From COP 27 to Corporations: Electrifying Industry to Meet U.S. Climate Goals

11/21/22 • 48 min

At the COP27 Climate Change Conference, governments representing more half of the global economy announced an action plan to speed the decarbonization of power, road transport, steel, hydrogen, and agriculture. The U.S., Canada, Germany, Japan, and other nations backed a set of 25 "Priority Actions" to decarbonize industry, including scaled deployment of net-zero industrial plants and stimulating global demand for low-carbon industrial goods.
So, what does that COP27 agreement mean for industrial stakeholders? The U.S. industrial sector is ripe for innovation and exciting electrification advancements are paving the way toward decarbonization. This episode discusses industrial heating innovations and outlines why the time is right for industrial corporations to implement the technologies that reduce emissions at scale.
Guest Bios:
Jeffrey Rissman is the Director of Industry with Energy Innovation. Jeff leads the organization’s work on technologies and policies to achieve net-zero GHG emissions from the industrial sector. He is also the creator of the Energy Policy Simulator, a computer model quantifying cost and emissions impacts of various clean energy policies. Jeff holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from UNC Chapel Hill, and a B.A. in International Relations with honors from Stanford University.
Jibran Zuberi is a Research Scholar with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has an engineering background and research experience of working on topics related to industrial energy efficiency, integrated energy systems, and emissions reduction. His current research focuses on developing decarbonization strategies for industrial systems, understanding emerging technologies, and RD&D opportunities. He was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Environmental Sciences at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

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

Electrification of U.S. Manufacturing With Industrial Heat Pumps, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Global Efficiency Intelligence (Nov 2022)
Decarbonizing Low-Temperature Industrial Heat in the U.S., Energy Innovation (Oct 2022)
Energy Policy Simulator, Energy Innovation
COP 27 Climate Change Conference https://unfccc.int and The Breakthrough Agenda: A Master Plan to Accelerate Decarbonization of Five Major Sectors
U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Decarbonization Offices

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

Electrification of U.S. Manufacturing With Industrial Heat Pumps, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Global Efficiency Intelligence (Nov 2022)
Decarbonizing Low-Temperature Industrial Heat in the U.S., Energy Innovation (Oct 2022)
Energy Policy Simulator, Energy Innovation
COP 27 Climate Change Conference https://unfccc.int and The Breakthrough Agenda: A Master Plan to Accelerate Decarbonization of Five Major Sectors
U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Decarbonization Offices

Previous Episode

The Inflation Reduction Act: What it Means for the U.S. Workforce, Consumers, and Climate

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:

Next Episode

National Leaders on the Future of Climate and Electrification

Three national climate policy stars kick off Season 3 to recap 2022 successes, predict what’s in store for 2023 on the policy front, and outline how the Inflation Reduction Act will benefit states, households, and the climate. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor of Florida, and Kelly Speakes-Backman of Invenergy share their insights on how we made major progress last year and why we can expect an action-packed year ahead!

Guest Bios
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (New Mexico) has served in the Senate since 2012 and sits on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources, Appropriations, Intelligence, and Joint Economic Committees. Senator Heinrich is focused on creating the jobs of the future and confronting the climate crisis. He served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and four years as an Albuquerque City Council, serving as City Council President. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri.
U.S. House of Representatives Kathy Castor (Florida) is Tampa Bay’s voice in the U.S. Congress. She was elected in 2006 and represents Florida’s 14th Congressional district, and is the first woman to represent Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in Congress. She serves as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Chair of the former Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. She previously served as a Hillsborough County Commissioner, Chair of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, and President of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers. She holds degrees from Emory University and Florida State University College of Law.
Kelly Speakes-Backman is the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs with Invenergy, where she leads communications, government affairs, and marketing activities. She previously served as the Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy, where she oversaw the planning and execution of the organization’s $3.2B portfolio of activities in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation. She also served as the first CEO of the Energy Storage Association and Commissioner of the Maryland Public Service Commission. Kelly was honored in 2019 by The Cleanie Awards as Woman of the Year.
To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources: