{"title":"Artificial Intelligence Supporting Investment Analysis and Capital Budgeting","authors":"Paul A. DeCotis","doi":"10.1002/gas.22474","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22474","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Capital budgeting decisions in today's economic environment are challenged by a variety of external risks, all of which are beyond the control of any single company. Tariff threats, supply chain risks, geopolitical tensions, cybersecurity threats, and conflicts and unrest in various parts of the world are leading to increased uncertainty and risk, making capital decisions even more challenging. With long lead times for costly infrastructure investments, the energy sector and regulated distribution utilities are vulnerable to not realizing the anticipated outcomes over time that were expected when the investment was made.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"42 1","pages":"20-23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144558166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Product Recommenders in Utility Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs","authors":"Ted Peterson","doi":"10.1002/gas.22473","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22473","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A 1957 research paper defined power as the ability to persuade people to do what they wouldn't otherwise do. This concept is linked to activity and has long been associated with business marketing. As businesses continue to gather more data for analysis, they can effectively mine customer information to enhance marketing, retention, and customer acquisition. Through marketing, businesses can often prompt customers to take actions they may not have initially considered. A key trend in corporate marketing is the use of product recommendation systems to encourage more purchases.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"42 1","pages":"10-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144558165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analytics and AI for Utilities: Unlocking Efficiency and Reliability","authors":"Amanda Mastrosimone, Andrew Biondi","doi":"10.1002/gas.22472","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22472","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The utility industry is facing challenges to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs, enhance reliability, and integrate renewable and distributed energy resources (DERs) onto the grid. Utilities are experimenting with approaches to intelligently use the vast amount of data they have using advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) techniques.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"42 1","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144558164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Instead of Pausing Sustainability Reporting, the EU Proposes Simplifying and Minimizing the Burden of Its Reporting Requirements","authors":"David W. South","doi":"10.1002/gas.22475","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22475","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As summarized in “SEC Climate Disclosure Rule: Paused but Reporting Requirements Remain,” one of the first actions of the Trump Administration was for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to pause its defense of the climate disclosure rule. While this action does not invalidate the climate rule, it simply puts it in regulatory limbo—unenforced but not erased.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"42 1","pages":"24-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144558167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Navigating Utility Workforce Dynamics","authors":"Miguel Jacob","doi":"10.1002/gas.22469","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22469","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Emerging innovations, like smart grids and the internet of things (IoT), are driving profound changes in the utilities industry, revolutionizing how energy is generated, distributed, and used. Utilities can now deliver more reliable services, improve operational efficiency, and engage customers in new and interactive ways. As roles across all levels of the utility workforce evolve and new skill sets become necessary, the industry is proactively responding to ensure a smooth transition. This article explores the changes, identifies key workforce challenges, and offers strategic recommendations to navigate the upskilling of the workforce.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 12","pages":"16-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Value of Electrification: Leveraging Electrification and Distributed Resources for Customer Benefit","authors":"Jay Robertson","doi":"10.1002/gas.22467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22467","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Distribution utilities face a pivotal moment as rapid electrification and dispatchable distributed energy resources (DERs) proliferate across the grid. When effectively managed and paired with smart rate design, these resources offer utilities and customers significant economic, operational, and environmental benefits. Maximizing the use of grid assets without increasing peak demand allows utilities to reduce upward rate pressure to benefit customers. Integrating flexible assets with advanced grid monitoring and control schemes provides an opportunity for utilities to strengthen reliability and optimize the sourcing of clean energy resources to meet clean energy goals. Harnessing these trends matters for utilities and supports their role in strengthening the grid. Key enablers that utilities can utilize include innovative rate design (such as revenue decoupling), advanced DER management systems (DERMS), improved load identification and forecasting, and robust customer programs. The shift from being a reactive provider to a proactive partner is essential for utilities to deliver the full value of electrification and DERs to customers by enabling a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient grid.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 12","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Community Engagement in Renewable Energy Projects for Disaster Resilience","authors":"Nikita Agarwalla","doi":"10.1002/gas.22468","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22468","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In disaster-prone areas, energy security is crucial for enhancing and ensuring community resilience. Increasing global temperatures heighten the risk of catastrophic natural disasters, highlighting the need for a strong energy framework to reduce vulnerabilities within our communities. The UN Global Humanitarian Report correctly projected that 2024 would be the hottest year on record.<sup>1</sup> Vulnerable communities are already grappling with the consequences of hurricanes, floods, droughts, and heat waves. These events intensify the pressing challenge of executing effective “build back better” strategies and promoting the transition towards low-carbon, resilient energy systems.<sup>2,3</sup></p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 12","pages":"9-15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"More on Data Centers—How Natural Gas Fits in and What to Look Out For","authors":"Richard G. Smead","doi":"10.1002/gas.22471","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22471","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Rising demand for electricity to serve data centers, manufacturing, and other power-consuming sectors of the economy is spurring the development of scores of natural gas-fired plants—up to 100 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity by 2040. How much power those new plants will generate and how much natural gas they will require remain open questions. A recent study indicates that the vast majority of incremental power demand over the next 15 years could be supplied by solar and wind and that demand for natural gas power may remain relatively flat. However, the Trump administration's dim view of most renewables and clear preference for fossil fuels suggests that, at least for the foreseeable future, things may be different from what the study forecast. Making sense of the dueling forecasts and what they mean for energy policy and energy investment can be daunting.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 12","pages":"28-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Decade of International Energy, 2015–2025: Critical Institutions, Path Dependence, and Disasters","authors":"Jeff D. Makholm","doi":"10.1002/gas.22470","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22470","url":null,"abstract":"<p>My column in this journal, titled <i>International Energy</i> (at the editor's suggestion in 2015), now spans a decade. My individual columns have almost always been about economic regulation <i>somewhere</i> in producing and delivering electricity and natural gas as a public service. Being so inescapably connected to the economics of regulation, my column could just as easily have been titled <i>International Regulation</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 12","pages":"20-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advancing Renewable Energy Policies as a Solution to Climate Change in Pakistan","authors":"Sadaf Iqbal Raja, Sultan Mubariz Khan","doi":"10.1002/gas.22464","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22464","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Pakistan, along with other nations worldwide, is experiencing the extreme effects of climate change. This article analyzes the policies and initiatives undertaken by the Pakistani government, in collaboration with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and non-government organizations (NGOs), to address climate change challenges through the adoption of renewable energy solutions. While Pakistan has developed numerous climate and renewable energy policies, there is a significant gap in their execution. Key obstacles include insufficient financial resources, inadequate public awareness, and ineffective regulatory frameworks. This article provides recommendations for Pakistani policymakers to strengthen national legislation and establish more efficient implementation mechanisms. By addressing these challenges, the country can create a more conducive environment for international organizations and MDBs to implement projects effectively. These efforts will help advance renewable energy initiatives, improve policy effectiveness, and enhance public awareness of sustainable energy solutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 11","pages":"15-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143914042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}