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This report by Energy Innovation provides a quantitative analysis of the linked California-Quebec cap-and-trade program, identifying a systemic oversupply of carbon allowances. The author argues that emissions have fallen faster than regulators expected due to successful climate policies, technological innovation, and economic trends. While the program's price floor and holding limits act as stabilizers, the report suggests that the current oversupply has led to undersubscribed auctions. The author proposes four policy reforms—lowering caps, switching to annual compliance, increasing the price floor, and reducing free allowances—to drive more significant emission reductions and provide stable revenue for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) examines "M&V 2.0," or advanced measurement and verification of energy efficiency savings. It defines M&V 2.0 as the combination of automated analytics and increased data granularity (such as hourly interval data) to provide near-real-time savings estimates. The document outlines the benefits for various stakeholders, the current landscape of available tools, the challenges regarding data access and standardization, and the necessary steps for the industry to fully realize the potential of these advanced methods.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes the electricity costs for EVgo's network of 230 direct current fast chargers (DCFC) in California. It identifies high utility demand charges as a primary barrier to the profitability of public DCFC operators and evaluates how proposed EV-specific tariffs from Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) could reduce these costs.

This briefing by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes the landscape of home energy financing in the United States, identifying barriers to scaling both traditional and nontraditional lending products. It argues that the ease of origination and the timing of home improvements are more significant drivers of consumer choice than interest rates or loan terms.

This research paper by Energy Innovation outlines a five-step framework for state regulators to design grid modernization programs that maximize benefits for customers. The authors emphasize the use of outcome-oriented metrics across three primary goals—affordability, resilience, and environmental performance—and suggest tying utility revenue to performance against these targets to align incentives.

This World Resources Institute fact sheet provides data on employment growth within the United States clean energy economy, focusing on solar, wind, energy efficiency, and alternative fuel vehicle sectors as of early 2016 and 2017.

This briefing from RMI outlines eight priority areas for electricity innovation in 2017, based on a survey of the Electricity Innovation Lab (eLab) network. The document focuses on the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), the evolution of utility business models, and the need for improved customer engagement to transform the U.S. electricity system.

This briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines strategies to build climate-resilient urban food systems, focusing on the cities of Calgary and Edmonton. It argues that strengthening local food production and diversifying supply chains can mitigate risks posed by extreme weather and global supply shocks.

This RMI briefing discusses the significant electricity demand generated by the legal marijuana industry in the United States and proposes strategies for utilities and regulators to manage this load. It suggests that energy efficiency investments, on-site renewables, and time-varying rates to shift consumption to periods of low net load can help integrate renewable energy and reduce operating costs for growers.

RMI's briefing outlines a market-driven pathway to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C by the end of the century. The analysis suggests that a nearly 100 percent renewable energy system is feasible by the mid-2050s if the adoption of clean energy follows the disruptive S-curve patterns seen in previous industrial revolutions, such as the rise of the automobile.

A joint statement by indigenous peoples of Mexico, issued on December 4, 2016, during the COP 13 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cancún. The document denounces the 'predatory extractive model' and the 'green economy,' arguing that these frameworks facilitate the dispossession of indigenous territories and the privatization of ancestral knowledge.

This briefing by RMI, authored by WattTime co-founder Gavin McCormick, argues that managing climate change requires shifting from average to marginal carbon emissions measurements for electricity. The author explains that because the grid's marginal resource changes every 5 to 15 minutes, timing and locating energy use and generation based on real-time marginal data can significantly reduce CO2 emissions without requiring new infrastructure investments.

The paper introduces EconWEAP, a model integrating the State Wide Economic Agricultural Production Model (SWAP) and the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system to analyze the economic and hydrological impacts of climate change on water resource allocations.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes coal phase-out experiences in California, Denmark, France, and Beijing to derive lessons for China's national energy transition. Using a "window of opportunity" framework, it examines how context, champions, concerns, and complementary policies drive the shift from coal to cleaner energy sources.

This report by Energy Innovation debunks four common myths regarding the clean energy transition, arguing that decarbonizing the electricity sector is possible without sacrificing reliability or affordability. The authors contend that grid variability, overgeneration, high costs, and the role of natural gas are often misunderstood or based on outdated data, and that demand-side management, regional trading, and energy efficiency are key drivers of a low-carbon future.

This RMI report evaluates time-based and demand charge electricity rates for mass-market customers. It finds that well-designed time-based rates (especially those with high peak/off-peak price ratios and active enabling technology) can significantly reduce peak load and total energy use without harming customer acceptance. In contrast, the report highlights a critical lack of empirical evidence for mass-market demand charges, noting that while they may aid utility cost recovery, their impact on customer behavior remains largely speculative.

This policy brief by Energy Innovation argues that avoiding catastrophic climate change requires the 20 largest carbon-emitting countries to rapidly implement a specific set of well-designed, sector-specific energy policies. The author emphasizes that the next 15 years are crucial to prevent irreversible damage and runaway feedback loops, suggesting that the use of 'Best Practice Networks' (BPNs) can provide the technical expertise necessary for countries to design and implement these policies effectively.

This research paper argues that regulators should shift from traditional measure-by-measure energy efficiency tracking to outcome-oriented, economy-wide metrics when tying utility compensation to performance. The authors contend that outcome-oriented metrics are more transparent, easier to monitor, and better aligned with broad policy goals, while reducing the administrative burden and regulatory conflict associated with uncertain savings estimates.

This case study examines the California Risk-Reward Incentive Mechanism (RRIM), an energy efficiency shareholder incentive program, to identify challenges associated with using counterfactuals to vet utility savings claims. The document highlights how measure-by-measure estimation of savings leads to regulatory conflict, high administrative costs, and volatile incentive payments, ultimately recommending a shift toward outcome-oriented metrics.

This white paper proposes a Performance Incentive Mechanism (PIM) to encourage utilities to prioritize peak load reduction over capital-intensive infrastructure expansion. The author recommends using an outcome-oriented metric—specifically percentage reduction in peak load—and a sloped, symmetrical compensation structure with upper and lower caps to align utility incentives with system efficiency and customer value.