilient Power Project to provide solar and battery storage technologies to the communities that need it most. Abbe holds a master’s in energy policy from Tufts University, and a bachelor’s in international studies from American University. 

Victor Davila, Community organizer and ACTION program manager at The Point Community Development Corporation. Victor has been a Bronx based community organizer for over 16 years and attended the University of Vermont. Victor is a co-founder of the environmental education skate group Eco Ryders and a member of the New York Renews organizing committee.

Daniel Chu, Energy Planner for the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. Daniel is an urban designer interested in civic involvement in the built environment design and preservation. He has experience working at NYC 2030 District focusing on building efficiency and heat pump retrofits in Brooklyn, and at Urban Design Forum reporting infrastructure maintenance and global zoning practices. He's held various positions with The New School, where he also received a Master of Science in Design and Urban Ecologies and a BA in Urban Studies.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

·       Clean Energy Group
·       The Point Community Development Corporation
·       New York City Environmental Justice Alliance & Peak Coalition 
·       Assessing the Viability of Hydrogen Proposals: Considerations for State Utility Regulators And Policymakers | Energy Innovation
·       Hydrogen Information and Public Education Project Page | Clean Energy Group
·       5 Reasons to Be Concerned About Green Hydrogen | Clean Energy Group
·       Hydrogen Heating & Cooking Would Cost Homeowners $100,000+ Extra Over 15 Years | Clean Technica
·       Event: Verge Electrify (July 26-29, 2022)

Did you know the gas that heats many of our buildings, cooks our food, and dries our clothes causes air pollution? Recent studies demonstrate the climate and health harms of burning gas indoors, particularly in our kitchens. Gas stoves can emit up to 1.3 percent of the gas as unburned methane—a powerful greenhouse gas—along with other health-damaging air pollutants. Fortunately, electrified stoves offer a physician- and chef-approved solution! This episode stirs up this hot topic with a pediatrician, a senior research scientist and a professional chef discussing ways we can all cook clean! 

Guest Bios:
Dr. Curtis Nordgaard is a pediatrician and is part of a group called PSE Healthy Energy, where he does research on natural gas and its implications for human health. Dr. Nordgaard holds two Master of Science degrees in Psychology and Biology from McMaster University, and a Medical Degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his residency training at the Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School combined training program in pediatrics. He also trains resident pediatricians at a community health center in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.

Dr. Eric Lebel is a Senior Scientist at PSE Healthy Energy, where he does research on emissions of methane and health-damaging air pollutants, including those from abandoned oil and gas wells and residential appliances. He has worked to develop new methods for quantifying emissions of methane and other pollutants throughout the state of California, authoring several research studies on the topic. Eric graduated from Stanford University with a PhD in Environmental Earth System Science.

Chef Christopher Galarza, Founder of Forward Dining Solutions LLC, is an entrepreneur, author, public speaker, and podcaster renowned for his work in kitchen electrification. He is the country’s foremost expert in commercial electric-kitchens, and he works with governments, manufacturers, brands, designers, and chefs to create lasting sustainable kitchens and culinary ecosystems. Chef Galarza has worked for Carnegie Melon University, Monterey Bay of Pittsburgh, and The Greenbrier of WV where he apprenticed under several Certified Master Chefs and culinary Olympians. 

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:
·       PSE Healthy Energy
·       Forward Dining Solutions
·       Did I Turn Off the Stove? Yes, but Maybe Not the Gas (New York Times)
·       Home is Where the Pipeline Ends: Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds Present in Natural Gas at the Point of the Residential End User
·       Measuring Methane and NOx Emissions from Gas Stoves
·       Building Decarbonization Practice Guide
·       The Electric Explainer: Key programs in the Inflation Reduction Act and what they mean for Americans

Note: This episode was recorded prior to the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes new incentives for electrification, including for induction and electric stoves.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is the most significant climate legislation in United States history—$370 billion in climate and clean energy investments could help cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions roughly 40 percent by 2030. The IRA will transportation and building electrification, invigorate the U.S. clean energy supply chain, and enhance U.S. global competitiveness. But, how will it help average households and consumers? What does it mean for worrkers and the  economy? And what's required to ensure successful implementation? Tune in to hear from two experts who will explain how consumers, workers, and the economy will benefit from IRA electrification provisions!

Guest Bios:

Jessica Eckdish is the Vice President of Legislation & Federal Affairs with the BlueGreen Alliance, where she directs the Alliance’s federal legislative, policy, and partnerships on climate, energy, and infrastructure issues. Prior to this role, she worked with the Sierra Club as Washington Representative, working on a range of federal issues including public health and clean air and water protections. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from UC Santa Barbara and an M.A. in Global Environmental Policy from the School of International Service at American University.

Mark Kresowik is a Senior Policy Director with the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) where he works at the local, state, utility, and federal levels to accelerate ambition for improving energy efficiency and center those most historically overburdened and underserved in our communities. Previously, Mark managed federal and international policy for RMI’s Carbon-Free Buildings Program and led clean energy campaigns with the Sierra Club. Mark graduated with honors from the University of Iowa.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act: A Roadmap for State Electricity Policy (Energy Innovation)
• Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act: A Roadmap for Federal and State Transportation Policy (Energy Innovation)
• Fact Sheet: Clean Energy Tax Credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (BGA)
• Fact Sheet: Clean Manufacturing Investments in the Inflation Reduction Act (BGA)
• Fact Sheet: Clean Vehicle Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (BGA)
• Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Resource Center (BGA)
• A User Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act (BGA)
• Home Energy Upgrade Incentives: Programs in the Inflation Reduction Act and Other Recent Federal Laws (ACEEE)

At the COP27 Climate Change Conference, governments representing more half of the global economy announced an action plan to speed the decarbonization of power, road transport, steel, hydrogen, and agriculture. The U.S., Canada, Germany, Japan, and other nations backed a set of 25 "Priority Actions" to decarbonize industry, including scaled deployment of net-zero industrial plants and stimulating global demand for low-carbon industrial goods.

So, what does that COP27 agreement mean for industrial stakeholders? The U.S. industrial sector is ripe for innovation and exciting electrification advancements are paving the way toward decarbonization. This episode discusses industrial heating innovations and outlines why the time is right for industrial corporations to implement the technologies that reduce emissions at scale.

Guest Bios:
Jeffrey Rissman is the Director of Industry with Energy Innovation. Jeff leads the organization’s work on technologies and policies to achieve net-zero GHG emissions from the industrial sector. He is also the creator of the Energy Policy Simulator, a computer model quantifying cost and emissions impacts of various clean energy policies. Jeff holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from UNC Chapel Hill, and a B.A. in International Relations with honors from Stanford University.

Jibran Zuberi is a Research Scholar with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has an engineering background and research experience of working on topics related to industrial energy efficiency, integrated energy systems, and emissions reduction. His current research focuses on developing decarbonization strategies for industrial systems, understanding emerging technologies, and RD&D opportunities. He was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Environmental Sciences at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. 

