Podcasts about regulatory assistance project rap

Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode contentWith millions of miles of gas distribution pipelines under our feet, the transition away from gas and toward electrification needs to account for that existing infrastructure somehow. And that comes with risks, not only to gas distribution companies but to their customers as well.Understanding, anticipating and managing these risks is a vital part of a safe, equitable transition. To discuss this topic, Paul is joined by Jan Rosenow of Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). They really dig into what is needed to decommission an entire industry.For the full interview with Jan, visit our sister podcast, More Than Eight Minutes.For further research:Jan RosenowRegulatory Assistance Project"The elephant in the room: How do we regulate gas transportation infrastructure as gas demand declines?" - Rosenow, Lowes & Kemfert"Planning and regulating Europe's gas networks: breaking up with fossil gas" - Regulatory Assistance ProjectFollow Paul on LinkedIn.

California is the first state to ban the sale of new gas furnaces and water heaters, which will begin in 2030. In efforts to fight climate change, all homes will be required to use zero-emission electric appliance alternatives. The Sierra Club and American Lung Association have supported this move to reduce the building sector's carbon footprint and improve public health. The building sector accounts for 5% of California's nitrogen-oxide pollution, a key component in producing smog. The California Air and Resource Board (CARB) reports that nearly 90% of these nitrogen-oxide emissions come from space and water heaters. A report from SPUR, San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association, found “as appliances in California homes and buildings generate four times as much lung-damaging nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution as the state's gas power plants, and roughly two-thirds as much NOx as all of the state's passenger cars.” This ban was passed to meet EPA regulations limiting atmospheric ozone and fighting air pollution, and it also follows Biden's Climate Plan calling for the switch from residential gas to electric appliances.  Natural Gas Inside the HomeSwitching to electric appliances can also have indoor air pollution benefits. Gas cook stoves emit natural gas and indoor air pollutants that can be harmful to those with asthma and chronic pulmonary disease as these stoves are typically unvented. The most common pollutants from gas cook stoves are nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde, and the EPA warns that nitrogen dioxide emissions can be toxic even in low concentrations. While electric appliance alternatives like electric cook stoves and heat pumps emit no onsite air pollution. Costs and BurdensThe costs of upgrading electrical services also raises many equity concerns for vulnerable communities, as low-income customers and renters are predicted to face the largest costs. Environmental retrofits to upgrade water heaters and furnaces can lead to increased electricity costs, as natural gas is a cheaper but dirtier source of energy. There is also a long road ahead, as according to the Energy Information Administration in 2020, only “26% of U.S. households use electricity as the only source of energy.” Concerns with changing electricity loads and how this will impact homes that rely on solar panels or have other energy-intensive needs such as electrical vehicles must also be considered. Hefty costs are also associated with these retrofits as one study estimated equipment and installation costs for “electric air-source heat pumps cost around $6,800, though there is also a $5,900 adder for heat pumps in cold climates. A gas furnace was estimated to cost less than $4,000.” Despite these costs, a report from CLASP  and Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) found that the U.S could “reduce national heating bills by $13.6 billion and cut annual CO2 emissions by 67 MT, the equivalent of removing 14.4 million passenger cars for an entire year, by swapping air conditioners for heat pumps.” There are numerous benefits for the planet and individuals that can afford to upgrade to electric appliances, but the inequitable burdens on low-income populations of this new ban must also be addressed.Steve CliffDr. Steve Cliff is the Executive Officer of the California Air and Resource Board (CARB). Cliff began his appointment in the Summer of 2022 and works with the board to enact programs to reduce air and climate pollution within the state. In his role, Cliff oversees over 1,800 employees and a budget of $2.7 billion. Before serving as Executive Officer Cliff worked as the 16th Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was appointed by President Biden in January 2021. At NHTSA Cliff oversaw the nation's vehicle safety agency, where he helped advance vehicle technologies and established fuel economy regulations. Dr. Cliff also has an extensive history working with CARB as he first joined as an Air Pollution Specialist in 2008, served as Deputy Executive Officer overseeing the board's climate program, and was appointed by Governor Brown in 2016 as senior advisor to CARB's Chair. Governor Brown also appointed Dr. Cliff as Assistant Director for Sustainability to the California Department of Transportation, where he served in this role from 2014 to 2016. Dr. Steve Cliff received his bachelor's and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego. He also has a postdoc on atmospheric sciences from the University of California, Davis. For over two decades Cliff has worked closely with UC Davis, he worked as a research professor in the Department of Applied Sciences, has supported air quality and climate research programs, and is affiliated with the school's Air Quality Research.  Sources:California Air Resources Board, Dr. Steve Cliff, Executive OfficerWells, California plans to phase out new gas heaters by 2030 (NPR 2022).Brady, We need to talk about your gas stove, your health and climate change (NPR 2021).SPUR, Gas Appliances and Smog: California's Hidden Air Pollution Problem (2022)Balaraman, As California confronts the future of its natural gas system, who could get left behind? (Utility Drive 2022).Walton, Electric heat pumps will be the cheapest clean option to heat most US homes by 2030: ACEEE (Utility Drive 2022).New report finds US hybrid heating could cut national heating costs by $13.6 billion (2022)The Biden White House, FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs Executive Order Catalyzing America's Clean Energy Economy Through Federal Sustainability (2021).Regulatory Assistance Program For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/equitable-policy-for-energy-efficient-homes-with-dr-steve-cliff/

