Utility Transition HubTM Insights
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Running the Numbers: How Clean Electricity Tax Credits Could Save Americans $5 Billion by 2024
The clean energy transition is already well under way, and a new RMI analysis shows that tax credits for clean electricity would accelerate this transition and save American households over $5 billion annually by 2024.
blog
A Fair Green Deal for the Last Coal Plant in Mississippi
Late in 2021, Southern Company, the giant utility headquartered in Atlanta, announced it would pursue the retirement or conversion of 15 coal-fired generation units at its power plants, totaling nearly 9,000 MW of capacity.
blog
RMI Reality Check: COVID, Not Clean Energy, Drove Rise in Electricity Burden
This blog examines three trends with big implications for how utilities move forward with energy transition, and investigates some benefits of clean energy generation for utility customers.
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Webinar - The Economic Dispatch Dashboard
RMI | February 14, 2025
In this video, Joe Daniel and Gaby Tosado demonstrate how RMI’s new Economic Dispatch Dashboard can be used to view monthly operational economics of active coals plants in the US.
Fri Feb 14 2025 15:59:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)blog
Why Purchased Power is Such a Big Deal to Better Understand US Utilities’ Climate Impact
Jon Rea, Obianuju Ugwu-Oju | August 25, 2022
For RMI’s Utility Transition Hub, new data on power purchased by US utilities yields a more complete picture of total emissions
Thu Aug 25 2022 15:23:25 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)report
Ensuring an Inclusive Clean Energy Transition
Claire Wang, Sam Mardell, Jeremy Richardson, Uday Varadarajan | May 25, 2022
RMI's recovery and revitalization framework that can help policymakers design and implement comprehensive climate policy that works for communities affected by the energy transition and equip advocates to fight for strong policies.
Wed May 25 2022 16:56:15 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) state policy, just transition, workforce, community, economic development, redevelopmentblog
Running the Numbers: How Clean Electricity Tax Credits Could Save Americans $5 Billion by 2024
RMI | May 24, 2022
The clean energy transition is already well under way, and a new RMI analysis shows that tax credits for clean electricity would accelerate this transition and save American households over $5 billion annually by 2024.
Tue May 24 2022 16:04:36 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)blog
A Fair Green Deal for the Last Coal Plant in Mississippi
RMI | May 12, 2022
Late in 2021, Southern Company, the giant utility headquartered in Atlanta, announced it would pursue the retirement or conversion of 15 coal-fired generation units at its power plants, totaling nearly 9,000 MW of capacity.
Thu May 12 2022 15:59:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)video
How Regional and Local Journalists Can Better Understand Their Energy Landscape
RMI | January 20, 2022
A video walkthrough of RMI's Utility Transition Hub, an online platform that provides stakeholders with freely available and actionable data and insights about utility finances, operations, and emissions.
Thu Jan 20 2022 15:59:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)blog
Thoughtful and Patient Capital: Unlocking the Electrification Opportunity
Rachit Kansal, Ryan Foelske | December 20, 2021
Electric utilities - and by extension, infrastructure investors - are crucial to the success of the global clean energy transition. Meeting this goal requires a wide approach to climate metrics that goes beyond emissions.
Mon Dec 20 2021 17:52:14 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)blog
RMI Reality Check: COVID, Not Clean Energy, Drove Rise in Electricity Burden
RMI | December 17, 2021
This blog examines three trends with big implications for how utilities move forward with energy transition, and investigates some benefits of clean energy generation for utility customers.
Fri Dec 17 2021 23:35:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Energy burden, electricity burden, emissions, clean energyreport
U.S. Federal Policy: Build Back Better legislation can reduce the burden of household energy costs and advance climate goals.
| November 18, 2021
Thu Nov 18 2021 21:09:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)blog
One Simple Tax Change Could Unlock Critical Clean Energy Infrastructure
RMI | November 5, 2021
This blog asserts that the proposed Build Back Better Act can be a transformative climate package that can rapidly accelerate the clean energy transition to meet climate targets and reduce electricity rates.
Fri Nov 05 2021 16:00:56 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Federal policy; transition finance; build back better; ITC; PTC; tax; direct payblog
RMI Reality Check: Proposed Clean Energy Incentives Would Save Electricity Customers Billions
RMI | November 4, 2021
This blog highlights that clean energy tax credits and low-cost financing provisions in the Build Back Better framework can help customers save on electricity costs.
Thu Nov 04 2021 15:59:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Federal policy; transition finance; build back betterreport
Financing The Coal Transition
RMI | November 3, 2021
This report shows how financial mechanisms can complement policy and regulation to help achieve a rapid, equitable, and smooth coal transition.
Wed Nov 03 2021 16:03:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; transition finance; coal, testreport
Financing Tools for an Equitable Transition to a Clean Economy
RMI | October 8, 2021
This blog describes how US federal policy can enable utilities' transition from fossil generation assets to low-carbon operation, mitigate transition energy burdens, and address the needs of frontline energy communities.