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Electrification of U.S. Manufacturing With Industrial Heat Pumps, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Global Efficiency Intelligence (Nov 2022) 
• Decarbonizing Low-Temperature Industrial Heat in the U.S., Energy Innovation (Oct 2022)
• Energy Policy Simulator, Energy Innovation 
• COP 27 Climate Change Conference https://unfccc.int and The Breakthrough Agenda: A Master Plan to Accelerate Decarbonization of Five Major Sectors 
• U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Decarbonization Offices

Three national climate policy stars kick off Season 3 to recap 2022 successes, predict what’s in store for 2023 on the policy front, and outline how the Inflation Reduction Act will benefit states, households, and the climate. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor of Florida, and Kelly Speakes-Backman of Invenergy share their insights on how we made major progress last year and why we can expect an action-packed year ahead!  

Guest Bios
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (New Mexico) has served in the Senate since 2012 and sits on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources, Appropriations, Intelligence, and Joint Economic Committees. Senator Heinrich is focused on creating the jobs of the future and confronting the climate crisis. He served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and four years as an Albuquerque City Council, serving as City Council President. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri.

U.S. House of Representatives Kathy Castor (Florida) is Tampa Bay’s voice in the U.S. Congress. She was elected in 2006 and represents Florida’s 14th Congressional district, and is the first woman to represent Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in Congress. She serves as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Chair of the former Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. She previously served as a Hillsborough County Commissioner, Chair of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, and President of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers. She holds degrees from Emory University and Florida State University College of Law.

Kelly Speakes-Backman is the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs with   Invenergy, where she leads communications, government affairs, and marketing activities. She previously served as the Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy, where she oversaw the planning and execution of the organization’s $3.2B portfolio of activities in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation. She also served as the first CEO of the Energy Storage Association and Commissioner of the Maryland Public Service Commission. Kelly was honored in 2019 by The Cleanie Awards as Woman of the Year.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• White House Fact Sheet on the Inflation Reduction Act & White House Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook
• House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Archive Website  
• Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act Report Series, Energy Innovation
• Infrastructure and Investment in Jobs Act Resources for Local Governments 
• Energy Innovation Careers - We're Hiring!

The Inflation Reduction Act allocates billions for home and building upgrades over the next ten years; these rebates and incentives can cut energy bills, reduce energy burdens, improve public health, and slash emissions, but state and tribal governments must work quickly to develop and implement well-designed programs to realize their full potential. This episode features energy policy researchers Dr. Yunus Kinkhabwala of PSE Healthy Energy and Dr. Arjun Makhijani of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, as well as heat pump and energy efficiency expert Dana Fischer with Mitsubishi Electric US discussing program design, data-driven approaches, and strategies that help people, especially low- to moderate income households and underserved communities, benefit from new funding. 

Guest Bios

Dr. Arjun Makhijani, PhD is the President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research holds a Ph.D. in engineering (specialization: nuclear fusion) from the University of California at Berkeley. He has produced many studies and articles on nuclear fuel cycle related issues. He is the principal author of the first study  on energy conservation potential in the U.S. economy. Most recently, Dr, Makhijani has authored Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy (IEER Press), the first analysis of a transition to a U.S. economy based completely on renewable energy. He is the principal editor of Nuclear Wastelands and the principal author of Mending the Ozone Hole, both published by MIT Press.

Dr. Yunus Kinkhabwala, PhD is a Senior Data Scientist, PSE Healthy Energy, where he develops sophisticated data-driven models to guide decision making and policy. Projects include optimizing the geospatial siting of solar and storage resilience hubs for vulnerable populations and estimating detailed household energy usages and costs to investigate impacts of policy scenarios aimed at improving energy affordability for low-income households. He received his PhD in Applied Physics from Cornell University as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and holds a BS in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Dana Fischer is the Director of Regulatory Strategy at Mitsubishi Electric US and has been with Mitsubishi Electric for 5 years working with individual homeowners and utility and industry organization and to the US Secretary of Energy. He was the Program Manager of the Home Energy Savings Program at Efficiency Maine and established the still active residential rebate and loan programs for weatherization, conventional heating systems, and heat pumps. He also has background in municipal finance, solar thermal, and ultra-high purity manufacturing.

To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources: 

• Energy Affordability in Maryland: Integrating Public Health, Equity, and Climate | PSE Healthy Energy (February 2023)
• Mitsubishi Electric http://us.mitsubishielectric.com
• PSE Healthy Energy https://www.psehealthyenergy.org
• Institute for Energy and Environmental Research https://ieer.org
• Efficiency Maine Heat Pump Program https://www.efficiencymaine.com/about-heat-pumps/

Federal and state policies are reshaping how people and goods travel, while cutting harmful greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants from cars and trucks. Vehicle electrification is accelerating thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and state policies. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s newly proposed tailpipe pollution standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles could transform our transportation future. But how will these new policies impact the average consumer and the auto industry? Host Sara Baldwin speaks with clean transportation experts, Thomas Boylan of the Zero Emission Transportation Association, and Trisha DelloIacono of CALSTART to discuss the U.S. electric vehicle market, exciting supply chain developments, and how to ensure a smooth transition.   

Guest Bios
Thomas Boylan, Regulatory Director, Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA). Thomas joined ZETA after nearly 7 years at the US EPA, working with the Office of Transportation and Air Quality and the Office of Congressional Affairs. His work at EPA covered a range of transportation-related topics including light-duty vehicle emission standards, heavy-duty vehicle emission standards, and implementation of the renewable fuel standard. He also helped facilitate EPA’s engagements with Congress during passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Thomas holds a BS in Geology from Virginia Tech and an MS in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University.

Trisha DelloIacono, Federal Policy Director, CALSTART Trisha leads efforts in Congress and at key agencies such as EPA, DOE, and DOT, while providing support to the US EV Battery Leadership Coalition. She also leads the Federal Policy Action Group. Prior to joining CALSTART, she ed the American Apparel & Footwear Association's sustainability and product safety initiatives and was the chief liaison to Product Safety Council and Environmental Committee. DelloIacono spent the previous decade with Moms Clean Air Force/Environmental Defense Fund, working with Members of Congress to advocate for policies that protect children’s health, with a special focus on electric vehicle policy. She has an MBA and a BS in Marketing. She serves on the board for the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health in NYC and is a member of the Women of EVs global organization. 

To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources: 

• Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) 
• ZETA White Papers
• CALSTART
• EPA’s Proposed Rule: Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles
• EPA’s Proposed Rule: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3

States have been long-time leaders in the transportation electrification space, and more states than ever before are taking action to accelerate transportation electrification with the adoption and implementation of EV-friendly policies, regulations, and programs. This episode of Electrify This! explores what states are doing to support robust EV markets, attract the EV supply chain, and ensure more equitable EV access. With guest Peter Huether with the Transportation Program with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) we’ll discuss the findings from the 2023 State Transportation Electrification Scorecard and learn which state policy combinations have the greatest impact on the adoption of clean, all-electric cars and trucks. We’ll also hear from Nevada state legislator, Assemblyman Howard Watts, about the world of state policymaking, and the challenges and opportunities that policymakers face when working to advance clean transportation in their states. 

