RMI

Electricity powers nearly every aspect of modern life, from brewing morning coffee to running factories and hospitals. But as electricity demand grows, grid equipment ages, and extreme weather becomes more common, every part of the grid — its processes, infrastructure, and how we manage it — need to evolve to ensure that electricity is still available and affordable when people need it.

Skip to content 101 June 23, 2026 Once a stable, slow-moving system, the US grid is running up against its ability to meet demand. An unprecedented set of dynamics is driving a wave of investment: soaring demand growth, rapidly falling prices for clean energy, and outdated rules to update the grid. This is part II in a series of basic grid explainers. See part I, “The Changing Electricity Grid.” Ensuring that supply meets demand is a fundamental concern of every electricity system.

The economics of US residential clean technology adoption have shifted dramatically. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act released in summer 2025 ended major tax credits for clean upgrades. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)’s 30% credit for rooftop solar, up to $2,000 credit for air-source heat pumps (ASHPs), and up to $7,500 credit for electric vehicles (EVs) are no longer available to offset up-front costs, increasing the effective cost of these technologies for many households.

Fifty years ago this October, in the pages of Foreign Affairs, Amory Lovins argued that the most consequential energy choices confronting industrial societies were not about fuels but about design.

Supportive state policies can make clean energy more competitive on previously developed and disturbed lands By Tansy Massey-Green and Matthew Popkin Our energy system has always required land — from oil and gas drilling and coal mining to solar and wind farm siting. Communities face competing needs and goals that inform how they use their land.

Through the Future Industries Partnership, 17 startups are receiving support to scale climate technologies for heavy industry and the built environment across Asia and the Middle East Third Derivative, RMI’s global climate tech accelerator, recently welcomed a new cohort, with 17 startups working to decarbonize heavy industry and the built environment across Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East.

Skip to content Through permitting, codes, e-bike programs, electric carshare, and more, cities across the United States are striving to make electric mobility accessible to all. Seeing the air quality, fuel savings, and public health benefits of going electric, cities continue to lead the charge for an inclusive electric vehicle (EV) transition.

Learn how we are working to transform how we use and produce energy.

Future proofing electricity affordability, reliability, and security in a rapidly changing world By Selena Kay Galeos, Rachit Kansal, and James Sherwood Power sector leaders around the world have taken their jobs at a time of unprecedented change. Demand is growing rapidly, grids are evolving to require more flexibility, extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity, and geopolitical disruptions to energy markets are becoming more common.

Commercial and climate imperatives for integrating carbon removal activities into existing industrial processes and value chains are becoming ever more apparent. Opportunities to integrate carbon removal can help businesses grow and diversify, increase operational efficiencies, and adhere to evolving regulations. Simultaneously, climate stabilization demands rapid, large-scale carbon removal, positioning established industries as vital contributors.