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Articles by Sam Gomberg
The Trump EPA’s Endangerment Finding Repeal: Wrong on Statute, Deceptive on Science, Reckless on Impacts
On February 12, the Trump Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its repeal of the Endangerment Finding, which establishes EPA’s statutory obligation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside, EPA also repealed the associated vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards. This action is monumental in its significance for three reasons. First, for its direct attack on the nation’s capacity to tackle climate change.
Artificial Intelligence 101: An Accessible Primer on How AI Works
In this new era of artificial intelligence (AI), it’s important to understand the basics of AI in order to answer important questions about when it makes sense to use AI tools, how much we should invest in improving them, or whether we should use them at all. Excitement around AI has spurred a proverbial gold rush of data center development in the United States and globally. This rush-to-build is also driving a corresponding growth in electricity demand.
Risk or Resilience? Congress Can’t Miss Its Opportunity in Major Housing Legislation
As the American housing crisis worsens, the House and Senate are working on legislation to address it. Each has passed its own legislative responses, and the differences between their two bills—the Senate’s ROAD to Housingand the House’s —will need to be negotiated and a final package passed in both before much-needed housing investment is jumpstarted.
How MISO Is-And Isn’t-Preparing for Extreme Weather in a Climate-Changed Future
On January 8th, UCS released its second recent report on the intersection of extreme weather, climate change, and the electric grid. Power After the Storm builds off the previously released Keeping Everyone’s Lights On, taking a closer look at the extreme weather events that have caused the most serious power outages over the past decade across the central United States and how climate change is expected to exacerbate extreme weather risks to the power system.
How Can Distributed Energy Resources Support Energy Justice?
Due to a history of systemic racism, discrimination, and segregation, BIPOC and low-income communities are more likely to live in areas that are disaster-prone, with under-invested infrastructure, and closer to polluting energy facilities like power plants. Addressing these disparities requires a focus on energy justice, the principle that access to energy that is reliable, affordable, and clean is a basic right.
With Proposed Budget Bill, House Crushes Clean Energy—And Risks Creating an Actual Energy Emergency
House Republicans, as part of a sprawling budget reconciliation package, have proposed to slash policies supporting the deployment of clean electricity resources—and in so doing, threaten to turn a tense moment for the power sector into an outright emergency.
Planning For Climate Change Isn’t Happening. It’s Putting Communities At Risk.
Ben Franklin said, “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. Perhaps more fitting in the context of climate change is a quote from the late Archbishop of Boston, Richard Cushing, who said, “always plan ahead; it wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.” If we’re applying that to the nation’s power system in preparing for the impacts of climate change, you might say it’s starting to rain, and we haven’t even been to the hardware store.
Strength in Numbers: Why We Need More Climate Science in Power System Planning
Climate change is our reality these days as we navigate hotter days, more severe storms, wildfires, and other previously-rare weather extremes. The ways we have been altering our lives range from the unpleasant yet common (like having to spend more time indoors in summer due to more extreme heat days if you have, and can afford, air conditioning) to the dangerous, potentially deadly, and less frequent (like having to flee a wildfire that has engulfed your community).
Massive Investments in the Midwest Grid are Worth Celebrating
The Midwest is about to get a major power boost—generating jobs, economic growth, and enabling a cleaner energy future at the same time. Meeting our clean energy ambitions in the face of growing power demand, extreme weather risks, and simply keeping the lights on with an aging system are putting a significant strain on the bulk transmission system that delivers electricity from power plants to consumers.
Grid Investments are Critical to Our Clean Energy Future
Last November, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released an interdisciplinary study exploring the various pathways to meeting US goals to cut heat-trapping emissions economywide 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The good news? It’s doable—and the United States would reap significant health and economic benefits in the process.
Grid Investments are Critical to Our Clean Energy Future
Last November, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released an interdisciplinary study exploring the various pathways to meeting US goals to cut heat-trapping emissions economywide 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The good news? It’s doable—and the United States would reap significant health and economic benefits in the process.
Update the Electricity Grid Without Undermining Environmental Protections
There’s no question that the US electricity transmission system has to be modernized to enable a transition to an equitable clean energy economy, but how to do it is up for grabs. Although both sides of the aisle in Congress are now interested in legislation to reform the grid permitting process, their definitions of permitting “reform” vary widely, and some of those definitions would entail unacceptable tradeoffs.
Update the Electricity Grid Without Undermining Environmental Protections
There’s no question that the US electricity transmission system has to be modernized to enable a transition to an equitable clean energy economy, but how to do it is up for grabs. Although both sides of the aisle in Congress are now interested in legislation to reform the grid permitting process, their definitions of permitting “reform” vary widely, and some of those definitions would entail unacceptable tradeoffs.