Guest Bios: 

• Peter Huether, is a Senior Research Associate with the Transportation Program at ACEEE where he leads research and analysis, with a focus on light-duty fuel efficiency and electric vehicles. Peter works on promoting equitable access to electric vehicles and leads the annual life-cycle emissions analysis of light-duty vehicles for ACEEE’s Greenercars.org. He was also a lead author of the 2023 State Transportation Electrification Scorecard. Peter holds a master of science in public policy and management from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor of arts in economics and global environmental change and sustainability from Johns Hopkins University. He joined ACEEE in 2020.
•  Assemblyman Howard Watts of District 15 of Nevada has been serving in the Nevada Assembly since 2018 and has dedicated his career to advancing policies that preserve the environment, protect consumers, and ensure dignity for historically marginalized communities. In his time as a legislator, he has successfully passed laws to improve water conservation, fight climate change, expand voting access and civil rights, protect public lands, and promote racial equity. When he is not a legislator, Howard owns and operates a small public relations business. 

To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources:

• ACEEE https://www.aceee.org/ and 2023 State Transportation Electrification Scorecard https://www.aceee.org/electric-vehicle-scorecard
•  White House Justice40 Initiative https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/
• State Plans for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Joint Office of Energy and Transportation https://driveelectric.gov/state-plans/

A year after the landmark Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became law, the federal government and states are moving quickly to deploy $8.8 billion in rebates for home energy efficiency and electrification projects. The goal is to help American households save money on energy bills, upgrade to clean energy equipment, improve energy efficiency, and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution. The IRA also includes $200 million for the State-Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants to help states train, test, and certify residential workforce key to successful implementation of the rebate programs. These programs will save households up to a $1 billion on energy bills each year and support over 50,000 U.S. jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As the DOE moves quickly to get funds out the door, what do states need to know about the ins-and-outs of the programs? What elements are must-haves for success? And what can states do ensure all people benefit? Tune in to find out!

Guest Bios: 

• Karen Zelmar is a program manager in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs. She joined DOE in 2023 and currently leads the IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs. Previously, Karen worked as the Senior Vice President of Network Planning at Volta Charging and as the Director of Clean Energy Programs at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), where she leveraged her experience in the technology industry while pursuing her passion for energy and sustainability. Karen has previously held leadership positions at multiple technology providers including AOL and Navteq, before moving into the energy industry. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University’s Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and a MBA from the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
• Mary MacPherson is a program manager in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs. She joined DOE in 2022 and manages several energy efficiency workforce development programs for states, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and their partners. Previously, Mary worked at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy for almost a decade. In her former role, she conducted research and technical assistance on inclusive workforce development programs, rural energy efficiency, and state efficiency policies. She has a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources:

• DOE Announcement of Home Energy Rebate Programs  
• IRA Home Efficiency Rebates (DOE)
• IRA Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (DOE)
• State Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants (DOE)
• Weatherization Assistance Program

2023 was an action-packed year for the clean energy transition and electrification. From the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to myriad actions on EVs, buildings, hydrogen, and renewable energy, 2023 was no sleeper! What were the top electrification headlines of the year?  And what policy developments will have the biggest impact on the year ahead? Tune in to hear this all-star line-up of guests analyze the trends and discuss leading insights of the year!

Guest Bios 

• Stephen Lacey is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Latitude Media, an integrated news, research, and events company focused on the new frontiers of clean energy and climate technology.  He hosts The Carbon Copy, a narrative-news show about the business trends shaping the energy transition. He is a veteran business journalist, editor and audio producer who has been covering the energy transition for nearly two decades, serving as the editor-in-chief of Greentech Media, and was the founding producer and host of The Energy Gang podcast. 
• Julia Pyper is the VP of Public Affairs at GoodLeap, a leading financial technology company focused on accelerating the deployment of sustainable home solutions, where she oversees government relations and policy-related communications. She's a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the host and creator of Political Climate. She has spent a decade working as in journalism, serving as a senior editor for Greentech Media and a climate policy reporter for E&E News. She holds degrees from McGill University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She was named a “30 Under 30” awardee by GreenBiz (2017) and is a recipient of the National Press Club Vivian Award.
• Dr. Henry McKoy, Jr.  is the Director of the U.S. DOE's Office of State and Community Energy Programs. He served on the faculty at North Carolina Central University School of Business where he led the entrepreneurship program, with additional appointments at Duke, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Harvard.  He is a former banking executive, entrepreneur, and former Assistant Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.  He holds degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School (B.S.), Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment (M.S.), and UNC-Chapel Hill’s Department of City and Regional Planning (PhD). 

To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources

• Latitude Media
• Good Leap
• U.S. Department of Energy Office of State and Community Energy Programs

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Season 4 of Electrify This!  kicks off the new year to unpack a big question: “What’s really needed to cut U.S. emissions faster this decade?” Guests Ed Rightor and Sue Tierney are co-authors of a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine titled Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States: Technology, Policy, and Societal Dimensions, which evaluates how we can successfully implement current decarbonization policies and what else is  needed to reach U.S. emission targets in 2030. Tune in to learn more about the critical role that electrification will play in achieving these goals and what policymakers should consider in the transition to an equitable, climate safe future.  

Guest Bios 

Ed Rightor is the Principal of Rightor Consulting. As an independent consultant, Ed supports his clients in the areas of industrial decarbonization, identification of unmet market needs, and sustainability.  Previously, he served as the Director of the Center for Clean Energy Innovation at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and the Director of the Industrial Program for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  Ed also held several leadership roles at Dow Chemical during his 31-year career. He earned a PhD in chemistry from Michigan State University and a BS in chemistry from Marietta College.

 Susan Tierney is a Senior Advisor at Analysis Group and an expert on energy and environmental economics, regulation, and policy, particularly in the electric and gas industries. She has consulted to businesses, federal and state governments, regional grid operators, tribes, environmental groups, foundations, and other organizations on energy markets, economic and environmental regulation and strategy, and energy projects.  She has testified before Congress, state and federal regulatory agencies, and federal and state courts.  Previously, she served as the Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Secretary of Environmental Affairs in Massachusetts, a Commissioner at the MA Department of Public Utilities, Chairman of the Board of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, and Executive Director of the Energy Facilities Siting Council. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in regional planning at Cornell University. 

To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources:

•  Analysis Group
• Rightor Consulting 
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (Report) – Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States: Technology, Policy, and Societal Dimensions 
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 
• Innovation Amplifiers: Getting More Bang for the Buck on GHG Reductions (Information Technology & Innovation Fund) 

** We want to hear from you! Please take our brief survey and give us your ideas, thoughts, and suggestions for the podcast! Be a part of shaping this show. 
**Contact us at electrifythis@energyinnovation.org. 

