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Articles by Devin Hartman
Don't miss tomorrow's electric utility industry news
This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Devin Hartman is director of energy and environmental policy at R Street Institute. Kent Chandler is resident senior fellow, energy and environmental policy, at the R Street Institute. Last month, President Trump issued a Ratepayer Protection Pledge that called on hyperscalers and artificial intelligence companies to “build, bring, or buy all of the energy” needed for data centers.
The Inflation Reduction Act’s Energy Provisions Require Reform to Benefit Society
Few laws have proven as contentious as the (IRA) of 2022. The IRA was passed exclusively by Democrats, with Republicans voicing concerns over its cost. Following the November 2024 election, Republican leadership eyed repeal or phase-out of individual IRA provisions in 2025. As expected, some Republicans are tempted to defend IRA’s energy subsidies as their constituents have begun receiving government compensation.
Reasserting Conservative Energy Policy in the Populist Age
Reasserting Conservative Energy Policy in the Populist Age Ballooning energy costs are top-of-mind for voters after years of high inflation. Energy security is increasingly critical in a world rife with conflict. The electorate, including conservatives, have grown more environmentally conscious as the planet warms but do not want to overpay to cool it.
Failing Coal Isn’t a Security Threat-Bailouts Are
By most key economic indicators, the U.S. economy is remarkably healthy. Consumer confidence is high, unemployment is low, and it seems as if every week the stock market is setting a new record. Despite these successes, however, there is a growing disease that, if left unchecked, will slowly eat away at the economy’s robust health like a cancer. This disease is central planning and it is aggressively attacking the energy sector.
Eliminating the discord over FERC Order 1920. What role for states?
This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter. Devin Hartman is director of energy and environmental policy at R Street Institute. Kent Chandler is a former chairman of the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Without question, if fully implemented, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s new “watershed” rule, Order 1920, will transform transmission development. But stakeholders’ agreement stops there.
Taxpayers must be included in the clean transition
Earth Week marks the annual reminder of our responsibility to leave the planet in better shape than we inherited it. This year, it falls amid stark reminders that we are failing another moral obligation: fiscal responsibility. With Congress accomplishing little more than spending other people's money these days, fiscal and environmental responsibility are seldom viewed as compatible agendas. But taxpayer and green interests share an intertwined fate.
Environmentalism needs a new playbook
By Devin Hartman Real Clear Wire Environmentalism has become a baffling paradox. The latest indication came when environmental activists convinced the Biden administration to halt exports of liquified natural gas (LNG) so the U.S. could meet climate goals. Left-leaning outlets labeled it a “win for political symbolism, not the climate”, while right-leaning experts called it “impulsive and destructive.” Both are correct. And both caught the scent of a much bigger problem.
Environmentalism Needs a New Playbook
Environmentalism has become a baffling paradox. The latest indication came when environmental activists convinced the Biden administration to halt exports of liquified natural gas (LNG) so the U.S. could meet climate goals. Left-leaning outlets labeled it a “win for political symbolism, not the climate”, while right-leaning experts called it “impulsive and destructive.” Both are correct. And both caught the scent of a much bigger problem.
America's green conservatives and the quest for 'green liberty'
Corporate Knights reached out to conservatives in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. who are hoping to steer their parties toward a more sustainable future. We asked all three the same question: what is your prescription for green conservatives? Read our introduction here. Political movements are ironic, indeterminate, inspiring and infuriating. Conservatism and environmentalism exemplify how movements’ identities and relationship to each other evolve, often dramatically.
ESG: Another business practice that government should leave alone
Running a business is hard these days. Heavy-handed regulations and higher taxes are expected when leftists are in power. But industry became shell-shocked when traditional conservative allies targeted corporate environmental, social, and governance practices. No wedge has shredded the historic alliance between these long-standing allies more than such disputes. This spring, waves of anti-ESG legislation shook corporate confidence in red states.
The imperative of free, green and secure wires reform
This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Devin Hartman is the director of energy and environmental policy at the R Street Institute. Jennifer Chen is the senior manager of clean energy at the World Resources Institute. Economic and environmental progress hinge on modernizing energy regulation.
Conservatives Should Lead on Electric Transmission Reform
Electric transmission can be rather complex, but done right it boils down to two simple benefits: lower costs and fewer blackouts. Currently, bad regulation results in expensive transmission that fails to address growing reliability threats. As debt limit negotiations revealed, conservatives are hesitant to welcome electric transmission expansion. It is hard to blame them. Media headlines frame transmission development as synonymous with progressives’ agenda.
Conservatives Should Lead on Electric Transmission Reform
Electric transmission can be rather complex, but done right it boils down to two simple benefits: lower costs and fewer blackouts. Currently, bad regulation results in expensive transmission that fails to address growing reliability threats. As debt limit negotiations revealed, conservatives are hesitant to welcome electric transmission expansion. It is hard to blame them. Media headlines frame transmission development as synonymous with progressives’ agenda.
