Electrify This!

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is the most significant climate legislation in United States history—$370 billion in climate and clean energy investments could help cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions roughly 40 percent by 2030. The IRA will transportation and building electrification, invigorate the U.S. clean energy supply chain, and enhance U.S. global competitiveness. But, how will it help average households and consumers? What does it mean for worrkers and the economy? And what's required to ensure successful implementation? Tune in to hear from two experts who will explain how consumers, workers, and the economy will benefit from IRA electrification provisions!
Guest Bios:
Jessica Eckdish is the Vice President of Legislation & Federal Affairs with the BlueGreen Alliance, where she directs the Alliance’s federal legislative, policy, and partnerships on climate, energy, and infrastructure issues. Prior to this role, she worked with the Sierra Club as Washington Representative, working on a range of federal issues including public health and clean air and water protections. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from UC Santa Barbara and an M.A. in Global Environmental Policy from the School of International Service at American University.
Mark Kresowik is a Senior Policy Director with the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) where he works at the local, state, utility, and federal levels to accelerate ambition for improving energy efficiency and center those most historically overburdened and underserved in our communities. Previously, Mark managed federal and international policy for RMI’s Carbon-Free Buildings Program and led clean energy campaigns with the Sierra Club. Mark graduated with honors from the University of Iowa.
To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act: A Roadmap for State Electricity Policy (Energy Innovation)
• Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act: A Roadmap for Federal and State Transportation Policy (Energy Innovation)
• Fact Sheet: Clean Energy Tax Credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (BGA)
• Fact Sheet: Clean Manufacturing Investments in the Inflation Reduction Act (BGA)
• Fact Sheet: Clean Vehicle Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (BGA)
• Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Resource Center (BGA)
• A User Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act (BGA)
• Home Energy Upgrade Incentives: Programs in the Inflation Reduction Act and Other Recent Federal Laws (ACEEE)

Did you know the gas that heats many of our buildings, cooks our food, and dries our clothes causes air pollution? Recent studies demonstrate the climate and health harms of burning gas indoors, particularly in our kitchens. Gas stoves can emit up to 1.3 percent of the gas as unburned methane—a powerful greenhouse gas—along with other health-damaging air pollutants. Fortunately, electrified stoves offer a physician- and chef-approved solution! This episode stirs up this hot topic with a pediatrician, a senior research scientist and a professional chef discussing ways we can all cook clean!
Guest Bios:
Dr. Curtis Nordgaard is a pediatrician and is part of a group called PSE Healthy Energy, where he does research on natural gas and its implications for human health. Dr. Nordgaard holds two Master of Science degrees in Psychology and Biology from McMaster University, and a Medical Degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his residency training at the Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School combined training program in pediatrics. He also trains resident pediatricians at a community health center in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.
Dr. Eric Lebel is a Senior Scientist at PSE Healthy Energy, where he does research on emissions of methane and health-damaging air pollutants, including those from abandoned oil and gas wells and residential appliances. He has worked to develop new methods for quantifying emissions of methane and other pollutants throughout the state of California, authoring several research studies on the topic. Eric graduated from Stanford University with a PhD in Environmental Earth System Science.
Chef Christopher Galarza, Founder of Forward Dining Solutions LLC, is an entrepreneur, author, public speaker, and podcaster renowned for his work in kitchen electrification. He is the country’s foremost expert in commercial electric-kitchens, and he works with governments, manufacturers, brands, designers, and chefs to create lasting sustainable kitchens and culinary ecosystems. Chef Galarza has worked for Carnegie Melon University, Monterey Bay of Pittsburgh, and The Greenbrier of WV where he apprenticed under several Certified Master Chefs and culinary Olympians.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:
· PSE Healthy Energy
· Forward Dining Solutions
· Did I Turn Off the Stove? Yes, but Maybe Not the Gas (New York Times)
· Home is Where the Pipeline Ends: Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds Present in Natural Gas at the Point of the Residential End User
· Measuring Methane and NOx Emissions from Gas Stoves
· Building Decarbonization Practice Guide
· The Electric Explainer: Key programs in the Inflation Reduction Act and what they mean for Americans
Note: This episode was recorded prior to the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes new incentives for electrification, including for induction and electric stoves.

An all-star line-up closes out the year with reflections on 2021 and predictions for 2022. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with electrify everything pioneer Saul Griffith, policy expert and former Energy Gang podcast co-host Katherine Hamilton, and leading climate and clean energy commentator David Roberts. Tune in to hear three electrification dynamos recap 2021’s biggest developments in the transition from fossil to clean electricity, share the latest scoop on the Build Back Better Act, and predict what’s in store for electrification in 2022.
Guests:

Saul Griffith is an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, and author of the book Electrify: An Optimist's Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future. Saul is the founder and chief scientist at Otherlab, an independent R&D lab that helps government agencies and Fortune 500 companies understand energy infrastructure and deep decarbonization. He is also the founder and chief scientist at Rewiring America, a nonprofit dedicated to decarbonizing America by electrifying everything. Prior to pursuing his passion for electrification, Saul led research projects for the likes of NASA, the National Science Foundation and U.S. Special Operations Command, among others, and he has founded and co-founded numerous technology companies. He completed his PhD at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2004 and was a recipient of a MacArthur “genius grant” in 2007.

