When utilities and grid operators think about power system flexibility — the ability of the grid to respond to sudden changes in supply and demand — two technologies typically get the most attention; fast-ramping natural gas and battery storage. However, there are a number of cheaper options for grid flexibility that stakeholders would do well to explore.

Gas has played a big part in stabilizing US emissions, but its days as a ‘bridge fuel’ are numbered. While utilities can meet their current regulatory goals by building out natural gas generation, they will soon have to start using less of it to meet long-term national goals for zero net emissions.

Recently, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission discussed performance-based regulation (PBR) with Sonia Aggarwal, Director of Strategy at Energy Innovation. Jennifer Christensen interviewed Ms. Aggarwal and posed some questions that are central to understanding this alternative to traditional regulation.

Governor Jerry Brown is drafting his own proposals to extend California’s cap-and-trade program, attempting to gain a two-thirds majority vote while assuaging industry and environmental campaigners. “The outlines of the deal… sound very positive, and will leave CARB significant scope to continue to improve the programme over time,” said Energy Innovation’s Chris Busch.

The China Development Bank Capital (CDBC) and two other partners have developed 18 guidelines to help China urbanise in a green and sustainable manner. CDBC is said to be the largest source of urbanisation funding in China.

A new set of guidelines titled “Green and Smart Urban Development Guidelines” have been published through a collaborative effort by the China Development Bank Capital, the biggest source of urbanization funding in China, Energy Innovation, a San Francisco based green solutions consultant, and Energy Foundation China, a grantmaking charity organization.

The new “Green and Smart Urban Development Guidelines” feature 18 principles that apply to every city in China. There are recommendations for curbing sprawl, spurring transit-oriented development, creating mixed-use neighborhoods and increasing public space.

Set in a climate of greenwashing and the unneeded building of novel new cities just because they are labeled green, comes a new set of urban design guidelines that specify how a green and smart city should look and what it should be capable of.

California is a bellwether state in environmental and energy matters. The most recent illustration is the promulgation of Assembly Bill 802 and The Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015.

Instead of focusing on fixing diesel cars, Musk and his colleagues said, Volkswagen should be required to put its resources toward becoming a zero-emissions car company.