Why Congress should think big on energy infrastructure
[Editor’s note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Wire.] By Devin Hartman & Neil Chatterjee Real Clear Wire The November election underscored that America’s energy future is dependent evermore on bipartisanship. Luckily there is some rare common ground on infrastructure in a divided government, and both parties are already making their priorities clear.
FERC climate reviews in limbo as Glick departs - R Street
From E&E News [1]: “When they first approached [the greenhouse gas policy] and then retracted it, that’s a pretty clear indication of FERC leadership tucking its tail between its legs and running,” said Devin Hartman, director of energy and environmental policy at the R Street Institute and a former FERC staffer.
Congress: Think Big on Energy Infrastructure
The November election underscored that America’s energy future is dependent evermore on bipartisanship. Luckily there is some rare common ground on infrastructure in a divided government, and both parties are already making their priorities clear. Democrats seek to advance clean energy reforms that fill in the gaps of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law and the partisan Inflation Reduction Act.
Congress Must Think Big on Competitive Energy Infrastructure
The November election underscored that America’s energy future is dependent evermore on bipartisanship. Luckily there is some rare common ground on infrastructure in a divided government, and both parties are already making their priorities clear. Democrats seek to advance clean energy reforms that fill in the gaps of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law and the partisan Inflation Reduction Act.
Competitive energy markets promise a clean, prosperous future
The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act has liberals celebrating the largest public clean energy and climate investment in U.S. history. A closer look suggests a less rosy reality. Despite its title, independent assessments suggest that the act will have negligible effects on inflation. Its climate gifts are also oversold at an unfair price for taxpayers. Our country and climate would be better off pursuing bipartisan reforms that unleash competitive forces.
Liberty never looked so green: Policy implications of private carbon-free energy commitments
The following is a contributed article by Devin Hartman, director, energy and environmental policy, at the R Street Institute. The clean energy transition has hit two monumental inflection points. First, private capital has assumed the lead role in clean energy procurement and projects to outpace mandatory procurement this decade. Second, the private sector has begun accounting in earnest for , as evidenced by surging demand for voluntary carbon markets.
Regulation Is to Blame for Our Grid Reliability Woes
Summer is here, and balmy weather has induced blistering debate over electric grid reliability. Recent reports from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and grid operators flag elevated reliability risks in the months ahead. But press coverage would lead you to believe that blackouts are imminent and the primary culprit is global warming or the green policy agenda, depending on the orientation of the outlet.
Regulation Is to Blame for Our Grid Reliability Woes
By Devin Hartman June 17, 2022 Summer is here, and balmy weather has induced blistering debate over electric grid reliability. Recent reports from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and grid operators flag elevated reliability risks in the months ahead. But press coverage would lead you to believe that blackouts are imminent and the primary culprit is global warming or the green policy agenda, depending on the orientation of the outlet.
Earth week should celebrate competitive markets as the unsung climate hero
Congress Blog AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty As the economic horizon darkens, Earth Week marks a moral imperative to unite consumer, taxpayer and environmental interests. The perceived economic threat of climate action forced President Joe Biden to mention climate once in his State of the Union address and recast his energy agenda to battle rising costs and inflation.
Pruning the thorns in transmission and generator interconnection reform
The following is a contributed article by Jennifer Chen, senior fellow in energy at the R Street Institute and Devin Hartman, director of energy and environmental policy at the R Street Institute. Among pending electricity policy decisions, the most important resides not in legislation or executive orders, but before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Forging Climate Consensus from the Wreckage of Build Back Better
By Devin Hartman January 27, 2022 Progressives’ promised “big” and “bold” climate action took a big, bold hit when Sen. Joe Manchin (D- W. Va.) announced his opposition to Build Back Better (BBB) in December. Despite serving as the climate headliner for the Biden administration, BBB never held much climate potential. Moderates and conservatives scorned the price tag and questioned the absence of better climate policy alternatives in the bill.
Making FERC hot can keep the climate cool
The following is a contributed article by Devin Hartman, director of energy and environmental policy at the R Street Institute. Although clean energy subsidies dominate headlines, policymakers are beginning to appreciate the foremost imperative in the clean transition: overhauling archaic regulation.
Regulatory overhaul is key to the clean energy transition
As Congress contemplates clean energy subsidies and standards, we should first ask why clean energy deployment can’t already keep up with burgeoning demand. The answer is simple to identify but difficult to remedy: archaic regulation. Regulatory solutions aren’t as sexy as grandiose public spending, but for those motivated by results over optics, it’s time to redefine clean energy leadership.
Green infrastructure requires freer markets
Climate ambitions are off the chart this Earth Day as policymakers explore the last hope of bipartisanship: infrastructure. The Biden administration has called for an eye-popping $2 trillion infrastructure investment. It would also mandate complete energy grid decarbonization by 2035. Meanwhile, the audacity of climate announcements from the business community is staggering.
Plenty of low-hanging fruit: How FERC can catalyze transmission infrastructure
The following is a contributed article by Devin Hartman and Beth Garza, director of energy and environmental policy and senior fellow, respectively, at the R Street Institute. Bipartisan appetite for electric infrastructure is one of the few things mounting as fast as our public debt these days. This prompt for ambitious-yet-fiscally-constrained infrastructure expansion could be perfect for what the power grid of the future needs — a regulatory retool that lets competitive forces flourish.
