In this week’s episode, host Kristin Hayes talks with Maureen Leddy, who serves as director of the Office of Climate Change at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Leddy discusses the state’s recently approved Scoping Plan, which proposes strategies for meeting the state’s emissions-reduction goals that are required by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019. Leddy reviews how the plan was developed, the community engagement involved in the development process, and specific emissions-reduction strategies that are outlined in the Scoping Plan.

References and recommendations:

“New York State Climate Action Council Scoping Plan” from the New York State Climate Action Council; https://climate.ny.gov/ScopingPlan

“Estimating the Value of Carbon: Two Approaches” by Resources for the Future and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; https://www.rff.org/publications/reports/estimating-the-value-of-carbon-two-approaches/

“The Energy Gang” podcast; https://www.woodmac.com/market-insights/types/podcasts/the-energy-gang/

New York’s Scoping Plan for Climate Action, with Maureen Leddy

The eARThumanities: Reimagining Net-Zero project at NYU Abu Dhabi is an initiative that proposes a dynamic way of thinking about a new just and inclusive development paradigm for a net-zero world.

The power sector is a critical component of achieving the goal of net zero, as it is responsible for 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning to a low-carbon power system is essential for reducing these emissions and achieving a sustainable future. However, this process will require finding clean and renewable alternatives that will be as reliable and affordable as fossil fuels-based power generation. Investments in energy efficiency and energy storage technologies will be necessary to support the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the power grid. Moreover, the electrification of other sectors, such as transportation and buildings, will further increase the demand for clean electricity. Achieving net zero will require a coordinated effort to decarbonize the power sector, and it is essential for governments, businesses, and civil society to work together to achieve this goal.

Speakers:
Amy Myers Jaffe
Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab, New York University’s School of Professional Studies
Amy Myers Jaffe is a leading expert on global energy policy, energy and sustainability, and geopolitical risk and author of “Energy’s Digital Future: Harnessing Innovation for American Resilience and National Security,” published by Columbia University Press in January 2021. Jaffe currently serves as Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab and a research professor at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. She is co-chair of the Women in Energy Initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and a faculty research affiliate at the Climate Policy Lab at Tufts University.

Roland Roesch 
Acting Director at the Innovation and Technology Center (IITC), IRENA
Roland Roesch oversees IRENA's work on advising member countries on energy scenarios and planning, power sector transformation, renewable generation, cost and markets, technology status and innovation outlooks, and project development guidelines. Dr. Roesch joined IRENA in 2012 and has worked in multiple work programs since. For two years prior to joining IRENA, he was a professor for energy economics at the University of Applied Science in Damstadt. Previously, he worked for 15 years in the oil and gas and utilities industries for Shell and E.ON, latterly as General Manager Power with Shell and as Head of Division, Project Leader, Project Executive and Technical Project Developer with E.ON. Previously, he worked as an Energy Market Consultant for Lahmeyer International and as a researcher in renewable energy.

Power Sector with Amy Myers Jaffe and Roland Roesch

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Resources for the Future (RFF) Research Associate Maya Domeshek and Senior Research Analyst Nicholas Roy about the Inflation Reduction Act and the emissions reductions that the law could achieve, according to projections from various energy models in an analysis they published recently in “Science” magazine. Domeshek and Roy discuss the projections; the law’s potential costs, benefits, and effects on electricity prices; the differences among the models in their analysis; the caveats of economic models; and how decisionmakers can use the modeling results to improve policy.

References and recommendations:

“Emissions and energy impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act” by John Bistline, Geoffrey Blanford, Maxwell Brown, Dallas Burtraw, Maya Domeshek, Jamil Farbes, Allen Fawcett, Anne Hamilton, Jesse Jenkins, Ryan Jones, Ben King, Hannah Kolus, Joh, Larsen, Amanda Levin, Megan Mahajan, Cara Marcy, Erin Mayfield, James McFarland, Haewon McJeon, Robbie Orvis, Neha Patankar, Kevin Rennert, Christopher Roney, Nicholas Roy, Greg Schivley, Daniel Steinberg, Nadejda Victor, Shelley Wenzel, John Weyant, Ryan Wiser, Mei Yuan, and Alicia Zhao; https://www.rff.org/publications/journal-articles/emissions-and-energy-impacts-of-the-inflation-reduction-act/