Fri Oct 08 2021 03:41:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Federal policy; transition finance; build back betterblog
Build Back Better Act would reduce the burden of household energy costs
RMI | October 4, 2021
This op-ed asserts that the Build Back Better legislation being considered in the US Congress can go a long way toward ensuring that energy burdens are lessened and our shift to clean energy is equitable.
Mon Oct 04 2021 20:29:37 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Energy burden; federal policynewsletter
Newsletter #2, October 2021
RMI | October 1, 2021
Utility Transition Hub Newsletter focused on Bringing Transparency to Energy Burden.
Fri Oct 01 2021 15:09:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Energy burden; federal policy; newsletternewsletter
Newsletter #1, August 2021
RMI | August 1, 2021
Utility Transition Hub Newsletter focused on the new Data Download.
Sun Aug 01 2021 15:04:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Data; federal policy; newsletterreport
PUC Modernization Issue Briefs
RMI | July 12, 2021
This series of Public Utility Commission (PUC) Modernization Issue Briefs focuses on three dimensions—purpose, people, and process—and aims to assist policymakers, advocates, and regulators in their zero-carbon efforts.
Mon Jul 12 2021 20:25:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) PBR; regulation; stateblog
When a Coal Plant Gets Built on Top of a Highway, What Happens When It Closes?
RMI | July 6, 2021
This blog explores the uncertain future of the 2.2 gigawatt W.H. Sammis coal-fired power plant in Stratton, Ohio, and the opportunity to clean up and redevelop similar sites vulnerable to closure in the near term.
Tue Jul 06 2021 03:48:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Coal; energy transitionblog
The Untapped Potential of Public Utility Commissions
RMI | July 4, 2021
This blog highlights the need for modernization of public utility commissions (PUCs) and explores three dimensions of PUC modernization: purpose, people, and process.
Sun Jul 04 2021 03:47:20 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) PBR; regulation; stateblog
Simple Tax Changes Can Unleash Clean Energy Deployment
RMI | June 4, 2021
This blog explores how US tax regulations prevent utilities from using the federal government’s most important clean energy incentives, and presents changes to tax incentives that can unleash the deployment of renewables.
Fri Jun 04 2021 03:40:52 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Federal policy; transition finance; build back better; ITC; PTC; tax; direct paybriefing
Creating an Equitable and Durable US Climate Policy
RMI | June 2, 2021
This policy brief identifies five key objectives for climate policy to create an equitable and durable energy transition and proposes a suite of policy tools that build off existing programs.
Wed Jun 02 2021 03:38:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Federal policy; equity; energy burden; carbon productivity; tax credit; transitionreport
The United States’ Role in Limiting Warming to 1.5°C
RMI | April 2, 2021
This report reveals that limiting cumulative emissions requires that the United States prioritize immediately replacing existing fossil fuel infrastructure with efficient, zero-emissions alternatives, wherever possible.
Fri Apr 02 2021 03:37:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Climate Alignment; 1.5 degrees; 1.5Cgraphic
Key Insights on the Utility Transition
RMI | March 4, 2021
This interactive graphic with data analysis surfaces the less visible forces below the water line that drive future utility emissions.
Thu Mar 04 2021 04:36:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)blog
Securitization in Action
RMI | March 3, 2021
This blog describes how Wisconsin, Michigan, and New Mexico have authorized utilities to use securitization to mitigate the impacts of coal plant retirement.
Wed Mar 03 2021 04:34:57 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policy; transition finance; coalblog
Five Lessons from Hawaii’s Groundbreaking PBR Framework
RMI | February 3, 2021
This blog offers five important takeaways from Hawaii's experience adopting a comprehensive performance-based regulatory framework for the islands’ investor-owned utilities to align their business incentives with clean energy and customer service goals.
Wed Feb 03 2021 04:31:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Regulation; Business Models; Commissionreport
How to Build Clean Energy Portfolios
RMI | February 2, 2021
This report presents recommendations for updated electricity resource procurement processes that address diverse, jurisdiction-specific values (e.g., resilience, decarbonization, local economic development) that utility stakeholders seek.
Tue Feb 02 2021 04:33:15 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Renewables; Storage; Demand Flexibility; Demand Response; Regulation; Planningfeasibility-study
Feasibility Study for Minnesota Power – Phase 2
RMI | February 2, 2021
Phase 2 of a feasibility study for Minnesota Power, which dives into quantitative modeling to assess the potential financial impacts of securitization on current and future customers of Minnesota Power as well as on the utility’s investors.
Tue Feb 02 2021 04:27:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policyreport
Seeds of Opportunity
RMI | January 2, 2021
This report quantifies the scale of the economic development opportunity from the growth of onshore wind and utility-scale solar projects in rural areas and offers recommendations for local, state, and federal leaders to unlock this opportunity.
Sat Jan 02 2021 04:23:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Workforce; jobsfeasibility-study
Feasibility Study for Minnesota Power – Phase 1
RMI | September 2, 2020
Phase 1 of a feasibility study for Minnesota Power, which describes and quantifies the opportunities and challenges for Minnesota Power in utilizing securitization to address unrecovered costs.