Did you know that industrial activity around the world is responsible for one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? In the U.S. alone, direct emissions from the industrial sector make up 23% of our total GHG emissions. The industrial sector is also essential for producing the tools and products we need for our daily lives – from food and beverage products, textiles and paper, steel and concrete, and the technologies necessary to tackle climate change, like wind turbines and batteries. Yet, despite its importance to our economy and its omnipresence in our lives, efforts to reduce industrial emissions are lagging compared with other sectors.

This episode features a conversation with Jeffrey Rissman, the author of a new book, Zero-Carbon Industry: Transformative Technologies and Policies to Achieve Sustainable Prosperity.  We explore the wide world of industry and the technologies, policies, and market mechanisms necessary to reduce the industrial sector’s emissions for a climate safe future. Join us for the first in a three-part series on the topic.  

Guest Bio:

Jeffrey Rissman is the Senior Director of Industry at Energy Innovation, where he leads the company’s work on technologies and policies to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the industry sector. He is the author of Zero-Carbon Industry: Transformative Technologies and Policies to Achieve Sustainable Prosperity  (2024) and coauthor of Designing Climate Solutions: A Policy Guide for Low-Carbon Energy  (2018). In 2024, Jeffrey was appointed by Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to serve on the Department of Energy’s Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee. 

Jeff is also the creator of the Energy Policy Simulator, an open-source computer model that quantifies the effects of various energy and environmental policies; versions of the simulator have been developed for an ever-growing list of countries and regions, in partnership with in-country government agencies or NGOs, accounting for more than 50 percent of the world’s emissions. 

Previously, Jeff worked on policies supporting R&D for clean energy and efficiency technologies for the American Energy Innovation Council. He holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering and a Masters in City and Regional Planning, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a Research Fellow for the University of North Carolina Institute for the Environment, where he studied aircraft emissions for the Federal Aviation Administration. Jeff also holds a B.A. in International Relations with honors from Stanford University.

Order the book and get a 20% discount with code CUP20: 

• Zero-Carbon Industry: Transformative Technologies and Policies to Achieve Sustainable Prosperity 

To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources: 

• Designing Climate Solutions: A Policy Guide for Low-Carbon Energy  
• Energy Innovation’s Industry Program
• Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee
• Energy Policy Simulator

Transitioning the industrial sector to run on clean energy through electrification is a critical strategy to decarbonize one of our economy’s largest-emitting sectors. But electric utilities and the power grid must be able to meet increased demand from electrified industries. Effectively managing electrified load from industry requires new strategies and reliance on tried-and-true methods. This episode features Anna Johnson of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) to discuss industrial electrification and its implications for the grid, utilities, and states.

Guest Bios: 
Anna Johnson is a Senior Researcher with the Industry Program for the ACEEE, where she conducts research and analysis to support industrial decarbonization efforts. Prior to joining ACEEE, Anna worked at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, in the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program as a conservation planner and communication specialist.  Anna earned a PhD in geography and environmental systems from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a BA in liberal arts from St. John’s College.

Electrifying News: 

•  Biden-Harris Administration Announces $20 Billion in Grants to Mobilize Private Capital and Deliver Clean Energy and Climate Solutions to Communities Across America (U.S. EPA)
• Consumers may soon get access to a share of $8.8 billion in Inflation Reduction Act home energy rebates (CNBC) 
• Biden-Harris Administration finalized the strongest-ever pollution standards for cars that position U.S. companies and workers to lead the clean vehicle future, protect public health, address the climate crisis, save drivers money (U.S. EPA)
• New Regulations for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Commercial Trucks & Buses (U.S. EPA)
• Biden administration finalizes new rules for power plants in one of its most significant climate actions to-date (CNN)
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces $6 Billion to Transform America's Industrial Sector, Strengthen Domestic Manufacturing, and Slash Planet-Warming Emissions (U.S. DOE)

Must-read resources:

• Enabling Industrial Demand Flexibility: Aligning Industrial Consumer and Grid Benefits (ACEEE 2024)
• Electrification with Clean Power Is Key for a Growing, Competitive Industrial Sector (ACEEE 2024)
• Meeting Growing Electricity Demand Without Gas (Energy Innovation 2024)

In the last installment of our three-part series on industrial decarbonization, we explore industrial sector decarbonization and the role electrification can play in achieving net zero goals for a stable climate. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with Blaine Collison of the Renewable Thermal Collaborative about the barriers to electrifying industrial heat processes in the U.S., and the policy, regulatory, and market changes that could put the country on track to electrify more industries.

Guest Bio:
Blaine Collison is the Executive Director of the Renewable Thermal Collaborative and the Senior Vice President at David Gardiner and Associates, where he helps companies and institutions advance renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change initiatives, including industrial decarbonization. Previously he served as the managing director of marketing and partnerships at Altenex, an Edison Energy company, where he led the development of corporate sustainability services, communications, and strategic partnerships. He also served 17 years with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, with multiple roles in the Energy Star program and a decade leading the Green Power Partnership.
 
Electrifying News: 

• The Race to Decarbonize Heavy Industry Heats Up  (Inside Climate News, May 2024)
•  Massachusetts kicks off first pilot to shift gas utilities to clean heat (Canary Media, June 2024)
•  How heat pumps can turn wasted energy into low-carbon whisky (Canary Media, June 2024)

 To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources:

•  Electrification Action Plan (Renewable Thermal Collaborative, 2024)
•  Renewable Thermal Collaborative
•  RTC Summit (Sept 30-Oct 1, 2024)

Did you know that nearly a third of households in the U.S. face an uphill climb to drive and benefit from an EV simply because they live in multifamily housing? This is not only a climate and public health issue, but also an equity issue. Research shows that access to reliable, convenient, and affordable EV charging is one of the biggest factors for consumers considering owning or leasing an EV. But are the public charging networks sufficient to meet the need for those without at-home charging? How do different cities stack up when it comes to public charging? And what actions should policymakers take to ensure a smooth road ahead? In this episode of Electrify This! host Sara Baldwin speaks with Ingrid Malmgren, Senior Director of Policy with Plug in America, to discuss the state of EV charging for people living in multifamily housing, key findings from new Energy Innovation research, and innovative approaches states and cities are taking to solving the EV charging gap. Tune in today to learn more! 

Guest Bio: 

Ingrid has over a decade of experience advancing sustainable energy and transportation electrification through research, utility regulatory proceedings, and legislative advocacy. She began to focus on EVs in 2015, working to demonstrate the benefits of EVs to consumers, the economy, the environment, and the electric grid. Before joining Plug In America, she worked as a senior analyst at Cadmus Group, a lobbyist in the Vermont Statehouse, and a transportation policy manager at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation.  

