Knowledge Center
We believe that sharing our expertise and collaborations in clean energy policy is how real, effective change happens.
From reports and policy briefs, to webinars and podcasts—RAP advisors have built an extensive collection of resources providing in-depth analysis and practical solutions to today’s energy challenges.
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Policymakers across the globe are searching for solutions to reduce the use of fossil fuels and their associated climate impacts. Attention has focused on the heating sector, which relies heavily on fossil fuels and was responsible for almost 40% of… View Summary +
As electrification continues to gain momentum, the implications for system reliability will be profound. Not only is demand likely to grow, but daily and seasonal patterns of energy use may shift. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, for one, has highlighted… View Summary +
States are increasingly confronting the reality that burning fossil fuels for heat creates cost burdens for their residents, particularly for low-income households and struggling small businesses, while harming health and the environment. Importing those fuels imposes a drain on the… View Summary +
Fossil-fueled appliances in buildings are a significant source of emissions, not only of greenhouse gases but also pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are responsible for a variety of air and water quality and health problems. In a webinar… View Summary +
Vermont’s Global Warming Solutions Act requires that greenhouse gas emissions from thermal end uses (heating and hot water) be reduced by at least 15% below 2018 levels by 2025 and then by 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. This… View Summary +
Although some New England utilities offer modernized rates for special applications, like electric vehicles and battery storage, there is substantial room for improvement in time-varying residential pricing. This policy brief, the last in a series examining rate design issues across… View Summary +
Technology has evolved faster than utility-offered rate designs have, and consumer choice will continue to grow as advanced energy technologies — from electric vehicles to battery storage — and smart grid optionality become available. These changes should likewise prompt advances… View Summary +
This policy brief dives deeper into rate design for low- and moderate-income (LMI) ratepayers in New England. As always, effective rate design is crucial to achieving regulatory and public policy goals, but achieving broad societal policy goals need not come at the… View Summary +
Decarbonising building heat presents both a significant opportunity and challenge to policymakers. Because of the fuel they use and the resulting carbon emissions, buildings are a critical target for energy efficiency. In order to deliver a clean energy system, most… View Summary +
In the 2018 legislative session, the Vermont Legislature called for a study to examine the possible methods, costs, and benefits of using carbon pricing to address the problem of carbon pollution in the state. RAP was then asked to assess… View Summary +
In 2009, the European Union adopted high-level goals for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas reductions with targets set for the year 2020. This was followed in 2012 by adoption of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) (2012/27/EU), a major… View Summary +
Electric vehicles (EVs) are commonly viewed as a crucial mechanism to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, increase energy security, and improve air quality. Widespread adoption of EVs also represents an opportunity for energy utilities and consumers. On April 30, 2015,… View Summary +
The environmental benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) are widely recognized. EVs are seen as a crucial mechanism to reduce North America’s dependence on fossil fuels and increase energy security. The large-scale displacement of internal combustion vehicles by EVs would result… View Summary +
Thermal energy efficiency—improvements in the usable heating and cooling performance of buildings—directly lowers energy costs and creates indirect benefits for the household and broader community. These include improved energy affordability, improved work and school productivity, job creation, and reduced greenhouse… View Summary +
This report provides an overview of the most promising technologies and policies available to Vermont as it crafts a plan for achieving the goals contained in Act 170 of 2012: 90 percent of the energy consumed across all sectors of… View Summary +