Posts Categorized: Infrastructure

  • Election Rhetoric vs. Reality: Pennsylvania’s Clean Energy Vision

    by Sam Randall

    While driving home from a recent camping trip, I was listening to a podcast titled “A Closer Look At Pennsylvania, The Swingiest of Swing States” and I drove past a perfect, almost comedic example of the swing state election messages the podcasters spoke of: a billboard with an ad for Kamala Harris on the front and an ad for Donald Trump on the back.
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  • Unparalleled Opportunities Arise for Energy Efficiency Job Growth: Report

    by Pat Stanton

    Energy efficiency (EE) initiatives are needing increased attention with new federal funds. This translates into more jobs on the way. Energy Efficiency Jobs in America shows there are nearly 2.2 million efficiency workers, and the number will rise as infrastructure investments kick in this year. Making these workforce statistics available now is important, so that we have a baseline for comparison.

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  • It’s Now or NEVI

    by Susan Buchan

    Are states, cities and towns prepared for the new electric vehicle infrastructure funding?

    When Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill in November of 2021, it made history for including the largest-ever federal investment in transportation electrification. One section of the law, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, will provide $1B each year from 2022-2026 “to provide funding to States to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability.” Read More

  • With Building Efficiency Retrofits, You Really Can Have It All

    by Carina Wallack and Pat Stanton

    Care about economic and environmental well-being? If so, you realize that our most valuable assets are sectors that create jobs quickly while cost-effectively reducing emissions for the long haul. Building energy efficiency investments accomplish this and more.
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  • Charging Forward: How to Scale EV Infrastructure in Massachusetts and Beyond

    by Rachel Fishman

    The age of the electric vehicles has arrived and it’s here to stay. In a recent poll, 56% of Massachusetts respondents say they are likely to purchase an EV in the next five years. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will supply $7.5 billion to build a nationwide network of charging stations. Read More

  • which stays cool longer - insulated or uninsulated

    Insulation: Maximizing Value of a Precious Resource

    by Pat Stanton

    How do you keep drinks cool when you’re out far from home? Bags – or blocks – of ice (duh)!

    Consider ice, a precious energy resource in the great outdoors. Your choice of a container dramatically impacts your results: To keep cool all day will require much more ice (your precious resource) if you choose an open metal bucket, compared to a well-insulated cooler.

    Getting to Zero
    When you want to decarbonize the building sector, your precious energy resource is zero-carbon electricity (including its generation, transmission and distribution). Poorly insulated buildings waste energy resources, like an open metal bucket wastes precious ice on a hot day.
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  • Carsharing: The New Challenges and Opportunities Presented by COVID-19

    by Rachel Ehrman

    The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world. It’s affected everyone, every business, every industry. While this time is one that is surely testing us all (hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs vanished in a few short weeks), it is also a time to pause, reflect, and reshape our work to come out of this difficult time more resilient than before. This is especially true of industries that rely on shared use when many people seek every precaution possible to avoid the virus. Despite its environmental and financial benefits, carsharing is struggling. Read More

  • EV charging stations

    Optimized Charging for EVs (Part 2): Who GIVs a V2G?

    by Susan Buchan

    Electric vehicles and hydrogen-fueled vehicles continue gaining market share. Why should you care? With these increases, the opportunities and challenges of transportation electrification are real – and coming soon to a driveway near you! EVs are now expected to reach parity with internal combustion engine vehicles in 2022, due to steady declines in battery costs.

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  • Clock and vehicle charger

    Emissions Optimized Charging for EVs (Part 1): Should “What” Matter More Than “When”?

    by Susan Buchan

    Are we on the verge of an EV “tipping point” similar to other technological advances that found rapid acceptance and integration into the marketplace? Projections show the rise of electric vehicle adoption in the US is positioned to continue and increase. Historical data show refrigerators, clothes dryers, color TV, personal computers, and smartphones all rose from early-adopter status to widespread diffusion and ownership in about ten years.* Read More

  • Electric vehicles and charging stations

    EVs Can Lead the Charge for Responsible Batteries

    by Rachel Ehrman

    When I walk in my neighborhood, I’m starting to notice electric vehicles (EVs) parked on the street and driving through town. When I turn on the television, car companies are starting to run ads for their EV models. It’s clear EVs are on the rise, and there’s no sign that their growth is slowing down anytime soon. Read More

  • Industrial Symbiosis

    Industrial Symbiosis: Taking Resource Efficiency to the Next Level

    by Susan Buchan

    You may remember the term symbiosis from eighth grade biology. It’s the concept of organisms sharing materials, energy, even their bodies – with other organisms for the benefit of both species. The idea of applying symbiosis to industrial producers was pioneered in Denmark almost 50 years ago in 1972, and came to fruition in 2015 with the establishment of the Kalundborg Symbiosis Industrial Park.

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