Equitable Grid Principles
Guidance for Electric Grid Infrastructure Decisionmakers and Stakeholders in the MISO Region The United States needs to modernize its electricity grid to integrate the large amount of wind, solar, and other renewable power needed to combat climate change and to improve the grid’s reliability, making it more resistant to extreme weather events. These improvements will have a big impact on many communities.
Midwest Transmission System Investments Will Be a Game Changer for a Clean Energy Future
The most consequential vote to advance a clean energy future won’t be happening in Washington, D.C., or your state capital next week. It will be happening in the (virtual) boardroom of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which has authority over the bulk electric transmission system across much of the Midwest. MISO board members are expected to approve nearly $10.5 billion in new transmission investments to accommodate a shift to clean energy.
The American Jobs Plan Takes Next, but not Last, Step on Clean Energy
Sam Gomberg, senior energy analyst | April 1, 2021, 2:03 pm EDT This post is a part of a series on Clean Energy Momentum President Biden’s new American Jobs Plan includes spending proposal on a wide range of infrastructure needs across the nation, many of them critically overdue. Eliminating the dangers of lead water pipes, repairing crumbling roads and bridges, and building the resilience of our communities to the myriad threats they face.
The American Jobs Plan Takes Next, but not Last, Step on Clean Energy
President Biden’s new American Jobs Plan includes spending proposal on a wide range of infrastructure needs across the nation, many of them critically overdue. Eliminating the dangers of lead water pipes, repairing crumbling roads and bridges, and building the resilience of our communities to the myriad threats they face. It also includes a long overdue and critical down payment on our clean energy future.
Two Clean Energy Programs from the Past that can Help Build to the Future
Sam Gomberg, senior energy analyst | April 27, 2020, 9:00 am EDT This post is a part of a series on Clean Energy Momentum As the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic spread we must remain focused on what’s necessary in the moment: supporting healthcare workers on the front lines, doing what’s necessary to minimize the spread, and providing economic relief for affected people and businesses. Congress must lead this effort. Congress also has the responsibility to prepare for recovery.
Two Clean Energy Programs from the Past that can Help Build to the Future
As the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic spread we must remain focused on what’s necessary in the moment: supporting healthcare workers on the front lines, doing what’s necessary to minimize the spread, and providing economic relief for affected people and businesses. Congress must lead this effort. Congress also has the responsibility to prepare for recovery.
Proposed Tax Package Is Critical for Clean Energy Momentum and Progress on Climate
Sam Gomberg, senior energy analyst | November 19, 2019, 10:11 am EST This post is a part of a series on Clean Energy Momentum The clean energy tax package introduced today by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) is Congress’s best chance to do something meaningful on clean energy and climate change this year. The proposal would provide tax incentives for a host of renewable energy technologies as well as battery storage that is critical to decarbonize our power sector.
Proposed Tax Package Is Critical for Clean Energy Momentum and Progress on Climate
The clean energy tax package proposed today by House Ways and Means Committee Democrats is Congress’s best chance to do something meaningful on clean energy and climate change this year. The proposal would provide tax incentives for a host of renewable energy technologies as well as battery storage that is critical to decarbonize our power sector.
Midwest U.S. grid operator MISO: modelling for a clean energy future
Planning can’t be easy for a grid operator. Take MISO which operates one of the world’s largest energy markets. They’re responsible for integration and bulk transmission across the central U.S., but decisions on the actual future energy mix and demand are being made elsewhere: by state governments, utilities and consumers big and small. Given the amounts invested in infrastructure and the lead times involved, no one will thank MISO if their guesses are wrong.
Midwest Transmission Operator Looks to the Future and Sees Clean Energy
Sam Gomberg, senior energy analyst | November 5, 2019, 4:50 pm EST This post is a part of a series on Clean Energy Momentum In a proposal put forth on October 17th, MISO – which operates the bulk electric transmission system across the central U.S. – leaned into the undeniable transition towards renewable energy resources, emerging technologies like battery storage, and the growing momentum behind decarbonizing our economy.
Midwest Transmission Operator Looks to the Future and Sees Clean Energy
In a proposal put forth on October 17th, MISO – which operates the bulk electric transmission system across the central U.S. – leaned into the undeniable transition towards renewable energy resources, emerging technologies like battery storage, and the growing momentum behind decarbonizing our economy. It’s a marked shift for MISO – one that should be recognized as proactive and forward looking.
