In 1976, Amory Lovins observed that people do not want energy itself; they want what energy does. Since then, advancements in wind, solar, batteries, and efficiency have modernized the energy “soft path” that is at the core of RMI’s practice: ow.ly/W8V250ZWw5i

Battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities are an important part of a safe, affordable, and reliable grid. In the US, roughly 67 GW of BESS projects are planned to come online by 2030 — the second-largest source of new electric capacity after solar. https://ow.ly/z3NA50ZVbNs

Most US oil and gas wells are marginal, meaning they don’t produce a lot of oil and gas, but they can leak methane, which causes fires and explosions, contributes to smog, and heats the planet over 80x more powerfully than CO2 over a 20-year time period.

By building a more flexible system that incorporates distributed energy resources, a distribution system operator (DSO) model can reduce the total investment required to deliver reliable electricity compared to the status quo. https://ow.ly/hSaR50ZU53x

In the Southeast US, new energy industrial policy could catalyze up to $82 billion in private-sector investment by 2035 and yield an additional 89-128 GW of electricity generation capacity, plus substantial job growth in the region. https://ow.ly/NmmK50ZU3js

High-quality carbon credits need to deliver for both the climate and communities. An emerging consensus is helping define what good social integrity looks like and how to assess it. Explore the six questions helping put social integrity into practice 👇 https://ow.ly/NBNQ50ZU0hF

🛰️ The Planet Tanager-2 satellite was launched into orbit today. 🛰️ This will allow @carbonmapper.bsky.social to scale up data to help identify and address sources of methane — the main component of natural gas and a super pollutant with 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide in the near term.

RMI, JPMorgan, and others created the Great American Grid coalition to help update US grid infrastructure, add new generation resources, and build transmission to deliver more electricity and create flexibility for affordability, resilience, and security.

Colorado adopted new methane standards for existing oil and gas operations earlier this month to keep pollution from leaking into the environment. The new rule applies to all wells, no matter how much oil and gas they produce.

Cleaner ways to make iron and steel already exist. The challenge is scaling them. RMI’s Book & Claim Framework for the Iron and Steel Sector could help unlock investment in low-emissions iron and steel. Learn more: https://ow.ly/lQ2F50ZR5ZQ

US electricity demand is rising faster than the system can add generation and transmission. The Great American Grid coalition brings together grid operators, electricity market participants, and policymakers to build faster, think bigger, and catalyze grid reform. https://ow.ly/ER6u50ZQOpK

Marginal, low-producing oil and gas wells pose a largely unknown risk for energy waste, leakage of methane, carcinogens like benzene, and water contamination. Watch “Uncapped: America’s Marginal Well Challenge” to learn more: https://ow.ly/V9GQ50ZPS1z

Mapping the gas supply chain is more critical now than ever, both for protecting affordability and reliability, and addressing methane emissions. Learn more about policymakers’ options for getting the transparency they need: https://ow.ly/X74w50ZPLJb

The future will be defined not only by how we produce energy, but by how intelligently we use it. Through energy efficiency, flexibility, & innovation at the point of use, we can reduce peaks, shift load, & deliver the same or better outcomes w/ fewer inputs. https://ow.ly/G6iq50ZPuKY

Utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities can help: 💡 Keep the lights on during extreme conditions ⚡ Contribute to lower electricity costs 💰 Provide local economic benefits

Growth and national security depend on increasingly interconnected electrified technologies and supply chains. State-level industrial policies can catalyze investment and job growth, expand grid capacity, and tame electricity prices, all at the same time. https://ow.ly/3ovC50ZOU8i

To successfully build new energy technology clusters, US policymakers and economic leaders need clarity on where to compete, what constrains investment and growth, and who to coordinate with to advance solutions at scale. https://ow.ly/LJTa50ZO24I

What does energy security look like today? Increasingly, it means efficiency, resilience, and harnessing abundant domestic resources that can't be embargoed or monopolized. Ahead of Climate Week NYC, explore how countries and communities are strengthening energy security: https://ow.ly/Ty8K50ZNBw5

Customer outages are a symptom of underlying grid reliability that can arise from any part of the power system. RMI’s new guide can help US policymakers evaluate the root cause of reliability issues to decide on solutions that meet the grid’s actual needs. https://ow.ly/ojqb50ZNubx

RMI will be advancing market-based solutions for an energy system that delivers greater security, prosperity, and health. Our experts will focus on affordability, resilience, health, and expanding opportunities to benefit from the clean energy transition. https://ow.ly/3XGN50ZMKgF

How can the U.S. meet rapidly growing electricity demand while keeping bills affordable? Increasing the speed and fairness with which we connect new generation and load to the US grid can reduce costs and meet rising demand. Explore RMI’s work: https://ow.ly/ZXXs50ZMJuG

Investment in the distribution system has become one of the largest and fastest-growing drivers of US electricity bill increases. A flexible, well-executed distribution system operator (DSO) model can help meet the affordability challenge. https://ow.ly/JnQU50ZLY8S

Global market standards for chemicals are increasingly tracking emissions intensity, signaling a growing demand for lower-emissions products. To stay competitive, facilities in Texas and Louisiana can modernize to improve resilience and reduce pollution. ⬇️

Oil comes in many forms, and Venezuela’s is mostly “extra heavy”— the consistency of peanut butter — which means it takes more energy to refine, process, and transport, adding more energy waste and emissions along the way. https://ow.ly/Rm0V50ZKqIB

The vast majority of energy projects with signed interconnection agreements in PJM are for solar, wind and batteries. If constructed, these new clean energy projects could help rein in costs.

Electricity now heats 42% of US households, reflecting a decades-long shift toward electric heating and away from fuels like coal, wood, and oil.

Global gas operations waste more than 2x the amount of gas transported through the Strait of Hormuz. When companies reduce gas waste, they significantly bolster energy, economic, and environmental security.

Uncertain data center electricity demand creates risk around generation procurement — if the load does not materialize as planned, other customers could foot the bill for underutilized infrastructure. https://ow.ly/lPig50ZGLiI

Hosting clean energy on often neglected and contaminated lands can turn “brownfields” into “brightfields.” With brightfields, communities can reuse land that has limited value and meet their energy needs while reducing conflicts over local land use. https://ow.ly/lr4N50ZCMOo

A “connect‑and‑manage” (C&M) approach can shorten the long timelines for connecting new electricity generation to the US power grid — helping to ensure that supply meets demand growth driven by data centers and other large loads. https://ow.ly/XfUf50ZCv1X