Category: Knowledge Center America

Expanding US-India Energy Security Partnership: Report

Expanding US-India Energy Security Partnership: Report

May 16, 2025 | , , , ,

The report “A Blueprint To Advance The U.S.-India Energy Security Partnership” by ORF America summarises that energy security remains a cornerstone of the U.S.-India partnership, being vital for economic growth and national security. A U.S.-India Energy and Industrial Partnership should involve deploying energy technologies at scale, reducing concentrations in energy supply chains and manufacturing, and strengthening both the domestic industrial base and industrial corridor between the two countries.

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Decarbonising US Economy using Biomass: Paper

Decarbonising US Economy using Biomass: Paper

May 9, 2025 | , , ,

The paper “Biomass and land use in a decarbonizing U.S. economy” by WRI concludes that biomass is a limited and valuable resource; as such, it is critical that it be used in a way that is most effective for emissions mitigation. It is vital that the value of biomass production be weighed against the many other demands placed on land in a decarbonizing society. This analysis finds that some biomass, including wastes and residues, has a role to play in decarbonizing the US economy, but accurate carbon accounting is essential, and guardrails must be placed on biomass use.

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Colorado’s Clean and Flexible Energy Future: Paper

Colorado’s Clean and Flexible Energy Future: Paper

May 2, 2025 | , , ,

This paper “Flexible, Clean Industry and Sustainable Energy Power Strong Economies” by Energy Innovation explores an emerging approach to transform cheap, clean renewable generation by co-locating with symbiotic new industries that can use electricity flexibly and how it could apply in Pueblo, Colorado. The combined resource creates a more dispatchable and reliable electric grid asset while at the same time providing an opportunity for host communities to capture more of the economic benefits of the energy transition. This approach is referred to as an “energy park.”

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Clean Energy Tax Credits in US: Report

Clean Energy Tax Credits in US: Report

April 25, 2025 | , ,

United States electricity demand is expected to grow, in part because data center demand could more than double by 2030. Utilities need to build power plants quickly to meet increased demand. This research summary compares analyses from more than a dozen nonpartisan research groups, showing how repealing §45Y and §48E technology-neutral electricity tax credits would raise the nation’s household energy bills around $6 billion annually in the next five years and $25 billion annually by 2040. In some states, households would shoulder over $500 increases in their annual energy bills

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California’s Clean Transmission Development: Report

California’s Clean Transmission Development: Report

April 10, 2025 | , ,

This report provides information, strategies, tools and case studies that California policymakers, regulators, and others could use to support equitable transmission planning and development that avoids harm and maximises benefits for underserved communities and Tribal Nations, collectively referred to as environmental justice (EJ) communities.  These EJ communities have long hosted fossil fuel infrastructure, facing cumulative health, environmental, and economic harms. 

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Virtual Power Plants in Michigan: RMI Brief

Virtual Power Plants in Michigan: RMI Brief

April 3, 2025 | , ,

This brief outlines the ways in which VPPs can support grid reliability, affordability, and decarbonization outcomes, with supporting metrics and case study examples from other states. Michigan utilities, regulators, and legislators have laid the groundwork for fundamental technologies, program structures, and market rules that are part of the foundation for VPPs. This brief concludes with a set of actions that Michigan utilities, regulators, and legislators can take to advance VPPs in the state to support affordable, reliable, decarbonized power for all Michiganders

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America’s Hydrogen Future: Report

America’s Hydrogen Future: Report

March 28, 2025 | , , ,

This report demonstrates why hydrogen is strategic for America to maintain its energy leadership as the global race to attract investments intensifies. It examines the current investment landscape, outlining project drivers and market barriers – including cost premiums and project risks – with case studies in exports, on-road mobility, aviation, steel, and maritime shipping. It offers policy options that can strengthen demand and derisk infrastructure development, illustrating the pathway to unleash widespread investments, promote domestic industrial growth, and solidify energy leadership.

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Net-Zero Transport in Canada: Report

Net-Zero Transport in Canada: Report

March 20, 2025 | , ,

A clean passenger transport system—based on walking, cycling, public transit, and zero-emission vehicles—can reduce costs for households and empower Canadians to easily get where they need to go, while making cities cleaner, quieter, and safer for everyone. Zero-emission vehicles, coupled with an increasingly robust charging network, can meet much of the remaining passenger transportation needs across Canada’s cities, towns, and rural communities.

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Connecticut’s Renewable Energy Status: Report

Connecticut’s Renewable Energy Status: Report

March 7, 2025 | , ,

The report “2024 Clean & Renewable Energy Report” by The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority details the status of the current clean and renewable energy programs and contracts administered by the electric distribution companies (EDCs), The Connecticut Light and Power Company d/b/a Eversource Energy (Eversource) and The United Illuminating Company (UI), and overseen by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (the Authority or PURA).

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Grid Enhancing Technologies in US: Report

Grid Enhancing Technologies in US: Report

February 28, 2025 | , ,

US electricity demand is projected to grow nearly 16% by 2029, putting new urgency behind the need for grid upgrades and the addition of new generation resources. The surge in renewable energy projects aiming to connect to the grid has highlighted longstanding transmission capacity challenges. Total U.S. transmission capacity must expand 2.7–4.1 times the 2020 level. A modernized approach to grid planning and operation is critical in order to safely, reliably, and affordably meet the electricity demands of the future. Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) can play a critical role in grid modernization by optimizing the efficiency of existing infrastructure and unlocking unused capacity.