The electrification of long-haul freight transport is a crucial step towards a sustainable future, and the deployment of high-power megawatt charging stations along Europe's major motorways is at the heart of this transformation. The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) technology is seen as a key enabler. But how far along is the development of MCS in general, and what are the benefits? We discuss this in this episode with Dr Julia Hildermeier of the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). In her recent study with RAP, she analyzed the economic aspects of setting up such an infrastructure. Timeline 02:08 What is the issue with heavy-duty transport and why is electrification important? 04:25 Megawatt charging system (MCS): What is this technology about and why is it relevant? 09:41 The study highlights significant cost differences for megawatt charging in different EU member states. What are the main factors leading to these differences? 13:07 Grid costs form a significant part of charging costs. How do these costs vary across the EU and what impact does this have on the choice of location for charging stations? Questions or suggestions? Then send us an email to podcast@thesmartere.com

Czym jest zarządzanie ryzykiem w kontekście zmian klimatu? Jakie skutki kryzysu klimatycznego zagrażają Polsce? Czy odnawialne źródła energii zaspokoją nasze potrzeby? W jaki sposób efektywnie wdrożyć nowe technologie w Polsce i dlaczego nie możemy jeszcze całkowicie zrezygnować z paliw kopalnych? – na te i inne pytania odpowiada Monika Morawiecka, Senior Advisor, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). Rozmowę prowadzi Miłosz Szymański (@ZaRubieżą). (2:26) Czym jest zarządzanie ryzykiem w kontekście zmian klimatycznych? (9:55) Jak zareagować w Polsce na kryzys klimatyczny? (15:19) Jaka jest przyszłość zielonej energetyki? (21:01) Czy transformacja gospodarki jest możliwa? (26:13) W jaki sposób efektywnie wdrażać w Polsce nowe technologie? Serdecznie zapraszamy do zapoznania się z artykułem Moniki Morawieckiej pt. Zarządzanie ryzykiem – niedoceniany aspekt transformacji energetycznej? Artykuł ten ukazał się w najnowszym wydaniu „Pomorskiego Thinklettera” pt. Druga transformacja polskiej gospodarki – co nas czeka?