Electrifying News:  

• NYC looks to kick its curbside EV-charging plans into second gear (Canary Media), 09/09/24
• Demand flexibility programs ‘need to evolve’ as utilities shift to winter peaking: LBNL report (Utility Dive), 10/09/24
• Decarbonize Your Life (Heatmap News), 09/23/24
• Major Ohio cities aim to cut building emissions with voluntary program (Canary Media), 09/18/24  

To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources:

• The State of Electric Vehicle Charging for Multifamily Housing (Energy Innovation), October 2024
• The Home Charging Experience (Plug In America), January 2024
• EV Building Codes Toolkit (Plug in America)
• 2024 EV Driver Survey (Plug In America)
• The Public Charging Experience (Plug In America), May 2024
• U.S. Department of Transportation, Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Recipients
• The 2030 National Charging Network: Estimating U.S. Light-Duty Demand for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (NREL), June 2023     
• U.S. Department of Energy, Tax Credits for EVs and Charging Infrastructure

In this special valentine to the electric grid, Electrify This! host Sara Baldwin speaks with grid expert, Ric O’Connell of GridLab, about a topic front of mind for more people, utilities, and policymakers around the world: grid reliability. Demand for electricity is on the rise after decades of relatively flat load growth as more end-uses seek to connect to the grid. Simultaneously, the grid’s portfolio is diversifying as more utilities and states integrate more renewable energy, energy storage, and other clean energy technologies in the race to reduce climate emissions and stabilize the climate. While this transition has been underway for some time, converging factors are impacting the grid and uncertainty looms on the horizon. In this episode, we explore the myriad issues facing the grid and what policies and practices are needed to build a resilient, reliable, affordable clean grid to power the future.  

About the guest: 

Ric O’Connell is the founding executive director of GridLab, where he leads a team of experts to provide comprehensive technical grid expertise to policy makers and advocates. A recognized leader in renewable energy technology and policy, Ric has provided engineering support for more than 8 GW of utility scale solar projects worldwide. Ric also served as a consultant with Black & Veatch for 12 years where helped build a global renewable energy consulting practice and led numerous high-impact policy studies. Ric has a BSEE from Duke University and a Master’s in Renewable Energy Policy from CU Boulder.

Electrifying News:

• 2025 Renewable Energy Outlook: Full speed ahead as second Trump administration begins(Utility Dive, January 21, 2025)
• Uncertainty over Trump’s electric vehicle policies clouds 2025 forecast for carmakers (AP News, January 9, 2025)
• U.S. solar cell production resumes for first time since 2019, as solar module manufacturing sets record in Q3 (Wood McKenzie and Solar Energy Industries Association, December 2024) 

To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources: 

• Grid Lab – website: https://gridlab.org
• Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG) website https://www.esig.energy/
• Surplus Interconnection Policy Explainer (Grid Lab)
• The Future of Operational Grid Reliability Can Be Bright with Clean Energy (Energy Innovation, Real Talk on Reliability Series) 
• Explained: Fundamentals of Power Grid Reliability and Clean Electricity (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
• Meeting Growing Electricity Demand Without Gas (Energy Innovation)
• What’s the impact of artificial intelligence on energy demand? (Hannah Ritchie, Sustainability by Numbers, November 2024) 
• AI and energy: The big picture (Ben Levitt, S&P Global, December 2024)

Introduction Electrify This!  - a new podcast devoted to the theme of electrification for decarbonization. Electrify This! features electrification experts from around the world who are advancing the transition of all sectors of our economy to 100 percent clean electricity. Hosted by Electrification Policy Director, Sara Baldwin, the show will explore the policy, regulatory, and market issues surrounding electrification of transportation, buildings, and industry, and demystifies complex issues to better understand the challenges and identify scalable solutions. 

Preventing the worst impacts of climate change requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions economywide. Electrification – replacing the technologies and systems that still run on fossil fuels, such as gas and oil, with alternatives that run on electricity, like electric vehicles, heat pumps, and induction stoves – is a proven way to transition away from highly polluting fuels to a clean energy economy without compromising reliability, affordability, comfort, or economic growth. 

We have the technologies and capabilities to run the electricity grid on 90 carbon-free resources (such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, distributed energy resources, nuclear, demand response, etc.), and if we “electrify everything,” we can leverage this clean grid to drive deep emissions reductions across every sector of the economy.

Electrify This! investigates promising electrification work underway in nationally and in states and communities across the country, highlighting what policymakers, regulators, businesses, and individuals should know and do to support economy-wide electrification. 

In the inaugural episode of Electrify This!, host Sara Baldwin speaks with three experts to explore the burgeoning movement to electrify everything as a core strategy to decarbonize all sectors of our economy. Guests will highlight the most important policy, regulatory, and market issues surrounding electrification of transportation and buildings, point out what leading states are doing right, and provide insight into opportunities for expanded electrification under a new Administration. We’ll also talk about what decision-makers can do to ensure the movement to electrify is equitable for all. Want to know what “beneficial electrification” means? Plug in to find out!  Electrify This! is an Energy Innovation original podcast. 

Guests: 

• Rose McKinney-James, Managing Principal of Energy Works LLC and McKinney-James and Associates, and a former Commissioner with the Nevada Public Service Commission; 
• Sue Gander, Managing Director of Electric Vehicle Policy with the Electrification Coalition and former Director of the Energy, Infrastructure and Environment Division with the National Governors’ Association; 
• Mike Henchen, Principal of Building Electrification with the Rocky Mountain Institute and a former US Navy Officer.

Links/Resources: 

• Regulatory Solutions for Building Decarbonization, Rocky Mountain Institute, 2020
• Electrification Coalition
• The Energy Within Us: An Illuminating Perspective from Five Trailblazers, by Catherine Greenspa, contributing author, Rose McKinney-James 

It’s holiday time after a hard year. More than ever, the need for healthy homes is exceedingly clear. It’s true what they say and true what you hear: Nearly 90 million households burn fossil fuels on site, and that’s just not right! Greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants make our stoves, heaters and dryers quite a nuisance! Our climate and health are taking a hit - we’ve got to quit. Entrenched fossil interests and weak building codes keeping us hooked on fuels is complicity – the Grinches don’t want our homes to run on clean electricity. 

But fear not, dear podcasters, we’ve good news to share! A movement afoot is up to the fight to clean up our appliances and make homes just right. Electrify This! will show you what’s in store. Three building experts will share their tomes: how to build better buildings and healthier homes. Who are these Who’s from Whoville leading the way? And how will they save the day? You’ll have to tune in – we won’t give it away!

This holiday-themed episode of Electrify This! looks at how our homes and buildings impact climate and public health, and what can be done to shift the building sector away from fossil fuels: building and energy codes; policies; market forces, consumer decisions, and more. And we’ll share handy home electrification tips and electrifying holiday gift ideas.  

Guests:

·      Panama Bartholomy, Director, Building Decarbonization Coalition 

·      Sean Armstrong, Managing Principal, Redwood Energy

·      Kim Cheslak, Associate Director, New Buildings Institute  

Related Links: 

·      https://newbuildings.org  and NBI’s Carbon Neutral Codes webinar (1/28/20, 1-2 EST)

·      https://www.buildingdecarb.org

·      https://redwoodenergy.net  

What did you stock up on in 2020? Toilet paper? Cleaning products? Furniture for your permanent staycation? We rarely consider the energy needed to make all those products, but from those we use daily to the steel and concrete that build our world, nearly everything in our economy comes from industrial processes. And those industrial processes use a lot of energy, and – at least for now – rely in large part on fossil fuels. America’s industrial sector was responsible for more than a third of national emissions in 2019, and that trend will only grow as our economy recovers. Achieving a net-zero future requires decarbonizing the industrial sector, but how do we solve such a large challenge? On the latest Electrify This! episode, host Sara Baldwin speaks with experts unlocking industry electrification to explore what it will take to decarbonize industry, which policies can help accelerate deployment of electric technologies, how the Biden Administration and Congress can revitalize American industry, and whichindustries stand to benefit! 

