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India can reduce its passenger road-based energy demand by 64% and carbon emissions by 37% by 2030 by adopting a 'transformative' mobility paradigm. This approach emphasizes a shift from private vehicle ownership to a system based on shared, electric, and connected services. The report outlines a three-phased implementation strategy (2017–2032) focusing on system integration, shared infrastructure, and scaled manufacturing. Key recommendations include establishing a central data sharing institution, implementing 'feebates' and ZEV credits, and developing standardized swappable batteries for 2- and 3-wheelers. The proposed 'change model' utilizes a national learning platform and regional 'lighthouse' change labs to scale economically viable solutions from the state to the national level.

Amory B. Lovins of RMI argues that subsidies for distressed nuclear plants are unjustified because closing high-cost nuclear units and reinvesting their operating expenses into energy efficiency can reduce more carbon than maintaining the plants. He contends that 'baseload' power is not a grid requirement and that variable renewables are more resilient and cost-effective than central thermal plants.

The briefing analyzes China's 'Standard for Energy Consumption of Civil Buildings' (GB/T51161-2016), which establishes energy quotas based on metered performance relative to peer groups. It argues that U.S. entities can benefit from China's approach to whole-building metered assessment, the localization of performance targets to account for market dynamics, and the challenges of aligning operational energy targets with design codes.

RMI opposes the Protecting Americans from Credit Exploitation bill, which seeks to apply bank and mortgage lending regulations to Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. RMI contends that PACE is a property assessment, not a mortgage, and that applying mortgage-style regulations would jeopardize its ability to provide affordable financing for energy and water efficiency retrofits. The document advocates for national consumer protection standards tailored to the nature of PACE, citing California's existing regulatory framework as a successful model.

The policy brief examines how traditional utility demand charges create a financial barrier for public DC fast-charging networks, often accounting for over 90% of electricity costs. It proposes a shift toward time-varying volumetric rates and low fixed charges to better align costs with the sporadic usage patterns of EV charging.

The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has emerged as a leader in renewable energy, offering significant opportunities for corporate buyers through wind power purchase agreements (PPAs). Market improvements since 2014, including the integration of the Integrated System (IS) transmission system, have increased dispatch efficiency and reduced energy costs. The region possesses some of the highest wind resource quality in the U.S., with nine of the top 10 states for high-capacity-factor wind generation located within the SPP footprint. This high capacity factor allows for lower unit costs and more competitive PPA prices. While there is a strong pipeline of planned wind capacity—including an estimated 19 GW of planned additions and nearly 7 GW expected in 2017—corporate buyers are cautioned to monitor the pace of transmission infrastructure investment to avoid curtailment risks and track regional policy changes, such as potential tax credit eliminations in Oklahoma.

RMI defends its research on grid defection, asserting that while full disconnection from the utility may currently only be economical in Hawaii, the declining costs of distributed energy resources (DERs) create a risk of stranded utility assets. RMI critiques a Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) study for focusing only on present-day costs and a limited set of DER options, arguing that the threat of future defection empowers customers and necessitates reforms in utility business models and retail pricing to achieve an integrated, cost-optimal grid.

The report examines 'M&V 2.0', which combines automated analytics with high-granularity data (such as hourly interval data) to provide near-real-time energy savings estimates. While traditional M&V often relies on delayed reporting and manual analysis, M&V 2.0 offers the potential for faster feedback to program administrators, utilities, and facility owners. However, the authors note significant limitations, including a current focus on existing-conditions baselines rather than standard-practice code baselines, and the difficulty of isolating individual measure-level savings from whole-building meter data. The document outlines the current landscape of proprietary tools, primarily focused on the commercial sector, and discusses ongoing standardization efforts such as the Uniform Methods Project and CalTRACK. To realize the full promise of M&V 2.0, the report recommends conducting more public pilots, establishing collective acceptance criteria for accuracy, and improving automated data access and interoperability.

The analysis finds that high utility demand charges are a primary barrier to the profitability of public DCFC operators, sometimes accounting for over 90% of electricity costs. By modeling current usage data from 230 California stations across four future EV growth scenarios, the report demonstrates that proposed EV-specific tariffs from Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)—which reduce or eliminate demand charges—would significantly lower costs and enable a more sustainable business model. The authors argue for a shift toward time-varying volumetric rates and the socialization of some infrastructure costs to meet California's transportation electrification goals.

The document analyzes the U.S. home energy financing landscape, distinguishing between traditional lenders (e.g., FHA, Fannie Mae) and nontraditional options (e.g., PACE, on-bill financing). It argues that consumer choice is driven more by the timing of improvements and ease of origination than by interest rates or terms. Key barriers include manual underwriting for traditional products and a lack of standardization and securitization for nontraditional products. The brief recommends automating underwriting for traditional lenders and creating standardized, poolable programs for nontraditional financing to enable scaling.