California is the first state to ban the sale of new gas furnaces and water heaters, which will begin in 2030. In efforts to fight climate change, all homes will be required to use zero-emission electric appliance alternatives. The Sierra Club and American Lung Association have supported this move to reduce the building sector's carbon footprint and improve public health. The building sector accounts for 5% of California's nitrogen-oxide pollution, a key component in producing smog. The California Air and Resource Board (CARB) reports that nearly 90% of these nitrogen-oxide emissions come from space and water heaters. A report from SPUR, San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association, found “as appliances in California homes and buildings generate four times as much lung-damaging nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution as the state's gas power plants, and roughly two-thirds as much NOx as all of the state's passenger cars.” This ban was passed to meet EPA regulations limiting atmospheric ozone and fighting air pollution, and it also follows Biden's Climate Plan calling for the switch from residential gas to electric appliances.  Natural Gas Inside the Home:Switching to electric appliances can also have indoor air pollution benefits. Gas cook stoves emit natural gas and indoor air pollutants that can be harmful to those with asthma and chronic pulmonary disease as these stoves are typically unvented. The most common pollutants from gas cook stoves are nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde, and the EPA warns that nitrogen dioxide emissions can be toxic even in low concentrations. While electric appliance alternatives like electric cook stoves and heat pumps emit no onsite air pollution. Costs and Burdens:The costs of upgrading electrical services also raises many equity concerns for vulnerable communities, as low-income customers and renters are predicted to face the largest costs. Environmental retrofits to upgrade water heaters and furnaces can lead to increased electricity costs, as natural gas is a cheaper but dirtier source of energy. There is also a long road ahead, as according to the Energy Information Administration in 2020, only “26% of U.S. households use electricity as the only source of energy.” Concerns with changing electricity loads and how this will impact homes that rely on solar panels or have other energy-intensive needs such as electrical vehicles must also be considered. Hefty costs are also associated with these retrofits as one study estimated equipment and installation costs for “electric air-source heat pumps cost around $6,800, though there is also a $5,900 adder for heat pumps in cold climates. A gas furnace was estimated to cost less than $4,000.” Despite these costs, a report from CLASP  and Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) found that the U.S could “reduce national heating bills by $13.6 billion and cut annual CO2 emissions by 67 MT, the equivalent of removing 14.4 million passenger cars for an entire year, by swapping air conditioners for heat pumps.” There are numerous benefits for the planet and individuals that can afford to upgrade to electric appliances, but the inequitable burdens on low-income populations of this new ban must also be addressed.Steve CliffDr. Steve Cliff is the Executive Officer of the California Air and Resource Board (CARB). Cliff began his appointment in the Summer of 2022 and works with the board to enact programs to reduce air and climate pollution within the state. In his role, Cliff oversees over 1,800 employees and a budget of $2.7 billion. Before serving as Executive Officer Cliff worked as the 16th Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was appointed by President Biden in January 2021. At NHTSA Cliff oversaw the nation's vehicle safety agency, where he helped advance vehicle technologies and established fuel economy regulations. Dr. Cliff also has an extensive history working with CARB as he first joined as an Air Pollution Specialist in 2008, served as Deputy Executive Officer overseeing the board's climate program, and was appointed by Governor Brown in 2016 as senior advisor to CARB's Chair. Governor Brown also appointed Dr. Cliff as Assistant Director for Sustainability to the California Department of Transportation, where he served in this role from 2014 to 2016. Dr. Steve Cliff received his bachelor's and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego. He also has a postdoc on atmospheric sciences from the University of California, Davis. For over two decades Cliff has worked closely with UC Davis, he worked as a research professor in the Department of Applied Sciences, has supported air quality and climate research programs, and is affiliated with the school's Air Quality Research.  Sources:https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/about/leadership/hon-steven-s-cliffhttps://www.npr.org/2022/09/23/1124511549/california-plans-to-phase-out-new-gas-heaters-by-2030https://www.spur.org/publications/policy-brief/2022-09-20/gas-appliances-and-smog-californias-hidden-air-pollutionhttps://www.npr.org/2021/10/07/1015460605/gas-stove-emissions-climate-change-health-effectshttps://www.utilitydive.com/news/as-california-confronts-the-future-of-its-natural-gas-system-who-could-get/622576/https://www.utilitydive.com/news/electric-heat-pumps-will-be-the-cheapest-clean-option-to-heat-most-us-homes/628245/https://newsdirect.com/news/new-report-finds-us-hybrid-heating-could-cut-national-heating-costs-by-13-6-billion-466102900https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/08/fact-sheet-president-biden-signs-executive-order-catalyzing-americas-clean-energy-economy-through-federal-sustainability/https://www.raponline.org/

Energy prices are on everyone's mind lately since the Ukranian conflict began. Electricity markets have come under fire at a European level with Ursula von der Leyen saying they are no longer fit for purpose. Presumably this comment is in reference to the fact that wholesale electricity markets operate by setting the price at the cost of the most expensive unit to generate at a given moment. This guides good decision making, but has the side effect of creating windfall profits in extraordinary times such as this. So the key question is - is there a way to reduce these windfall profits for firms, transfer those returns or economic rents to consumers, be it through a transfer or changes in prices? There are many options but all may interfere with the efficient operation of the market and create unintended consequences. One key point about electricity markets is that they are complicated and a good market brings on the right generation at the right time. This is really important for short-term efficiency but also in the long run. One example of a potential unintended consequence is in relation to decarbonisation - we need the right portfolio of wind and renewables, but also storage and flexible generation to operate when wind is idle. A good market will find the best mix for us, adjustments to the market must minimise the likelihood of interfering with this. So that's the problem facing European decision-makers right now. In this episode I am joined by Bram Claeys, Senior Advisor with the The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), which is an independent, global NGO advancing energy policy innovation. This group have reviewed the potential options to solve this energy market conundrum, and have put forward some proposals of their own which we will discuss. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hanns Koenig, our Head of Commissioned Projects for Central Europe, is joined by one of the leading voices of the Polish energy sector - Monika Morawiecka, Senior Advisor at The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). RAP is a think-tank advising predominantly governments in creating better energy sector regulation. Prior to RAP, Monika had a distinguished career in the energy sector, with more than 15 years at Poland's largest utility PGE. Her roles at PGE included Head of Strategy at PGE Group and CEO of PGE's Offshore Wind division, PGE Baltica. Hanns and Monika discuss: • The current state of the Polish energy market • The energy crisis and the impact of Russia's war in Ukraine on the energy transition in Poland • The role offshore wind can play in the Polish energy mix

Dr Jan Rosenow joins us on the first day of CoP26 to talk about the decarbonisation of our buildings and how we transition to zero carbon heating. The conversation includes the electrification of heat and how we ensure a just transition.As the director of European programmes, Dr. Jan Rosenow leads RAP's initiatives in Europe on power market design and Efficiency First. He is responsible for all aspects of leadership, management, and financial viability of RAP's work in Europe.Dr. Rosenow serves on the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency's demand-side management program and sits on the board of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. He has also advised the International Energy Agency, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), government departments in a number of countries, and the UK's Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, as well as serving as an expert witness on several occasions to the British Parliament. He was the lead author of the International Energy Agency's global assessment of market-based instruments for energy efficiency.Dr. Rosenow also has a strong track record in energy research. He is an honorary research associate at Oxford University's renowned Environmental Change Institute. He has authored more than 70 publications in the form of peer-reviewed papers, technical reports, and conference papers. He has also served as an expert witness to the House of Commons.In 2020, Dr. Rosenow was elected to be a fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) in light of his “longstanding dedication to moving the UK towards a more sustainable and resilient energy future.”Prior to his engagement with RAP, he worked closely with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy through his policy work for the global consultancy Ricardo. Dr. Rosenow earned several post-graduate qualifications, including a master's degree in environmental policy and regulation from the London School of Economics and a doctorate from Oxford University.