Guests: 

Ali Hasanbeigi, Ph.D., is the Founder, CEO, and Research Director at Global Efficiency Intelligence (GEI), an energy and climate change mitigation consulting firm based in Florida. Dr. Hasanbeigi has over 15 years of international experience working on industrial energy efficiency and decarbonization of the manufacturing sector. Prior to founding GEI, he worked for over seven years as a scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He is the lead author of the forthcoming report titled "Electrification of U.S. Manufacturing."

Edward Rightor, Ph.D., is the Director of the Industrial Program with the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (or ACEEE). In this role, Dr. Rightor develops and leads the strategic vision for the industrial sector, shapes the research and policy agenda, and convenes stakeholders. He has also held several leadership roles at Dow Chemical during his 31-year career, serving as the director of strategic projects in Dow’s Environmental Technology Center and the facilitator of Dow’s Corporate Water Strategy Team. Working across global industrial associations, he spearheaded a roadmap for the chemical industry on paths to reduce energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. He is an author of numerous reports, including the most recent ACEEE report, “Beneficial Electrification in Industry.” 

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources: 

• Electrifying U.S. Industry: Technology and Process-Based Approaches to Decarbonization
• Global Efficiency Intelligence, Electrification of Manufacturing website
• Beneficial Electrification of Industry (ACEEE, July 2020)
• Technologies and Policies to Decarbonize Global Industry: Review and Assessment of Mitigation Drivers Through 2070 (Science Direct, May 2020)
• Cutting U.S. Industrial Emissions to Near-Zero by 2050 would boost GDP 3.3%, Create 5 Million Jobs (Forbes, December 2020)

Electric vehicles have driven onto the front page of news from GM’s announcement to exclusively offer EVs by 2035, President Biden’s Executive Order calling for an all-electric federal fleet by 2035, and a handful of U.S. states and other countries announcing plans to phase out gas-powered vehicle sales on or before 2035. But even with more than 1 million EVs on U.S. roads, the transportation sector is our largest source of climate pollution, responsible for nearly a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly half of all Americans live in counties with unhealthy ozone and particle pollution, and more than 20,000 die prematurely every year from transportation pollutants. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions are especially vulnerable. Communities of color continue to bear a disproportionate burden from traffic-related pollution. As the grid decarbonizes, transportation electrification offers a win-win solution for climate, consumers, equity, and health. Electrify This! explores how to address clean transportation transition challenges, expand electric mobility options in an equitable way, and shift clean transportation into high gear.

Guests: 

• Shruti Vaidyanathan, Transportation Program Director, ACEEE. With 13 years’ experience in transportation efficiency issues, Shruti  oversees transportation research and state policies to further transportation electrification. Shruti holds a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University and a B.A. from Grinnell College. 
• Alvaro Sanchez, Environmental Equity Director, The Greenlining Institute where he leads a team that develops policies to improve public health, catalyze economic opportunity, and enrich environmental quality for low-income communities and communities of color.  Alvaro holds a Master of Planning degree from the University of Southern California. 
• Pallavi Madakasira, Director, Clean Energy Sector, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) where she helps shape and lead efforts to ensure the state’s long-term competitiveness in the clean energy sector, overseeing grant programs and the development of initiatives to create green jobs. Pallavi holds a Master’s Degree in Physics from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Related Links: 

Greenlining Institute: California Must Prioritize Transportation Equity & A Community of Practice for Equitable Electric Mobility 

ACEEE: ACEEE State Transportation Electrification Scorecard 

NJEDA: New Jersey Economic Development Authority 

The Polar Vortex of February 2021 caused enduring blackouts throughout Texas and disruptions to electricity grids across multiple states – yet another devastating example of how extreme weather combined with poor grid planning in the face of climate change is costing lives and wreaking havoc on communities. Increasingly frequent climate change-fueled events are creating new threats to our power system just as more homes and vehicles plug into the grid in the move to electrify everything and reduce climate pollution.

Climate change adaptation requires prioritizing resilience in our homes, communities, and the grid to reduce the financial and human costs of its impacts. This episode of Electrify This! explores urgent questions facing climate resilience in the electrified future including: What exactly is resilience, and how can we make it a priority? How can communities and individual households be make themselves more resilient as they electrify? And what’s really needed to support collective and equitable climate resilience in the clean, electrified energy future? 

Guests:
Karl Rábago, Principal with Rábago Energy, LLC. Karl is a nationally recognized leader and innovator in electricity and energy law, policy, and regulation. Karl has over thirty years of energy-related experience, serving as the Executive Director of the Pace Energy and Climate Center, Vice President for Distributed Energy Services for Austin Energy, Public Utility Commissioner of Texas, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy, and Assistant Law Professor for the US military Academy. He holds degrees from Pace University School of Law, the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School, University of Texas Schoool of Law, and Texas A&M University. 

Jonathon Monken, Principal at Converge Strategies, LLC, a consulting company focusing on the intersection of clean energy, resilience, and national security. Jonathon brings 18 years of experience working state and local governments, private sector, and military partners to develop solutions around the advancement of whole community security and resilience. He previously served as the Senior Director of System Resilience and Strategic Coordination for PJM Interconnection and the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. He is a Major in the U.S. Army and holds an MBA from Northwestern University and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point.  

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources: 

• Why Local Solar for All Costs Less: A New Roadmap for the Lowest Cost Grid (Local Solar for All Coalition, December 2020) 
• The Value of Resilience for Distributed Energy Resources (Converge Strategies for the National Association of Regulatory Public Utilities Commissioners, November 2019) 
• Reimagining Grid Resilience in the Energy Transition (Rocky Mountain Institute, July 2020)

Register for VERGE Electrify, a complimentary online event (May 25-26, 2021) that convenes leaders to  catalyze the electrify-everything movement.  Register here: http://bit.ly/3sodlnh  

April 2021 was a milestone month of for clean energy, climate, and electrification: The Biden administration unveiled the American Jobs Plan, convened a Leaders Summit on Climate, and announced the U.S. climate goal to reduce our climate emissions 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Because decarbonizing the transportation sector is necessary to achieve these goals, the Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, and General Services Administration announced new programs and funding to rapidly scale deployment of EVs and charging infrastructure nationwide. 

Bolstering these efforts, two landmark transportation electrification reports hit the streets – the 2035 2.0 report series, released by a team from the University of California, Berkeley, GridLab, and Energy Innovation, show what it really means to achieve 100 percent EV Sales by 2035. In the first of our three part series on transportation electrification, host Sara Baldwin discusses the report’s findings with the two of the co-authors, and why widespread accelerated transportation electrification would bring major benefits to consumers, the economy, and the climate.