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Oregon’s Energy Strategy: Presentation

Oregon’s Energy Strategy: Presentation

February 19, 2025 | , ,

Electrification and energy efficiency are key to reducing the size of the overall energy “pie” and to cost containment. Fuels play a strategic role in the transition, with a shift toward clean fuel alternatives toward 2050. All scenarios indicate a need to build infrastructure in Oregon. Tech loads are the biggest driver of electricity demand growth but are also uncertain in when and where they could emerge

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DER and VPP Deployment in Texas: Report

DER and VPP Deployment in Texas: Report

February 19, 2025 | , ,

The report “Local Governments Can Achieve Texas-Sized Impacts from Distributed Energy Assets and Virtual Power Plants” by RMI highlights that distributed energy resources and virtual power plants can empower Texas communities to lead the transition to a more resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy system. These assets, especially when combined to create virtual power plants (VPPs) — also known as aggregate distributed energy resources (ADERs) — are emerging as key tools that can be deployed quickly in support of a more reliable, resilient, and affordable electricity system. 

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Clean hydrogen uptake in US: Report

Clean hydrogen uptake in US: Report

January 31, 2025 | , , ,

The United States is on track to reach 7-9 MMTpa in operational capacity by 2030. Investment in clean hydrogen has nearly doubled in the last year—not including the approximately $50 billion of capital associated with DOE H2Hubs—shrinking the amount of additional capital investment required to achieve liftoff by 30-60%, to $30-150 billion from the $85-215 billion gap. Despite cost increases, markets for clean hydrogen are growing. Low-carbon reformation projects can target large, industrial offtakers in ammonia and refining. Electrolysis projects can target end markets with higher willingness to pay or markets with additional, stackable incentives.

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Reforms for US Local Transmission Oversight: Report

Reforms for US Local Transmission Oversight: Report

January 17, 2025 | , ,

The US transmission grid is facing substantial challenges due to load growth and a shifting generation mix, necessitating urgent expansion and modifications. Although utility investment in transmission infrastructure has quadrupled during the last 20 years, the emphasis has changed from critical high voltage regional lines to lower-voltage local projects, which is inefficient. Local projects frequently receive less scrutiny, which can result in higher costs and greater environmental and land-use implications than bigger, more strategically planned regional initiatives. This report highlights the challenges in expanding the US electric grid to meet increasing energy demands and transition to clean energy while ensuring grid reliability in the face of severe weather events.

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Streamlining Permits for Clean Industrial Projects in California

Streamlining Permits for Clean Industrial Projects in California

January 10, 2025 | , ,

This memo “Easing the Permitting Process for Clean Industrial Projects in California” by RMI outlines key challenges and solutions to begin improving the California permitting process for clean industrial projects ranging from clean fuel refining, to cement plants, to steel production, and more. It concludes that the permitting process in California is complex and work-intensive on both the side of the permit-seeker and the permitting agencies and local governments. As a result, improving the permitting process for clean industrial projects will require coordinated effort from both policymakers and project developers.

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Linking Europe and North America for a Sustainable Energy Transition: EMBER

Linking Europe and North America for a Sustainable Energy Transition: EMBER

December 18, 2024 | , , ,

This paper examines how transatlantic interconnection could help both North America and Europe to achieve a more secure and efficient transition to renewable electricity. The future electricity grids of North America and Europe will be increasingly impacted by weather as they seek to decarbonise their energy systems. This paper explores the weather complementarity between the two grids and concludes there is substantial value in interconnection, which can help provide security and efficiency between the energy systems of these two continents.

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Distributed Generation and Net Metering in Michigan: Report

Distributed Generation and Net Metering in Michigan: Report

December 16, 2024 | , ,

This report shows renewable energy projections through 2026 based on the renewable portfolio standard (RPS), voluntary green pricing programs (VGP), integrated resource plans (IRPs), public utility regulatory policies act (PURPA) resources, and the distributed generation and legacy net metering programs. There have been significant legislative changes that will transform Michigan’s electric generation portfolio in the coming years.

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Hydrogen Energy Development in Texas: Report

Hydrogen Energy Development in Texas: Report

December 13, 2024 | , , ,

In 2023, the Texas Legislature created the Texas Hydrogen Production Policy Council (Council) to study and make recommendations relating to the policy framework of the Railroad Commission of Texas for hydrogen energy development in Texas. The Council was established in December 2023 pursuant to House Bill 2847 (88th Legislature, Regular Session), and its initial report details the Council’s analysis and preliminary recommendations. The report’s recommendations are focused on ensuring effective and consistent regulatory oversight of hydrogen production, transportation, and storage, while maximizing economic opportunities for the development of the hydrogen industry in Texas.

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State-Level SAF Policies in US: Paper

State-Level SAF Policies in US: Paper

December 6, 2024 | , ,

Analysis highlights several shortcomings with many current policies. First, state support for some SAF production pathways may not lead to an increase in the total supply of low-carbon fuel; instead, fuel and feedstock could be redirected from other climate-friendly uses to take advantage of state SAF subsidies. Second, the short duration of some policies means they are unlikely to trigger investments in the advanced SAF pathways needed to meet aviation climate targets. And third, existing policy frameworks subsidize the use of SAF without also imposing a penalty on aviation emissions, violating the “polluter pays” principle.

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