The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 marked the single largest investment in climate and energy in American history, supporting homegrown clean energy, electrification, and manufacturing. It has generated $600 billion in private investment across 750 clean energy projects, creating more than 406,000 new jobs. The IRA is now under threat, with calls to repeal federal funding and tax credits, risking billions investments. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with Robbie Orvis of Energy Innovation to discuss the benefits of the IRA and how repealing the IRA would harm America's economy and cost consumers. 

Guest Bio: 

Robbie Orvis is the Senior Director of Modeling and Analysis at Energy Innovation where he works with policymakers around the world to analyze legislation and regulation and provide insights on how to achieve climate goals. He has helped develop and deploy Energy Policy Simulator models in more than a dozen countries and is the lead author of Designing Climate Solutions: A Policy Guide for Low-Carbon Energy. Robbie holds a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University and a B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Electrifying News:

• More Wisconsin cities are powering municipal operations with renewable electricity (Wisconsin Public Radio)
• Rivian startup is focused on small, lightweight electric vehicles (LA Times)
• Hyundai to make ‘low-carbon’ steel at $6B plant in Louisiana (Canary Media)

Must-read Resources:

• Inflation Reduction Act bill text (U.S. 117th Congress)
• Energy Policy Simulator Model (Energy Innovation)
• Inflation Reduction Act Repeal Harms State Economies and Raises Consumer Costs (Energy Innovation, March 2025)
• House Republican support grows for keeping clean energy tax breaks (Politico, 3/10/2025)

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)

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 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)

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)

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

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) 

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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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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

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/