Guests: 

Dr. Nikit Abhyankar, Senior Scientist at the Center for Environmental Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley & Scientist with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He regularly advises national and state governments, regulators, and utilities in multiple countries on designing clean energy policies and programs. Nikit has conducted extensive research and policy analysis on renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and energy access. Nikit holds a Ph.D. in Environment and Resources from Stanford University.

Taylor McNair is the Program Manager at GridLab, where he is responsible for the coordination, management, and execution of GridLab’s technical projects. Taylor works with GridLab’s team of experts to provide comprehensive technical grid expertise to policymakers and advocates. Prior to GridLab, Taylor worked at Bright Power Inc., a leading provider of energy management services throughout the U.S. Taylor graduated from Emory University with a BBA from the Goizueta Business School and a double major in Environmental Sciences. 

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources: 

• 2035 Report 2.0: Plummeting Costs and Dramatic Improvements in Batteries Can Accelerate Our Clean Transportation Future (UC Berkeley, GridLab, and Energy Innovation, April 2021)
• Accelerating Clean, Electrified Transportation by 2035: Policy Priorities: A 2035 2.0 Companion Report(Energy Innovation and Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley, April 2021)
• Biden Administration Advances EV Charging Infrastructure (White House.Gov, April 22, 2021)

We have the technology needed to drive the clean energy future, but what policies must we adopt now to actually reach that goal? In part two of our three-part series on electrifying transportation, host Sara Baldwin speaks with electric vehicle and electricity policy experts to explore the most critical policies needed for an all-electric transportation transition that also helps achieve a carbon-free grid within 15 years. We dive into the current state of play of federal EV and charging infrastructure policies, a federal clean electricity standard, policies to enhance America’s economic competitiveness, and approaches to ensure an equitable transition. You won’t want to miss this inside scoop on America’s clean energy policy landscape!

Dr. Kelly Fleming, Ph.D., Policy Director at Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA). Prior to joining ZETA, Kelly was a research and policy analyst at the Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy at University of California, Davis. She also received the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship where she served at the Department of Energy. She holds an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington and B.S. from the Colorado School of Mines, all in Chemical Engineering. 

Mike O’Boyle, Director of Electricity Policy at Energy Innovation, directs the firm’s Power Sector Transformation program, working with policymakers, advocates, and others on policy and technology solutions for a clean, reliable, and affordable U.S. electricity system. Mike has co-authored foundational reports including Coal Cost Crossover 2.0, 2030 Report: Powering America’s Clean Economy, and A National Clean Electricity Standard to Benefit All Americans. Mike graduated cum laude from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, where he focused on energy and international law. He also has a B.A from Vanderbilt University.  

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Zero Emission Transportation Association Policy Platform (Zero Emission Transportation Association)
• 2035 Report 2.0: Plummeting Costs and Dramatic Improvements in Batteries Can Accelerate Our Clean Transportation Future (University of California, Berkeley, GridLab, and Energy Innovation, April 2021)
• Accelerating Clean, Electrified Transportation by 2035: Policy Priorities: A 2035 2.0 Companion Report(Energy Innovation and Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, April 2021)
• 2030 Report: Powering America’s Clean Economy (Energy Innovation)
• A National Clean Electricity Standard to Benefit All Americans (Energy Innovation) 

The climate, public health, and jobs benefits of electric vehicles are clear, but how do we get to a highly electrified transportation future when internal combustion engines still dominate the market today? To reap these benefits, we need a smart combination of federal and state actions to pave the way. In this final episode of our 3-part transportation series, host Sara Baldwin speaks with Margo Oge, former Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to learn more about the critical role of the EPA in setting tailpipe emission standards nationally. And, we hear from Anjali Bains, Senior Transportation Manager at Fresh Energy, who shares the full story of how Minnesota became the 15th state (and first Midwest state) to adopt a clean cars standard. Tune in to learn more about viable pathways and strategies to avoid blockades on the road to a clean, electrified transportation future. 

Guest Bios:

Margo Oge, Chair of the International Council on Clean Transportation Board of Directors and the former Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Margo had a 32-year career with the EPA, and during her 18-year tenure as Director, she was the chief architect of numerous programs that reduced emissions from gasoline and diesel-fueled automobiles, trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles by up to 99 percent. She led the EPA's development of the first-ever national greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and heavy-duty trucks and helped establish the Renewable Fuels Standard, among other accomplishments. She is a Distinguished Fellow with the ClimateWorks Foundation, a member of the Volkswagen Group’s International Sustainability Council, member of the board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the US Global Change Research Program.

Anjali Bains, Senior Clean Transportation Manager at Fresh Energy, a Saint-Paul based clean energy & climate nonprofit advocating for policies to accelerate Minnesota’s transition to a zero-emissions economy by 2050. At Fresh Energy, Anjali leads the electric transportation program, advocating in the state legislature, regulatory arenas, and other decision-making bodies as a technical expert in issues ranging from clean car standards and to utility EV programs.  

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

·      Fresh Energy, Transportation Program

·      Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Rulemaking: Clean Cars Minnesota

·      State judge Oks ‘clean cars’ plan, MPR News

·      Minnesota Advances to Become First Midwest Clean Cars State, NRDC

·      Emissions Standards Reference Guide for On-road and Nonroad Vehicles and Engines

·      U.S. EPA Transportation: Mobile Sources, website

With more than 100 million housing units and commercial buildings burning fossil fuels for space or water heating or for cooking across the United States, our building sector needs a major retrofit. Buildings cause 13 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, and every new fossil-fueled appliance or structure locks in higher emissions and costs for decades to come – not to mention serious health impacts from burning fuels indoors. To reach net-zero by 2050, we must electrify all new buildings by 2025 and all new building equipment by 2030. So how do we do this? Where is it happening? Who is leading and who is stalling? On this episode of Electrify This!, host Sara Baldwin speaks with building electrification experts to discuss efforts underway to get gas out of buildings and switch to clean electricity, including city leadership and California’s new, landmark 2022 Energy Code.

Guests:
Denise Grab, Manager, Carbon-Free Buildings, RMI.  Denise works to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from buildings in the West and across the U.S., and she brings over a decade of experience in advancing clean energy, climate, and clean air policy and law throughout the country. Prior to RMI, she served as the Western Regional Director at the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law, an Adjunct Professor at New York University School of Law, an associate at a major law firm, and a law clerk for a federal district court judge. Denise obtained a JD from Yale Law School, a Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and a BS  with highest honors in Environmental Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Tyler Poulson, Deputy Director, Building Electrification Institute (BEI). BEI equips cities across North America with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to accelerate the transition of building systems away from fossil fuels and towards high efficiency electric options. Tyler focuses on helping cities develop critical state and utility partnerships while advancing policies that will accelerate building electrification across their regions. Tyler previously focused on clean energy and climate change solutions in local government sustainability offices for Salt Lake City and Park City, UT. He has past experience in the finance sector and a Masters in Economics from the University of Utah. 