In this episode, we’re looking at the topic of regulation and the role it plays in the transition to new energy. Although many aspects of energy markets have been liberalised in many ways in many countries, energy is certainly not a completely free market. Regulation plays a critical role, both with competitive markets, and of course networks which are more heavily regulated as natural monopolies. Regulations – and the policies underpinning them – have, naturally, been built around ‘old energy’. It now needs to evolve and facilitate, even lead the transition to ‘new energy’. We are joined by Jan Rosenow, Director of European Programmes, Zsuzsanna Pató, Senior Advisor, and Richard Sedano, President and CEO, at Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). For more information on our research, visit www.delta-ee.com. 

Distributed energy resources (or DERs) – such as distributed solar or wind, demand response, and energy storage – have long been touted as part of the solution to create a more flexible, resilient and clean electric grid. These DERs are growing in popularity and the demand for consumer-sited resources is surging, as prices drop and people seek greater energy security. Yet, despite their fanfare, DERs still remain a relatively small percentage of the electricity grid and an underutilized resource when it comes to utility distribution system operations and planning. DERs have the potential to yield a more flexible and resilient (and, ultimately, a more reliable) grid – but only if that potential is allowed to be realized. In this episode, I speak with Jessica Shipley of the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) and Brian Lydic of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)to explore what is happening on the cutting edge of DER policies, regulations, codes and standards. We’ll also talk about grid flexibility, resilience, and what more is needed to unlock the full potential of DERS.

This week Ranjit Bharvirkar, director of the India Program at the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), and Kartikeya Singh (CSIS Energy Program and the CSIS Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies) discuss the prospects for energy reforms during Modi’s second term and ongoing power sector developments within Indian states.

This week Ranjit Bharvirkar, director of the India Program at the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), and Kartikeya Singh (CSIS Energy Program and the CSIS Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies) discuss the prospects for energy reforms during Modi’s second term and ongoing power sector developments within Indian states.