Wed Sep 02 2020 03:19:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policyreport
PIMs for Progress
RMI | July 2, 2020
This report reviews select historical performance incentive mechanisms that can motivate utilities with financial rewards and penalties to deploy and utilize distributed energy resources.
Thu Jul 02 2020 03:17:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Regulation; Business Models; Commissionreport
US Stimulus Strategy
RMI | June 3, 2020
This report outlines recommendations for four key programs that US policymakers can use to jumpstart the economy, address equity, and advance a low- or zero-carbon future for the United States.
Wed Jun 03 2020 03:16:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Federal policy; transition finance; build back betterreport
How To Retire Early
RMI | June 2, 2020
This report estimates that replacing the entire fleet of global coal plants with clean energy plus battery storage could be done at a net annual savings as early as 2022.
Tue Jun 02 2020 03:15:36 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; transition finance; coalreport
Identifying the Least-Cost Regulatory Framework for Colorado’s Energy Transition
RMI | June 1, 2020
The paper demonstrates how performance-based utility regulation can achieve improved results for both shareholders and customers while reducing total energy demand and attracting innovative solutions.
Mon Jun 01 2020 13:05:30 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) PBR; regulation; stateblog
Decarbonization and Debt Forgiveness
RMI | April 2, 2020
This blog explores the potential for US federal policies that include debt forgiveness and reduction, structured to incentivize emissions reduction, to provide incentives and opportunities for workers and companies shut down by COVID.
Thu Apr 02 2020 03:14:25 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Federal policy; transition finance; build back betterreport
Powering Paradise
RMI | February 2, 2020
This report provides a comprehensive review of Hawaii’s clean energy journey, and offers lessons transferable to other US states engaging in their own transition to a 21st-century clean energy system.
Sun Feb 02 2020 04:12:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Hawaii; Regulation; State Policyreport
The Growing Market for Clean Energy Portfolios
RMI | September 2, 2019
These reports analyze the economics of more than US$100 billion worth of planned investment in new gas-fired power plants and interstate gas pipelines, and finds significant cost savings opportunities for US utilities prioritizing clean energy.
Mon Sep 02 2019 03:11:20 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Renewables; Storage; Demand Flexibility; Demand Response; Regulation; Planningreport
Harnessing Financial Tools to Transform the Electric Sector (2019)
Sierra Club | September 2, 2019
This report examines how the cost of keeping outdated coal plants online is a bad deal for both utilities and for customers, and how securitization can alleviate that financial burden.
Mon Sep 02 2019 03:03:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; transition finance; coal; Sierra Clubtestimony
Environmental Law & Policy Center and Iowa Environmental Council Rebuttal Testimony
RMI | August 1, 2019
Rebuttal testimony of Uday Varadarajan on behalf of Environmental Law & Policy Center and Iowa Environmental Council.
Thu Aug 01 2019 15:21:20 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policytestimony
Environmental Law & Policy Center and Iowa Environmental Council Testimony
RMI | August 1, 2019
Direct testimony of Uday Varadarajan on behalf of Environmental Law & Policy Center and Iowa Environmental Council.
Thu Aug 01 2019 15:20:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policyreport
Process for Purpose
RMI | February 2, 2019
This paper reviews regulatory reform efforts undertaken by 10 states, describes the processes by which reform can proceed, and identifies the most significant factors that impact reform efforts’ effectiveness.
Sat Feb 02 2019 03:58:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Regulation; Business Models; Commissionreport
Harnessing Financial Tools to Transform the Electric Sector (2018)
Sierra Club | November 2, 2018
This paper outlines how energy professionals can use financial tools like green tariffs, securitization, and capital recycling to take advantage of the cost savings associated with coal phase-out.
Fri Nov 02 2018 03:05:46 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; transition finance; coal; Sierra Clubreport
Navigating Utility Business Model Reform
RMI | November 1, 2018
This report seeks to establish foundational utility reform options, poses key questions to explore their applicability, identifies illustrative experiences for ideas and concepts, and explores policy implementation options to help spur action.
Thu Nov 01 2018 16:54:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) PBR; regulation; statetestimony
Coastal Conservation League and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Surrebuttal Testimony
RMI | October 1, 2018
Surrebuttal testimony of Uday Varadarajan on behalf of South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Mon Oct 01 2018 15:19:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policytestimony
Coastal Conservation League and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Testimony
RMI | September 1, 2018
Testimony of Uday Varadarajan on behalf of South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Sat Sep 01 2018 15:18:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policytestimony
Minnesota Power Rate Case Testimony 2
RMI | June 1, 2017
Direct testimony of Uday Varadarajan, Minnesota Power Rate Case, June 2017.
Thu Jun 01 2017 15:17:12 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policytestimony
Minnesota Power Rate Case Testimony 1
Climate Policy Initiative | May 1, 2017
Direct testimony of Uday Varadarajan, Minnesota Power Rate Case, May 2017.
Mon May 01 2017 15:15:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policytestimony
Western Resource Advocates Testimony
Climate Policy Initiative | October 1, 2016
Answer testimony and exhibits of Uday Varadarajan on behalf of Western Resource Advocates.
Sat Oct 01 2016 15:22:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Securitization; state policy