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Building Electrification Institute 
  • Building Electrification Institute | City Playbooks for the Equitable Electrification of Multifamily Buildings 
• RMI
  • RMI | Gas Stoves: Health and Air Quality Impacts and Solutions
  • RMI | Regulatory Solutions for Building Decarbonization
• Building Energy Exchange | Low Carbon Multifamily Retrofit Playbooks
• City and County of Denver | Renewable Heating and Cooling Plan
• Building Decarbonization Coalition | The Flipside Report: A White Paper on Targeted Geographic Electrification in California's Gas Transition  

Once considered a status symbol, gas stoves have become a popular choice for amateur and professional chefs alike. More than a third of U.S. households cook with gas and 50% of single-family homes now feature gas stoves. Yet, when it comes to climate stability, air quality, and our health, gas stoves have serious impacts. Gas stoves emit the same fumes found in car exhaust, and gas consumption in buildings is a significant contributor to climate change. But it is possible to cook dinner without cooking the planet: 60% of U.S. households are already using electricity to cook and newer induction technologies are gaining popularity. Still, market and policy changes are needed to make electricity the preferred choice. This episode features a pediatrician, a professional chef, and a real estate agent discussing the perils of gas stoves and the pioneering movement to clean up our kitchens.
Guests:

Dr. Lisa Patel is a pediatrician and an advocate for children's health priorities. She was the co-chair for the American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy Committee, California Chapter, co-founder the Climate and Health task force, and Director for the pediatric resident's Community Pediatrics and Child Advocacy Rotation. Today she is the Co-Director for Stanford's Climate, Health, and Equity Task Force at the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research. She holds degrees from Stanford, Yale, and John Hopkins University. 

Chef Rachelle Boucher is a national cooking appliance trainer, private chef, influencer and event expert with 20+ years of experience. She's worked as a private chef for celebrities and athletes, a corporate chef, and a home appliance expert and consultant with Monark Home, Sub-Zero & Wolf, and Miele. Today, Rachelle's new venture “Kitchens to Life”  focuses on kitchen electrification for performance, people and planet. 

Annie Trujillo is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Real Estate, based in Salt Lake City. In 2020 she was the third individual agent in her office and made the Top 500 Realtors in Utah list. Previously, Annie had an illustrious ten-year career working as a mountain guide, leading expeditions in remote areas from Greenland to Alaska. She holds a degree from San Francisco State University. 

Must-Read Resources:

Kitchens to Life | Yale Appliance Induction Cooking Buying Guide & Yale Appliance Electric Cooking Buying Guide

Gas Stoves: Health and Air Quality Impacts and Solutions, RMI 

We need to talk about your gas stove, your health and climate change, NPR

How the Fossil Fuel Industry Convinced Americans to Love Gas Stoves, Mother Jones

The landmark $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will restore and expand the United States infrastructure. From improving roads, bridges, and rail, to expanding electric vehicle charging, to developing a more resilient grid and more efficient buildings, or to ensuring clean drinking water for all—this historic investment will spur construction in nearly every community in America. But it’s also a tremendous opportunity to reconsider how we build. Since the majority of construction equipment rely on fossil fuels, this sector is ripe for innovations that address climate change and air pollution. A new movement, led by several cities around the world, including Oslo, Norway, is underway to create a market for climate-friendly construction practices like electrified equipment. In this episode of Electrify This!, three experts discuss the global effort to scale clean, electrified construction. Learn how governments, the private sector, and NGOs are working collaboratively to create greater demand for electrified equipment, and hear insights into how these technologies could revolutionize the way we build.

Guests: 
Heidi Sørensen, is the Director of the Climate Agency for the City of Oslo. She was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Oslo in 2001, and went on to become the State Secretary to the Minister of the Environment between 2007-2012. She has also served as a member of the Norwegian Consumer Council, the Norwegian Board of Technology, the board of the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.
Nils-Olav Haukaas is a senior consultant with CEPartnersAS and represents Nasta AS. For nearly three decades has been working in commercial sales and marketing of construction machines and mining machines. Nasta AS has represented Hitachi Construction Machines since 1982. He has also worked in health and safety, product compliance, risk assessments. He has also served on a Norwegian Committee on Zero Emission building and constructions sites and a Zero Emission Digger construction site.
Marta Lovisolo, is a Junior Policy Analyst at Bellona Europa in Brussels. Bellona is a climate NGO with headquarters in Norway and offices across several European countries. After supporting the city of Oslo in running the first zero emissions construction site in the world, Bellona is now disseminating the Norwegian experience to European cities and countries, as well as the the E.U.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction: 2018 Global Status Report
• California Air Resources Board Strategies for Reducing Emissions from Off-Road Construction Equipment
• “Electric Dreams: Will Heavy Construction Equipment Go All-Electric” Construct Connect 
• How Oslo is driving a transition to clean construction, C40 Knowledge
• Bellona

An all-star line-up closes out the year with reflections on 2021 and predictions for 2022. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with electrify everything pioneer Saul Griffith, policy expert and former Energy Gang podcast co-host Katherine Hamilton, and leading climate and clean energy commentator David Roberts. Tune in to hear three electrification dynamos recap 2021’s biggest developments in the transition from fossil to clean electricity, share the latest scoop on the Build Back Better Act, and predict what’s in store for electrification in 2022. 

Guests:

Saul Griffith is an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, and author of the book Electrify: An Optimist's Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future. Saul is the founder and chief scientist at Otherlab, an independent R&D lab that helps government agencies and Fortune 500 companies understand energy infrastructure and deep decarbonization. He is also the founder and chief scientist at Rewiring America, a nonprofit dedicated to decarbonizing America by electrifying everything. Prior to pursuing his passion for electrification, Saul led research projects for the likes of NASA, the National Science Foundation and U.S. Special Operations Command, among others, and he has founded and co-founded numerous technology companies. He completed his PhD at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2004 and was a recipient of a MacArthur “genius grant” in 2007.

Katherine Hamilton is the Chair of 38 North Solutions, a clean energy public policy consultancy with expertise in state, federal, and international markets. Katherine is currently the co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Clean Electrification. Katherine has served as President of the GridWise Alliance, policy advisor for Good Energies, Inc., buildings research lead for National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and engineer at Virginia Power. She studied electrical engineering at Northern Virginia Community College and holds degrees from Cornell University and the Sorbonne. Katherine was an original and longtime host of The Energy Gang podcast. 

David Roberts is a writer and owner of Volts, a newsletter on clean energy and politics featuring in-depth analysis of the latest research, technologies, policies, and the social and political forces shaping the clean energy transition. David has had a long career as a journalist, writing five years for Vox, ten years for Grist. He’s also written for publications like Outside magazine and appeared on a variety of TV shows, radio programs, and podcasts. 

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Rewiring America
• Electrify: An Optimist's Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future
• The Other Lab
• 38 North Solutions
• World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Clean Electrification
• Volts
• Ithaca becomes the first city in the U.S. to try and electrify all buildings