Clean Energy Tax Policy is Congress’s Last Chance to do Anything Meaningful on Climate This Year
Sam Gomberg, senior energy analyst | October 3, 2019, 8:48 am EDT This post is a part of a series on Clean Energy Momentum As calls for action on climate change become even louder across the globe (including here in the U.S.) and the impacts of climate change increasingly threaten our way of life, Congress still has a chance to do something right now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive investments in clean energy technologies: extending and expanding tax credits for renewable energy...
Clean Energy Tax Policy is Congress’s Last Chance to do Anything Meaningful on Climate This Year
As calls for action on climate change become even louder across the globe (including here in the U.S.) and the impacts of climate change increasingly threaten our way of life, Congress still has a chance to do something right now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive investments in clean energy technologies: extending and expanding tax credits for renewable energy and battery storage.
Three Ways Federal Infrastructure Policy Can Speed Up Our Clean Energy Transition
Sam Gomberg, senior energy analyst | May 14, 2019, 3:36 pm EDT This post is a part of a series on Clean Energy Momentum May thirteenth marked the beginning of Infrastructure Week and, as you might have heard, there might be at least one thing that Republicans and Democrats agree on: the need to invest in our nation’s aging infrastructure to remain competitive and build a more resilient, equitable system.
Three Ways Federal Infrastructure Policy Can Speed Up Our Clean Energy Transition
May thirteenth marked the beginning of Infrastructure Week and, as you might have heard, there might be at least one thing that Republicans and Democrats agree on: the need to invest in our nation’s aging infrastructure to remain competitive and build a more resilient, equitable system.
From Minnesota to Louisiana, Renewables are Poised for Dramatic Growth, but...
Sam Gomberg, senior energy analyst | February 27, 2019, 10:36 am EST Every so often I take a look at the interconnection queue of the Mid-Continent Independent System Operator (MISO) that shows the mix of new generation resources applying to connect to MISO’s transmission system that extends across much of the central U.S. MISO operates this extensive transmission network, maintaining reliable electricity supply and operating the region’s wholesale electricity markets.
From Minnesota to Louisiana, Renewables are Poised for Dramatic Growth, but...
Every so often I take a look at the interconnection queue of the Mid-Continent Independent System Operator (MISO) that shows the mix of new generation resources applying to connect to MISO’s transmission system that extends across much of the central U.S. MISO operates this extensive transmission network, maintaining reliable electricity supply and operating the region’s wholesale electricity markets.
Three Ways a Trump FERC Could Negatively Impact Us
This post is a part of a series on Clean Energy Momentum The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted Tuesday to approve the appointment of Bernard McNamee to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The final confirmation vote now moves to the full Senate.
Three Ways a Trump FERC Could Negatively Impact Us
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted Tuesday to approve the appointment of Bernard McNamee to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The final confirmation vote now moves to the full Senate. McNamee’s confirmation threatens to transform FERC – with a longstanding tradition of political independence – into another arm of the Trump Administration, paving the way for Trump’s pro-fossil fuel agenda, a move that could impact all of us.
Three Reasons Bernard McNamee is a Horrible Choice for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
President Trump’s nomination of Bernard McNamee to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) may not grab a lot of headlines but make no mistake – it’s a blatant (and oft repeated) move by the Trump administration to pollute an independent regulatory body with political operatives intent on carrying out his crony capitalism.
Three Reasons Bernard McNamee is a Horrible Choice for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
President Trump’s nomination of Bernard McNamee to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) may not grab a lot of headlines but make no mistake – it’s a blatant (and oft repeated) move by the Trump administration to pollute an independent regulatory body with political operatives intent on carrying out his crony capitalism.
Trump Twists the Law to Bail Out Coal
As you may have heard, President Trump has a new toy – national security – that he’s using to sidestep congressional oversight and funnel taxpayer dollars to his fossil fuel buddies. First, he weaponized “national security” to impose tariffs designed to stifle the economic competitiveness of solar power (it didn’t work).
Trump Twists the Law to Bail Out Coal
As you may have heard, President Trump has a new toy – national security – that he’s using to sidestep congressional oversight and funnel taxpayer dollars to his fossil fuel buddies. First, he weaponized “national security” to impose tariffs designed to stifle the economic competitiveness of solar power (it didn’t work).
Midwest Transmission Operator Planning for a High-Renewables Future
Driven by clean energy policies, customer demand, and simple economics, renewable energy technologies are becoming the dominant part of our energy future. Studies consistently show that wind and solar technologies could produce far more electricity than we currently demand, but questions loom about the transmission system’s ability to enable this transition to clean energy and maximize its potential benefits.
Midwest Transmission Operator Planning for a High-Renewables Future
Driven by clean energy policies, customer demand, and simple economics, renewable energy technologies are becoming the dominant part of our energy future. Studies consistently show that wind and solar technologies could produce far more electricity than we currently demand, but questions loom about the transmission system’s ability to enable this transition to clean energy and maximize its potential benefits.