The statement advocates for a pragmatic, hope-driven approach to the energy transition, asserting that the shift toward low-carbon energy is now globally supported and commercially viable, making it largely irreversible regardless of U.S. political shifts.

REI constructed a 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Goodyear, Arizona, which is the only facility of its type in the U.S. to achieve both LEED Platinum certification and net-zero energy. Developed with RMI through an integrative design charrette, the facility combines aggressive efficiency measures—such as LED lighting, motion sensors, and air-cooled chillers—with a 2.2-megawatt rooftop PV system. The solar array generates 25–30 percent more energy than the building consumes, providing a return on investment through approximately 20 years of free power. The project also integrates advanced automation and employee-centric climate controls, such as hyperchairs, to balance operational efficiency with workforce comfort.

The report identifies a significant investment opportunity in U.S. community-scale solar (CSS), estimated by NREL to be between $8.2 and $16.3 billion by 2020. It argues that CSS, typically sized between 0.5 and 5 MW, offers a cost-effective middle ground between residential and utility-scale solar. To unlock this potential, the document suggests adapting existing project finance and securitization models, utilizing innovative tools like New Markets Tax Credits, and implementing risk mitigants such as anchor tenants and subscription cushions to address customer attrition and regulatory uncertainty.

The document outlines eight key areas for electricity innovation in 2017, focusing heavily on the integration, valuation, and management of distributed energy resources (DERs). It highlights the shift toward technology-agnostic DER valuation, the potential for electric vehicles to serve as grid assets, and the need for alternative capital planning to displace traditional infrastructure. The text also addresses the necessity of evolving utility business models, establishing distribution system operators (DSOs), improving customer engagement, and expanding DER access to low- and moderate-income customers.

The City of Boulder implemented the 'Door to Downtown' (d2d) pilot program, offering $5 discounts on rides via Lyft, Uber, and zTrip to encourage the use of mobility services over personal vehicles. The program aims to address immediate parking challenges and test the long-term price elasticity of demand for Mobility as a Service (MaaS). By bringing the cost of rideshare services down to the estimated $0.60 per mile cost of owning and operating an internal-combustion vehicle, the pilot explores whether consumers will switch to shared mobility when it reaches cost parity with car ownership.

The City of Menlo Park is implementing a zero carbon framework by 2025 through an updated General Plan and zoning requirements. Key measures include requiring 100 percent renewable energy for all energy uses (including natural gas) in new developments, mandating LEED certifications, and implementing transportation demand management to reduce vehicle miles traveled. The city is also addressing sea level rise by specifying minimum elevations for new buildings and promoting affordable housing to mitigate displacement in the Belle Haven community.

The legal marijuana industry in the US creates significant electricity demand due to high-intensity lighting and climate control, with Colorado's industry consuming 300 GWh in 2015. To mitigate the impact on carbon goals and grid stability, the document recommends that utilities support LED adoption through rebates and on-bill financing to overcome capital limitations. It further suggests using time-varying rates to shift lighting schedules to periods of low net load—such as midday in California for solar or nighttime in Colorado for wind—to avoid peak demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuel generation.

The Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) aims to serve its 29,000 customers during the summer peak with 100 percent solar power by 2023. To achieve this, KCEC exited a restrictive contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission via a $37 million exit fee funded by Guzman Renewable Energy Partners. The cooperative plans to deploy over 30 MW of community-scale solar, consisting of multiple 1 MW arrays, to maintain system reliability and lower costs through standardization. KCEC expects solar prices as low as 4.5 cents/kWh, providing rate certainty and local economic development opportunities.

RMI proposes that a nearly 100 percent renewable energy system is achievable by the mid-2050s by applying market adoption 'S-curves' seen in previous industrial revolutions to clean energy technologies. The briefing emphasizes that the transition is driven by declining costs, electrification of end-uses, and decentralized adoption rather than solely by government mandates. To meet the 1.5°C target, the document asserts that the energy sector must be paired with high-impact measures in the agricultural, forestry, and land-use (AFOLU) sectors to create net carbon sinks by mid-century.

The report argues that interoperable transit data is essential for the realization of 'mobility as a service' (MaaS), which allows users to seamlessly combine various transportation modes. It identifies significant barriers to this goal, including poor data quality, a lack of standardization for ride-hailing and car-sharing, and misaligned incentives. The authors estimate that achieving full data interoperability could boost ridership of alternative transportation by 5% to 10%, representing a market opportunity of $3 billion to $6 billion in the U.S. To address these challenges, the report proposes the formation of a cross-industry consortium to establish and maintain data standards and innovate in user-interface design and payment technology.