{"title":"Considerations for Embedding Equity in the Energy Transition","authors":"Emily Zhang, Samantha Pasternak, AJ Brown","doi":"10.1002/gas.22423","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22423","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Decarbonizing our economies represents one of the most significant economic and industrial challenges in modern history. The drive toward decarbonization involves the widespread electrification of vehicles and buildings, adoption at scale of renewable energy resources, and modernization of the electric grid infrastructure. Together, these electrification efforts are projected to cause US electricity consumption to grow by 1.5 percent annually from 2024 to 2026,<sup>1</sup> requiring a tripling or quadrupling in electric generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure to meet future demands.<sup>2</sup> While these developments have the potential to create a more sustainable and resilient energy system, they also risk exacerbating existing inequalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 3","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142165399","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":"Climate Risk Disclosure: Expanding Regardless of SEC Rule Implementation","authors":"David W. South","doi":"10.1002/gas.22427","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22427","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The regulatory requirements, frameworks and tools for climate risk disclosure and reporting have been expanding at an exponential pace. Beginning in the early 1970's the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) required companies to disclose the financial impact of—and risks associated with—compliance with environmental laws based on the concept of “materiality.” Then in 2010, as a result of investor pressure regarding the financial risks of climate change, the SEC issued voluntary guidance to clarify when the impacts of climate change may trigger disclosure obligations.<sup>1</sup> As a result of the Paris Agreement in 2015 there was an international focus on climate change and a simultaneous increase in pressure on businesses to be more accountable for their climate and environmental policies. This translated into a rise in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability reports developed by companies in an to attempt to showcase their green initiatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 3","pages":"28-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142165188","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":"Microgrid Disruptors or Enablers","authors":"Paul A. DeCotis","doi":"10.1002/gas.22426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22426","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Microgrids continue to prove their value to electric grids around the world by improving reliability and resiliency across many different use cases. Microgrids support the interests of connected customers by ensuring electricity is available during electric grid disruptions and outages—regardless of their duration. The ability of the controlling entity to connect and disconnect loads from the utility grid can prevent localized outages from cascading to larger scale outages by providing grid operators a mechanism by which to isolate disruptions to preserve service to other critical facilities and loads.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 3","pages":"22-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142165187","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}
S. Baranidharan, Chippy Mohan, Pradeep Kumar SV, D. Sandhya, Amirdha Vasani Sankarkumar
{"title":"Harnessing the Sun: A Comprehensive Analysis of India's Solar Energy Sector","authors":"S. Baranidharan, Chippy Mohan, Pradeep Kumar SV, D. Sandhya, Amirdha Vasani Sankarkumar","doi":"10.1002/gas.22424","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22424","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The potential of solar energy to address India's energy challenges is significant, providing a clean, renewable, and domestic source of energy, while reducing India's dependence on fossil fuels, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Moreover, the nation's solar industry has the potential to create employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and empower rural communities to achieve energy independence and improve their quality of life. By providing reliable electricity for households, businesses, and essential services, solar energy can stimulate economic growth, enhance education and healthcare, and reduce dependence on polluting fuels. Moreover, it can create job opportunities and foster sustainable development in rural areas. This article highlights the complexities of India's solar energy landscape, analyzing the interplay between policy, technology, and societal factors, and provides a comprehensive analysis of India's solar energy trajectory from the time period 2021 to 2024.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 3","pages":"11-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142165185","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":"Wildfires, Record Heat Waves and Extreme Weather Events — The Perils of Climate Change","authors":"Echo D. Cartwright","doi":"10.1002/gas.22425","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22425","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Wildfires, record heatwaves, hurricanes, tornados, floods, power outages—the news on the climate front is worsening. Previous editorials have focused on increasing heatwaves and weather events. What had previously been record breaking temperatures has once again been broken. These continuing events are raising havoc with our electric grid resulting in more and prolonged power outages from storm damage, and straining resources as grid operators struggle to maintain grid reliability in the face of long-duration heat events—all placing mounting pressure on utilities to upgrade systems to meet these new challenges. And the cost of upgrading systems are ultimately borne by customers.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 3","pages":"17-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142165186","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":"Meeting the Growing Energy Needs of Artificial Intelligence, Vertical Farms, and Cooling","authors":"Shreyas Vangala, Leah Liebovitz, Morgan Witt","doi":"10.1002/gas.22418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22418","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The convergence of economic development, urbanization, technological innovation, and environmental challenges necessitates novel approaches to meeting and managing energy demands. Three emerging trends present unique challenges that make striking the appropriate balance to meet societal needs particularly challenging for our energy systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 2","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141967544","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":"An Analysis of Utility Capital (In)efficiency","authors":"Nick Melocik","doi":"10.1002/gas.22420","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22420","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Determining the optimal allocation of financial resources to support growth in demand and improve operational efficiency is a strategic and intricate challenge for utilities. Unlike other industries in which return on invested capital (ROIC) and capital turnover ratio are standard metrics of capital efficiency, the utility sector operates under unique regulatory constraints that render these measures less applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 2","pages":"16-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141967545","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 End of Chevron Deference and its Impact on the Energy Industry","authors":"Richard G. Smead","doi":"10.1002/gas.22422","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22422","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As is currently well known, on June 28 the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron Deference, a key foundation of modern administrative law for 40 years. The case, <i>Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo</i> (<i>Loper Bright</i>), had nothing to do with energy, but the impact of the decision has significant implications in the energy arena. The order follows a steady drumbeat of U.S. Supreme Court decisions issued during this term and in recent prior ones curbing the regulatory enforcement capabilities of Executive Branch agencies. But while this is a landmark case and would be expected to lead to a host of new legal challenges to agency rules and actions, its practical effect might result in being more nuanced, maybe with some wholly unexpected consequences.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 2","pages":"29-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141967514","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":"FERC's Troubling Transmission Order No. 1920","authors":"Jeff D. Makholm","doi":"10.1002/gas.22421","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22421","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)'s Order No. 1920, issued May 13, 2024, is FERC's latest attempt to craft a nationwide policy to regulate market entry and pricing for the electricity transmission network.<sup>1</sup> Approved by a one-vote margin (2:1) in a short-staffed Commission, the Order numbers 1,300 pages. In the accompanying dissent and concurring opinion, the three participating Commissioners are unusually critical of each other, in places verging on insulting, with accusations of faulty reasoning, unspoken agendas, basic lapses in logic, and blatant inconsistency with the limits on federal regulatory authority. The 2:1 split continues the evident partisanship apparent in FERC's 2023 orders on natural gas pipeline issues that I wrote about earlier this year.<sup>2</sup></p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 2","pages":"22-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141967513","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":"Support for Advanced Nuclear Power Growing in the United States","authors":"Echo D. Cartwright","doi":"10.1002/gas.22419","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gas.22419","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Global clean energy and decarbonization goals are forcing governments around the world to take a hard look at their energy resource portfolios and future plans for meeting increasing electricity demand. While the last several years have seen a significant uptick in the deployment of solar, both terrestrial and offshore wind, and battery storage here in the United States, nuclear energy is once again being considered a critical energy generation source. Nuclear power, and in particular small modular nuclear reactors, are being considered as carbon-free power generation sources to strategically meet new loads.</p>","PeriodicalId":100259,"journal":{"name":"Climate and Energy","volume":"41 2","pages":"12-15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141967512","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}