Saturday 14th April 2018. ELON SHOWS OFF MODEL 3 PRODUCTION LINE CBS cameras got to see what we’ve always wanted – behind the scenes of the Model 3 Production Line. CBS began by saying “The pioneering electric car company Tesla has suffered a series of very public challenges since the beginning of this year. Its high-profile CEO Elon Musk called this a period of "production hell." Most of the troubles revolve around the company's Model 3 sedan, its first mid-priced, mass-produced electric car.  Now this is what I’ll do, the audio is 9 mins long if you edit together all the different videos they put out, so I’ll put that out as a special podcast straight after this one. That way if you’re not bothered by Tesla – and whilst it has its fans I know some people don’t want to know every minor details – you don’t have to download it.   AUDI E-TRON VISION The Audi e-tron VisionGT, that’s the car which started life as a Gran Turismo computer game car until Audi went ahead and made one for real, has hit the track in Rome. It’s at the Formula E event there. Audi Sport tweeted: “Our first passenger in Rome: Formula Es Alejandro Agag.”   GM MAKING CARS BASED ON BOLT TECH Ken Kelzer, GM’s vice president has pointed to GM launching two new electric cars based off the Bolt technology. He also made clear ICE isn’t dead yet even through they’re pushing forward with EVs. “It’s not like we’re leaving internal combustion engines behind — we’re working on both. Depending on what’s going to happen with government regulation and consumer acceptance, that’s when we’re going to find out. Everyone in the industry is working to make internal combustion engines more efficient.”   GM EXPANDS FAST CHARGING NETWORK WITH EVGO As electrification of the transportation sector expands, automakers are trying to attract customers by guaranteeing them a place to charge. EVgo's new announcement shows that strategy can extend into the car sharing market, reports Utility Dive: "Maven makes carsharing for the Gig economy easier," Julia Steyn, vice president Maven and urban mobility at GM, said in a statement. The agreement will make charging "seamless," she said. “EVgo will construct an electric vehicle fast charger network for General Motor Co.'s car sharing brand available to Maven Gig Chevrolet Bolt drivers. EVgo operates the largest network of public fast charging stations in the United States, and the agreement builds on work the two companies are already doing in more than a half dozen major cities. The move is a sign more auto brands are associating themselves with specific charging networks. For instance, BMW's ChargeNow program offers two years of free charging at participating EVgo stations.”   SHARING ECONOMY APPLIED TO EV CHARGING “EV charging points in the UK could be 100,000 locations if everyone shared their connection. That’s according to low carbon vehicle infrastructure firm Bookmycharge”, says EnergyLiveNews, “which expects this figure to soar following a 13.5% rise in the sale of EVs between January and March, compared to the same period last year. It says there are now more than 85,000 chargepoints operating at homes across the UK, compared with 6,152 public charging locations. Jan Stannard, Co-Founder of Bookmycharge, said: “We want to encourage a ‘sharing economy’ approach so that the EV community has guaranteed access to the wealth of home charging locations across the country.”   BMW ON TARGET FOR EV SALES Praise be to BMW who are sharing more sales data than most. ElectricCarsReport points out that “The BMW Group is targetingsales of at least 140,000 electrified models in 2018 and is well on track to achieving that, with global sales of these models totalling almost 27,000 the Q1. First-quarter sales of BMW i, BMW iPerformance and MINI Electric vehicles leapt 78.0% in the USA, the company’s largest single market for electrified vehicles. With a total of 5,743 vehicles delivered in the first three months of the year, 8% of all BMW Group sales in USA were electrified.”   DRIVETRIBE TO PROMOTE AUDI EVS “Auto publisher DriveTribe has brought aboard one of the world’s biggest car manufactures as its first major partner” according to The Drum, “Audi will use DriveTribe as a hub and lean on its editorial team to tell unique stories about Audi’s electric vehicle plans and products. Additionally, this will promote Audi’s EV push to an audience of engaged car enthusiasts.”   STUDY SAYS AMPLE GRID CAPACITY FOR EVS “Electricity distribution networks in Europe run at well below their full potential, finds a new study from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). The findings show that the unused network capacity could be utilised for charging electric vehicles with little or no need for additional capacity. Smart pricing and smart grid technologies will be the keys” says The Energy Collective: “Shifting EV charging to periods when existing resources are readily available would keep incremental investment in infrastructure to a minimum. All consumers, not just those with EVs, would benefit from spreading the costs of existing infrastructure over more load and minimising risky new investment.”   I’d love to spread the word about electric cars so, if you can, share this somebody who might be interested. You can listen to every previous episode of this podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, YouTube, TuneIn, and the blog https://www.evnewsdaily.com/ – subscribe for free and get every new episode automatically and first. It would really mean a lot if you could take 2mins to leave a quick review on iTunes which will help us spread the word to a wider audience about electric cars. And if you have an Amazon Echo, download our Alexa Skill, search for EV News Daily and add it as a flash briefing. Come and say hi on Twitter @EVNewsDaily, have a wonderful day, and I'll catch you tomorrow.   CONNECT WITH ME! evne.ws/stitcher evne.ws/itunes evne.ws/tunein evne.ws/googleplay evne.ws/youtube evne.ws/blog

The power grid. Most of us don't think too much about what's behind the switches and the wires and the circuits. Will the lights come on when you flip on a light switch at home or will you be left in the dark? Will those electrons come from a solar farm or from an aging coal power plant? Well, some among us do think a lot about these questions, and more: how can we make our power sector run more efficiently and cleanly? How can we reduce the carbon and pollution footprint of the power sector? In the second episode in our Green Power mini-series, we chat with Christopher James, a Principal with the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), about China's latest round of power sector reform. We learn why "regional balancing,"  "economic/green dispatch," and a shift in the utility business-model paradigm are key to decarbonizing China's power sector. Chris joins us with over 30 years' experience working on implementing environmental regulations, and has been in and out of China for over a decade helping to translate this experience into practical improvements in China's power sector management system. To learn more about RAP and Chris' work, check out the RAP website at raponline.org.