Tesla currently offers electric vehicles and energy storage solutions for homes, businesses and utilities. But while Tesla already has a close relationship with SolarCity, Musk made the case that there are efficiencies to be gained by formally combining the two entities. Setting aside market concerns for a moment, what would Musk’s vision actually look like?

This paper examines three cases where cost-of-service regulation (COSR) clearly motivates utilities to pursue sub-optimal outcomes compared to an alternative regulatory strategy. We find COSR often creates utility incentives that misalign with societal value, and improvement to the existing regulatory model holds immense potential to create value for customers and society.

California’s cap-and-trade program should be viewed as part of the state’s comprehensive package of climate policies. Yes, greater legal certainty will help, but keep in mind high carbon prices aren’t a goal of California’s climate policy. The goals are emission reductions, efficiency, consumer protection, and growing businesses set to compete in the 21st century economy.

Texas’ decision for an energy-only market design with an operational reserve demand curve has likely saved Texas consumers billions, as well as improving reliability, providing evidence of an energy transition driven by load reductions, significant increases in renewable generation, and…

High carbon prices aren’t a goal of the system. The goals are emission reductions, efficiency, consumer protection and growing businesses set to compete in the 21st-century economy. California’s climate policy is succeeding, thanks in part to cap and trade.

The Paris Agreement on climate change set the world on track to avoid catastrophe. Or did it? More than 180 nations have committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but now we need to see whether these commitments are real. On June 1-2 in San Francisco, energy ministers from the world’s 24 largest-emitting nations will report on their progress and plans.

China is rethinking its urbanization. In February, national authorities adopted new urbanization guidelines that should, over time, lead to more compact cities with denser networks of narrow streets, more pedestrian and cycling lanes, better public transport, mixed-use zoning, and more green space. Many neighborhoods within China’s major cities provide home-grown examples of urbanization done right.

In zero draft form, theUN’s New Urban Agenda outlines a fantastic vision for cities. It speaks of inclusion, equality, transit-oriented development and safety. But how do we get there? What does a “blueprint of the city” actually look like? We see three steps to policymaking that ensures any policy is implementable.

The Department of Energy is usually a supporting player in international efforts to contain warming, but it steps into the spotlight later this month to host the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in California. The 24-country event in the San Francisco Bay Area marks the first time energy ministers will come together to swap clean power and efficiency ideas since last year’s landmark Paris climate deal.

Over the past decade, China has been undergoing the biggest adoption of alternative fuels for transportation, ever. This transition isn’t being led by green cars like the Tesla or the new lines of “eco” buses, but by e-bikes — electric bicycles.

As renewable energy becomes increasingly urgent, nuclear energy shouldn’t be discounted. In fact, it should be embraced according to Andy Karsner, managing partner at Emerson Collective and a senior strategist at Google’s moonshot lab.

It’s easy to assume our transition from coal to natural gas is the biggest contributor to our decline in carbon dioxide emissions. However, significant evidence shows the acceleration of renewable energy and energy efficiency has contributed far more than natural gas.

By comparing electricity rates instead of bills, many inaccurately believe higher levels of renewables make electricity costlier. Outdated data or conservative cost assumptions for energy sources also tarnish renewable energy’s reputation as a cost-effective option.

While it is true that overgeneration of renewable energy can cause reliability problems, curtailment (shutting off excess generation) is often unnecessary and expensive. When examining renewables generation, it’s important to consider variability across multiple regions.

Fears about a “duck curve,” when large shares of renewables create ramping problems during parts of the day, are overblown. Myriad solutions like demand response can compensate for the variability created by increasing shares of renewables on the grid.

Does a solution to San Francisco’s housing affordability and transportation challenges already exist 6,000 miles away? A policy innovation already working in Brazil could increase our housing supply while generating billions for public transit investment.

Rooftop solar and other distributed energy resources (DER) like efficiency or energy storage provide a stack of benefits to the grid. But most utilities have no meaningful method to compare the value of DER to that of traditional power plants providing the same services. We need much more granular information about local needs to understand and capture the precise value of DER.

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.