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This case study by RMI examines how electric rate design can reduce financial barriers to heat pump adoption by aligning utility tariffs with the actual costs of service. By analyzing four different approaches in the United States, the document demonstrates that electrification-friendly rates can lower energy bills for heat pump users and improve grid efficiency by recognizing that heat pumps primarily increase demand during winter months, often utilizing existing capacity in summer-peaking systems.

This briefing analyzes the PJM Board's January 2026 decision regarding the Critical Issue Fast Path for Large Load Additions (CIFP-LLA). It outlines how states within the PJM region can implement retail-level policies—such as specialized tariffs and improved forecasting—to manage the surge in data center electricity demand without increasing costs for residential ratepayers or compromising grid reliability.

The US electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing a slowdown in momentum due to federal policy shifts, including the expiration of purchase tax credits and the repeal of tailpipe emission limits. While EV sales fell 4% in 2025, charging infrastructure continues to expand through private investment. Automakers are pivoting away from all-electric targets toward a mix of hybrids and affordable models, while manufacturing investments in the Midwest and South have seen significant cancellations.

This policy brief by RMI outlines five strategic policies to increase the adoption of air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) and heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) in Illinois to lower household energy bills and meet state decarbonization goals. The document analyzes the techno-economic viability of electrification for single-family homes, highlighting that while heat pumps can reduce operational costs—particularly for those switching from propane or electric resistance heating—high up-front cost premiums remain a primary barrier. RMI recommends a combination of increased targeted incentives, zero-interest financing, rate design reforms, AC-to-heat pump replacement policies, and electric-friendly building standards for new construction.

This fact sheet by RMI analyzes data from over 200 performance incentive mechanisms (PIMs) in the United States to identify trends in how public utility commissions (PUCs) use these tools to drive priorities such as decarbonization, equity, and affordability.

This report provides a framework for conducting a Gas System Analysis (GSA) to help regulators and decision-makers evaluate the prudence of gas utility infrastructure investments, reduce consumer costs, and align utility operations with climate and public health goals.

This RMI briefing outlines the roles of key countries and regions—China, Brazil, India, Southeast Asia, and the United States—in the global energy transition as they approach COP30 in Belém, Brazil. It highlights the shift from high-level commitments to tangible actions, such as large-scale renewable deployment, the development of low-carbon shipping hubs, and subnational leadership in the US.

This RMI fact sheet examines the practice of gas line extension allowances—subsidies where existing customers fund the cost of connecting new buildings to the natural gas system—and the movement among US states to phase them out to lower utility bills and support electrification.

This policy brief by RMI provides four recommendations for Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) to improve the evaluation of Performance Incentive Mechanisms (PIMs). The document emphasizes the need for recurring evaluations, transparency through public dashboards, portfolio-wide assessments to avoid duplication, and the use of design guidelines to measure net benefits to customers.

This policy brief by RMI outlines six strategic priorities for U.S. states to optimize federal funding and accelerate clean energy deployment following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The document emphasizes the urgency of acting before federal incentives phase out, focusing on fleet electrification, permitting and interconnection reform, financial gap filling, energy affordability, home energy rebates, and cleantech manufacturing innovation.

This case study examines Unilever's approach to grounding global water risk assessments in local data. While using the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas for initial screening across 300+ sites in 100 countries, Unilever validates results with local facility managers to correct discrepancies. The document highlights how global models can overestimate risk in the Great Lakes region due to unmodeled human engineering, or underestimate risk in São Paulo, Brazil, by ignoring water quality degradation and local transfers. The study concludes that global data should serve as a starting point, supplemented by documented local feedback and iterative reviews to ensure effective water stewardship.

This briefing by RMI outlines the economic, health, and environmental benefits of transitioning over 10 million US homes that rely on delivered fuels (oil and propane) to electric heat pumps. It provides data on potential energy savings, carbon pollution reduction, and recommends specific policy interventions and outreach strategies to accelerate this transition.

This report by RMI provides best practices for reforming energy efficiency incentive programs to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps. It argues that current programs are often too complex, deterring participation—particularly among low-to-moderate income (LMI) households—and recommends streamlining applications, aligning equipment specifications, and tailoring incentives to local climates to better support decarbonization goals.

This report by RMI and Evergreen analyzes industrial decarbonization strategies within 26 Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) submitted by US states and Puerto Rico under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. The analysis finds that while there is a general intention to reduce industrial emissions, state plans often lack the subsector specificity, long-term roadmapping, and cost-effective policy tools necessary for a successful transition. The authors recommend that states move away from a reliance on federal funding, adopt tailored strategies based on local industrial compositions, and better leverage co-benefits such as public health improvements, workforce development, and international competitiveness.

In 2024, wind and solar combined to produce 17% of US electricity, surpassing coal (15%) for the first time. While electricity demand rose by 3%, solar generation grew by 27%, adding more generation than gas to meet this demand. Despite the growth in clean energy, overall power sector CO2 emissions rose slightly by 0.7% because gas generation increased to meet rising demand, though carbon intensity reached a record low.

This report by RMI examines the evolution and current state of the United States fertilizer market, focusing on the transition from carbon-intensive ammonia production to low-carbon alternatives. It details various technological pathways for green and blue ammonia, compares the properties of nitrogen-based fertilizers, and identifies systemic barriers to the adoption of sustainable production methods. The document also outlines state and national incentives in the U.S. designed to support the deployment of green fertilizer infrastructure.

In 2024, wind and solar combined to produce 17% of US electricity, surpassing coal for the first time nationwide. This shift is driven by market dynamics, cost-effective renewables, and state-level policies, with 24 states now generating more electricity from wind and solar than from coal.

A Global Energy Monitor briefing reports a surge in proposed gas-fired power plants in the United States, driven by speculation over AI energy demand. While the U.S. now has the world's second-largest pipeline of such projects, most remain in early development stages, risking billions in stranded assets if demand forecasts prove inaccurate.

The SOO Green HVDC Link is a 350-mile underground electricity transmission line connecting wind energy in MISO jurisdiction states to the PJM market, running from Mason City, Iowa to Yorkville, Illinois. The project is the first of its kind in the United States and is designed to be the longest underground HVDC line in the country, utilizing existing railroad rights of way to minimize community opposition and siting challenges.

Friends of the Earth U.S. analyzes the Biden-Harris administration's 6-point policy framework aimed at reducing U.S. imports of products linked to deforestation. While commending the framework's direction, the organization advocates for a holistic approach to illegal deforestation, the establishment of a public due diligence system independent of third-party certifications, and the passage of the federal FOREST Act.