Events

A successful energy transition will require rapid, effective, resilient, and equitable electrification. While researchers are working out the technical details of how to make this happen, policymakers are trying to foster a financial and regulatory environment in which it can take place. This webinar focused on both of these efforts and their interactions with each other. Leading experts highlighted cutting-edge research on the benefits of, impacts from, and barriers to resilient electrification, especially in low-income and rural communities. The discussion addressed initial findings from ongoing research projects as well as potential connections between research and policymaking in the electrification space.

This webinar, co-hosted by the Institute for Policy Integrity and the European University Institute’s Florence School of Regulation, explored the challenges, strategies, and evolving dynamics associated with electric transmission infrastructure in the context of the global energy transition. We analyzed three distinct regions, shedding light on the varied approaches each takes to address imperatives such as sustainability, reliability, resilience, accessibility, and affordability within their energy systems. By presenting a tri-continental perspective, the debate provided a nuanced understanding of regional intricacies, offering valuable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers alike.

States seeking to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and transition toward a net-zero economy often center their strategies on clean electricity and widespread electrification. This conference will examine the technical and economic characteristics of a zero-emissions electric system; challenges to achieving such a system at the state level and possible policy solutions; and how states can foster zero-emissions electric systems in a just and equitable manner. The conference featured prominent experts and policymakers from leading states including New York and New Jersey, and a keynote speech from New York Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian.

Panelists will share takeaways from their research and policy work at the nexus of energy insecurity and energy transitions. After a discussion of how to identify and measure energy insecurity, panelists will share their findings on how the energy security of low-income populations might be affected by different aspects of the energy transition. Panelists will also examine possible solutions, such as energy cost assistance programs and post-crisis opportunities. Finally, panelists will reflect on their research design strategies for ensuring that their research processes and results serve and benefit the communities they are engaging. The recording is available here.

This webinar brought together leading research and policy experts to discuss ways to value and compensate distributed energy resources for their services, how these different approaches affect outcomes of interest, and where the policy discussions are headed. The recording is available here.

What are the challenges and opportunities created by Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)? How can policies help or hinder outcomes? Are there ways to improve both adoption and functionality of DERs? Find out in this conversation between leading research and policy experts. The recording is available here.

Energy market design is key to efficiently decarbonizing the power system. This webinar discussed ongoing policy questions and the latest research on how different market designs could affect clean energy outcomes. The recording is available here.

We held a conversation about conflicts and consensus building around energy policy decisions and infrastructure projects, including solar and wind energy production projects, pipelines, and transmission lines. Panelists from around the country shared their recent research and policy expertise. The recording is available here.

We organized a 1-hour webinar to discuss new research on energy justice in the electricity space and how this work can help inform policy. The recording is available here.

A video recording of the event is available here.

Thanks to states' decarbonization commitments and the availability of technological alternatives to gas-reliant appliances, the coming decades are likely to see radical reductions in natural gas use in residential and commercial buildings and the adoption of clean alternatives. The Institute for Policy Integrity, Columbia Law School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, and NYU School of Law's State Energy & Environmental Impact Center will bring together officials from some of the states leading the way in this transition and ask them to share their distinct perspectives and insights about the path forward.