A List of Scientific Organizations That Have Supported and Opposed Limiting What Research EPA Can Use to Make Decisions
The EPA today will announce a politically-motivated draft policy to restrict the use of science in agency decisions. The draft policy is based on legislation that has died in Congress for several years.
Better Data Are Needed to Dismantle Racism in Policing
The institutionalized killing of black and brown people in the United States is not a new phenomenon. The government’s role in the overt harming of black bodies goes as far back as slavery, when patrollers (paid and unpaid) stopped enslaved people in public places, entered their quarters without warrant, and assaulted and harmed them.
California’s Next Climate Change Challenge is Water Whiplash
Today the journal Nature Climate Change published results of a groundbreaking paper that explores the changing character of precipitation extremes in California. The eye-opening results indicate that while overall precipitation levels will not change significantly in the next decades, the state has already entered a period of increased extreme precipitation events that will continue to present tremendous challenges to ensuring stable water supplies.
Science on Wheels: Meeting a Scientist Right in Your Hometown
I moved to Columbia, Missouri, home of the University of Missouri (Mizzou), five years ago, and I was impressed with the amount of science engagement activities available to the public. Any time of any day of the week there appeared to be something going on: Saturday Morning Science, Science Café on Monday nights, and Science on Tap on Tuesday evenings. An incredible variety of settings to pick and choose from, from auditoriums to cafés to breweries.
Competitive Enterprise Institute Counts Costs But Not Benefits of Safeguards-and Hopes You Won’t Notice
Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) released another misleading “study” about the “costs” of regulation (read: science-based safeguards, public protections) while virtually ignoring the benefits. They do this every year because some reporters fall for it and it confirms what some elected officials and editorial boards want to believe.
A Graduate Researcher’s (Brief) Guide to: Creating a Student Science Policy Group
Research, telescopes, and computer models may consume the thoughts of many STEM graduate students, but do you ever find yourself distracted by current events? Are you ever caught up in conversations about how to fix problems in society? Have you ever “geeked out” about research that influences laws or policy? If you’re a graduate student and this sounds familiar, you have options: 1) ignore your burning desire to do something or 2) start a science policy group.
For a Moment, 50+ Percent of CA’s Energy Came From Solar
On March 4, 2018, solar in California broke a record. Then, on the 5th, it broke another one. In fact, virtually every day brings new headlines about solar energy’s progress in California and around the world, and solar records are being broken with laudable frequency. Record installation levels, record levels of electricity generation, record investment in solar…. For solar, a whole lot of signs are pointing up. Spring is a great time for solar, and a great time for solar records.
Clean Energy is Happening, With or Without the Trump Administration
Folks waiting for leadership at the federal level to drive our ongoing clean energy transition better get comfortable. It might be a while. Fortunately, one only has to turn one’s eyes outward from D.C.—in just about any direction—to find utilities, corporations, cities, and states taking the reins of our transition to clean energy.
Clean Energy is Happening, With or Without the Trump Administration
Folks waiting for leadership at the federal level to drive our ongoing clean energy transition better get comfortable. It might be a while. Fortunately, one only has to turn one’s eyes outward from D.C.—in just about any direction—to find utilities, corporations, cities, and states taking the reins of our transition to clean energy.
Pruitt Needs to Go-But So Do Others in Pruitt’s Conflicted and Corrupt EPA
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt seems to have a penchant for scandalous behavior, from misuse of public funds to special deals with corporate lobbyists. It was hard to keep up this week with Pruitt press. Sometimes it is hard to remember that each of these inappropriate actions by the Administrator is connected to an action that undermines public health and safety protections, as described by my colleague Josh Goldman.
Will Michigan’s Public Service Commission Stand Strong and Reject DTE’s Billion-dollar Natural Gas Gamble?
Months of technical analysis have wrapped up. Thousands of pages of documents, testimony, and legal briefs have been submitted. And the entity charged with protecting ratepayer interests—Michigan’s Public Service Commission (MPSC)—has the proof it needs to stand up for ratepayers and the environment by rejecting DTE’s proposed $1 billion natural gas gamble. But will the Commission rise to the challenge?
Will Michigan’s Public Service Commission Stand Strong and Reject DTE’s Billion-dollar Natural Gas Gamble?
Months of technical analysis have wrapped up. Thousands of pages of documents, testimony, and legal briefs have been submitted. And the entity charged with protecting ratepayer interests—Michigan’s Public Service Commission (MPSC)—has the proof it needs to stand up for ratepayers and the environment by rejecting DTE’s proposed $1 billion natural gas gamble. But will the Commission rise to the challenge?
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