“Beyond Clean Energy: The Financial Incidence and Health Effects of the IRA” by Nicholas Roy, Maya Domeshek, Dallas Burtraw, Karen Palmer, Kevin Rennert, Jhih-Shyang Shih, and Seth Villanueva; https://www.rff.org/publications/reports/beyond-clean-energy-the-financial-incidence-and-health-effects-of-the-ira/

“The 45V Hydrogen Tax Credit: Considerations for US Treasury Guidance” RFF Live event; https://www.rff.org/events/rff-live/the-45v-hydrogen-tax-credit-considerations-for-us-treasury-guidance/

“After the Flood” by Lydia Barnett; https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/11510/after-flood

“Field Trip” podcast; https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/field-trip/

How Much will the Inflation Reduction Act Reduce Emissions?, with Maya Domeshek and Nicholas Roy

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Ben Storrow, a reporter with E&E News, about recent challenges for the offshore wind industry. Storrow discusses state and federal goals for offshore wind development; how factors related to inflation, supply chains, installation capacity, and tax rules can create obstacles for wind projects; and methods for pushing offshore wind projects through these obstacles and toward successful development.

References and recommendations:

“What is an ‘Energy Community’? Understanding the Effects of the Inflation Reduction Act” event hosted by Resources for the Future; https://www.rff.org/events/rff-live/what-is-an-energy-community/

“Dune” series of books by Frank Herbert; https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/AU8/dune

Not a Shore Thing: Challenges in US Offshore Wind Development, with Ben Storrow

In this episode, Uzair talks to Sardar Awais Leghari, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), about the recently announced incentives for electric vehicle charging in Pakistan because of which tariffs will be cut by almost 45 percent. We spoke about why this announcement was made and what impact Minister Leghari anticipates as an outcome of these policy incentives.

We also spoke about near-term reform priorities in the power sector for 2025 and the minister’s views on uniform and competitive pricing for electricity in Pakistan.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:39 EV charging incentives
8:20 Solar net metering
16:20 Reform priorities for 2025
20:50 Competitive pricing

Episode 228 - Pakistan moves towards an electric vehicle revolution

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Sandeep Pai, director of climate and energy policy at Swaniti Global. Pai grew up in India’s coal belt; he has spent his career examining the coal and energy sectors in India, first as a journalist and now as a researcher and advisor focused on justice in the clean energy transition. He joins the podcast to discuss India’s energy and power sectors: the unique trajectory of the country in first carbonizing its economy and now decarbonizing and building out its renewable energy sector while balancing its goals for economic development. Pai also discusses what justice in the energy transition looks like in different contexts around the world, and how political and social realities shape the challenges and considerations involved in building an equitable clean energy future.

References and recommendations:

“The Climate Question” podcast from the BBC; https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xtvb6

What’s the Role of Coal in India?, with Sandeep Pai

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Diana Hernández, an associate professor and codirector of the Energy Opportunity Lab at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, about the struggles that ordinary Americans face in accessing affordable and reliable energy. In her recently released book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy, Hernández documents how energy insecurity affects people across the country and analyzes policy solutions that can help address the challenge. Hernández explains the interconnections among housing, public health, and poverty through stories which highlight the highly personal nature of energy insecurity and the difficult choices many Americans must make between essential expenses. Hernández then outlines potential improvements to existing energy-assistance programs, including increased support for year-round energy expenses and program adaptations to accommodate a changing climate.

References and recommendations:

“Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy” by Diana Hernández and Jennifer Laird, https://www.russellsage.org/publications/powerless

“Abundance” by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson; https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Abundance/Ezra-Klein/9781668023488

“Plundered” by Bernadette Atuahene; https://bernadetteatuahene.com/plundered/

“Debí Tirar Más Fotos” album by Bad Bunny; https://www.allmusic.com/album/deb%C3%AD-tirar-m%C3%A1s-fotos-mw0004451357

Energy Affordability Is Personal, with Diana Hernandez

Resources Radio is a weekly podcast by Resources for the Future. Each week we talk to leading experts about climate change, electricity, ecosystems, and more, making the latest research accessible to everyone.

Pakistan's first podcast focused on the country's economy, simplifying the complex relationships between paisa, politics and the public.

Presented by Tabadlab.

New tracks tagged #power sector