The private sector is making progress for climate change
© Getty Images The private sector is making progress for climate change Sometimes encouragement and coercion are a breath apart. Climate envoy John Kerry is using his clout to influence private banks to adopt more climate-friendly positions. Coercive or not, it's bad for both sides if private sector actions are viewed as influenced by the government, especially through unofficial channels.
Five Truths About Grid Reliability and Deregulation
Before electricity had been restored last month, false claims proliferated as swiftly as the outages themselves. Misguided criticisms included excessive blame levied at wind power, while others have fallen into the trap of blaming “deregulation” of the power industry. That’s dead wrong for two reasons: power markets aren’t “deregulated” for reliability purposes and the data show that competitive markets have a superior reliability record to the monopoly utility model.
Five Truths About Grid Reliability & Deregulation
Devin Hartman & Beth Garza RealClearEnergy March 18, 2021 (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP) Before electricity had been restored last month, false claims proliferated as swiftly as the outages themselves. Misguided criticisms included excessive blame levied at wind power, while others have fallen into the trap of blaming “deregulation” of the power industry.
FERC's carbon pricing dialogue may be worth the price of admission
The following is a contributed article by Devin Hartman,director of energy and environmental policy at the R Street Institute, a free market think tank, and Jason Stanek, chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission. The galvanization of the business community around climate policy is a sight to behold. The emerging consensus places carbon pricing at the center, as evidenced by the recent Business Roundtable report. Will this translate into a broader discussion? Perhaps.
Finding Bipartisan Opportunities in House Democrats’ Climate Plan
Devin Hartman is energy policy director at the right-leaning R Street Institute. Nicolas Loris is deputy director for economic policy studies at the conservative Heritage Foundation. *** On the surface, House Democrats’ new climate plan is long on ambition but short on bipartisanship. The sweeping proposal bypassed Republican input, leaving the other side frustrated over the process. But the massive 547-page report has nuggets of bipartisan potential.
The progressive climate plan is heavy on symbols and burdens Original
Democrats unveiled a sweeping climate proposal this week. While the progressive plan will not pass this year, it does provide a road map for next year. Democrats should take the time to reconsider because it is an insensible climate policy under normal economic conditions and even worse as the country faces massive constraints. Conservatives should respond constructively with critical reforms that fuel economic growth, improve the fiscal outlook, and reduce global emissions.
The Progressive Climate Plan Is Heavy on Symbols and Burdens
Democrats unveiled a sweeping climate proposal in early July. While the progressive plan will not pass this year, it does provide a road map for next year. Democrats should take the time to reconsider because it is an insensible climate policy under normal economic conditions and even worse as the country faces massive constraints. Conservatives should respond constructively with critical reforms that fuel economic growth, improve the fiscal outlook, and reduce global emissions.
Federalizing net metering is unequivocally anti-conservative
The following is a contributed article by Devin Hartman, Director, Energy and Environmental Policy at the R Street Institute. On June 15, tens of thousands of comments poured in on a controversial petition filed by the New England Ratepayers Association (NERA). The petition requests that FERC assert its jurisdiction over state net energy metering (NEM) policy, which determines how much customers are compensated for selling extra on-site generation (e.g., rooftop solar).
Is subnational carbon pricing the off-ramp for MOPR?
The following is a contributed article by Devin Hartman, director, energy and environmental policy at the R Street Institute. The outlook for aligning federal electricity policy and state climate policy shifted markedly over the last month.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
A “green jobs” movement won’t help our recovery from COVID-19
As America reopens shops and workplaces, many states are making ambitious plans to head in new economic directions. Under a commission chaired by billionaire and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, California hopes to lead the way. Like many on the political left, Steyer supports a “Green New Deal” that would restart the economy by creating “green jobs” in fields like alternative energy and conservation.
Trump Administration Must Empower Markets as Path to Grid Security
By Devin Hartman May 19, 2020 (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The infusion of national security policy into civilian energy policy is a precarious business. On May 1, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at securing the U.S. electricity system. It calls for a ban on high-risk grid equipment from foreign adversaries. The security concern is justified. Some countries pursue espionage and tamper with the cyber and physical operations of the U.S. bulk electric system.
Stimulating Clean Infrastructure Through NEPA Reform
Congressional momentum on a stimulus package has stalled, but disagreements over public spending should not hold clean energy infrastructure back. Rather than pursue expenditures with temporary results, policymakers should pivot to regulatory reform that will endure. One such solution is already on the table: reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Trump Administration has shown that it is up to the task.
7 ways to refine the energy sector's COVID-19 response
Opinion Author By Devin Hartman Published April 15, 2020 The following is a contributed article by Devin Hartman, energy and environment director at R Street Institute. The ongoing COVID-19 response is an enormous test of the quality of energy institutions and policies. The energy sector has assumed its initial posture and must now proactively position to weather the worst of the storm.
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