Katherine Hamilton is the Chair of 38 North Solutions, a clean energy public policy consultancy with expertise in state, federal, and international markets. Katherine is currently the co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Clean Electrification. Katherine has served as President of the GridWise Alliance, policy advisor for Good Energies, Inc., buildings research lead for National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and engineer at Virginia Power. She studied electrical engineering at Northern Virginia Community College and holds degrees from Cornell University and the Sorbonne. Katherine was an original and longtime host of The Energy Gang podcast.

David Roberts is a writer and owner of Volts, a newsletter on clean energy and politics featuring in-depth analysis of the latest research, technologies, policies, and the social and political forces shaping the clean energy transition. David has had a long career as a journalist, writing five years for Vox, ten years for Grist. He’s also written for publications like Outside magazine and appeared on a variety of TV shows, radio programs, and podcasts.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Rewiring America
• Electrify: An Optimist's Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future
• The Other Lab
• 38 North Solutions
• World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Clean Electrification
• Volts
• Ithaca becomes the first city in the U.S. to try and electrify all buildings

We have the technology needed to drive the clean energy future, but what policies must we adopt now to actually reach that goal? In part two of our three-part series on electrifying transportation, host Sara Baldwin speaks with electric vehicle and electricity policy experts to explore the most critical policies needed for an all-electric transportation transition that also helps achieve a carbon-free grid within 15 years. We dive into the current state of play of federal EV and charging infrastructure policies, a federal clean electricity standard, policies to enhance America’s economic competitiveness, and approaches to ensure an equitable transition. You won’t want to miss this inside scoop on America’s clean energy policy landscape!

Dr. Kelly Fleming, Ph.D., Policy Director at Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA). Prior to joining ZETA, Kelly was a research and policy analyst at the Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy at University of California, Davis. She also received the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship where she served at the Department of Energy. She holds an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington and B.S. from the Colorado School of Mines, all in Chemical Engineering.

Mike O’Boyle, Director of Electricity Policy at Energy Innovation, directs the firm’s Power Sector Transformation program, working with policymakers, advocates, and others on policy and technology solutions for a clean, reliable, and affordable U.S. electricity system. Mike has co-authored foundational reports including Coal Cost Crossover 2.0, 2030 Report: Powering America’s Clean Economy, and A National Clean Electricity Standard to Benefit All Americans. Mike graduated cum laude from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, where he focused on energy and international law. He also has a B.A from Vanderbilt University.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Zero Emission Transportation Association Policy Platform (Zero Emission Transportation Association)
• 2035 Report 2.0: Plummeting Costs and Dramatic Improvements in Batteries Can Accelerate Our Clean Transportation Future (University of California, Berkeley, GridLab, and Energy Innovation, April 2021)
• Accelerating Clean, Electrified Transportation by 2035: Policy Priorities: A 2035 2.0 Companion Report(Energy Innovation and Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, April 2021)
• 2030 Report: Powering America’s Clean Economy (Energy Innovation)
• A National Clean Electricity Standard to Benefit All Americans (Energy Innovation)

The landmark $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will restore and expand the United States infrastructure. From improving roads, bridges, and rail, to expanding electric vehicle charging, to developing a more resilient grid and more efficient buildings, or to ensuring clean drinking water for all—this historic investment will spur construction in nearly every community in America. But it’s also a tremendous opportunity to reconsider how we build. Since the majority of construction equipment rely on fossil fuels, this sector is ripe for innovations that address climate change and air pollution. A new movement, led by several cities around the world, including Oslo, Norway, is underway to create a market for climate-friendly construction practices like electrified equipment. In this episode of Electrify This!, three experts discuss the global effort to scale clean, electrified construction. Learn how governments, the private sector, and NGOs are working collaboratively to create greater demand for electrified equipment, and hear insights into how these technologies could revolutionize the way we build.
Guests:
Heidi Sørensen, is the Director of the Climate Agency for the City of Oslo. She was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Oslo in 2001, and went on to become the State Secretary to the Minister of the Environment between 2007-2012. She has also served as a member of the Norwegian Consumer Council, the Norwegian Board of Technology, the board of the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.
Nils-Olav Haukaas is a senior consultant with CEPartnersAS and represents Nasta AS. For nearly three decades has been working in commercial sales and marketing of construction machines and mining machines. Nasta AS has represented Hitachi Construction Machines since 1982. He has also worked in health and safety, product compliance, risk assessments. He has also served on a Norwegian Committee on Zero Emission building and constructions sites and a Zero Emission Digger construction site.
Marta Lovisolo, is a Junior Policy Analyst at Bellona Europa in Brussels. Bellona is a climate NGO with headquarters in Norway and offices across several European countries. After supporting the city of Oslo in running the first zero emissions construction site in the world, Bellona is now disseminating the Norwegian experience to European cities and countries, as well as the the E.U.
To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

• Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction: 2018 Global Status Report
• California Air Resources Board Strategies for Reducing Emissions from Off-Road Construction Equipment
• “Electric Dreams: Will Heavy Construction Equipment Go All-Electric” Construct Connect
• How Oslo is driving a transition to clean construction, C40 Knowledge
• Bellona