A year after the landmark Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became law, the federal government and states are moving quickly to deploy $8.8 billion in rebates for home energy efficiency and electrification projects. The goal is to help American households save money on energy bills, upgrade to clean energy equipment, improve energy efficiency, and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution. The IRA also includes $200 million for the State-Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants to help states train, test, and certify residential workforce key to successful implementation of the rebate programs. These programs will save households up to a $1 billion on energy bills each year and support over 50,000 U.S. jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As the DOE moves quickly to get funds out the door, what do states need to know about the ins-and-outs of the programs? What elements are must-haves for success? And what can states do ensure all people benefit? Tune in to find out!Guest Bios: Karen Zelmar is a program manager in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs. She joined DOE in 2023 and currently leads the IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs. Previously, Karen worked as the Senior Vice President of Network Planning at Volta Charging and as the Director of Clean Energy Programs at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), where she leveraged her experience in the technology industry while pursuing her passion for energy and sustainability. Karen has previously held leadership positions at multiple technology providers including AOL and Navteq, before moving into the energy industry. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University’s Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and a MBA from the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.Mary MacPherson is a program manager in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs. She joined DOE in 2022 and manages several energy efficiency workforce development programs for states, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and their partners. Previously, Mary worked at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy for almost a decade. In her former role, she conducted research and technical assistance on inclusive workforce development programs, rural energy efficiency, and state efficiency policies. She has a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology.To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources:DOE Announcement of Home Energy Rebate Programs  IRA Home Efficiency Rebates (DOE)IRA Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (DOE)State Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants (DOE)Weatherization Assistance Program

States have been long-time leaders in the transportation electrification space, and more states than ever before are taking action to accelerate transportation electrification with the adoption and implementation of EV-friendly policies, regulations, and programs. This episode of Electrify This! explores what states are doing to support robust EV markets, attract the EV supply chain, and ensure more equitable EV access. With guest Peter Huether with the Transportation Program with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) we’ll discuss the findings from the 2023 State Transportation Electrification Scorecard and learn which state policy combinations have the greatest impact on the adoption of clean, all-electric cars and trucks. We’ll also hear from Nevada state legislator, Assemblyman Howard Watts, about the world of state policymaking, and the challenges and opportunities that policymakers face when working to advance clean transportation in their states. Guest Bios: Peter Huether, is a Senior Research Associate with the Transportation Program at ACEEE where he leads research and analysis, with a focus on light-duty fuel efficiency and electric vehicles. Peter works on promoting equitable access to electric vehicles and leads the annual life-cycle emissions analysis of light-duty vehicles for ACEEE’s Greenercars.org. He was also a lead author of the 2023 State Transportation Electrification Scorecard. Peter holds a master of science in public policy and management from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor of arts in economics and global environmental change and sustainability from Johns Hopkins University. He joined ACEEE in 2020. Assemblyman Howard Watts of District 15 of Nevada has been serving in the Nevada Assembly since 2018 and has dedicated his career to advancing policies that preserve the environment, protect consumers, and ensure dignity for historically marginalized communities. In his time as a legislator, he has successfully passed laws to improve water conservation, fight climate change, expand voting access and civil rights, protect public lands, and promote racial equity. When he is not a legislator, Howard owns and operates a small public relations business. To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources:ACEEE https://www.aceee.org/ and 2023 State Transportation Electrification Scorecard https://www.aceee.org/electric-vehicle-scorecard White House Justice40 Initiative https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/State Plans for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Joint Office of Energy and Transportation https://driveelectric.gov/state-plans/

Federal and state policies are reshaping how people and goods travel, while cutting harmful greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants from cars and trucks. Vehicle electrification is accelerating thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and state policies. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s newly proposed tailpipe pollution standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles could transform our transportation future. But how will these new policies impact the average consumer and the auto industry? Host Sara Baldwin speaks with clean transportation experts, Thomas Boylan of the Zero Emission Transportation Association, and Trisha DelloIacono of CALSTART to discuss the U.S. electric vehicle market, exciting supply chain developments, and how to ensure a smooth transition.   Guest Bios Thomas Boylan, Regulatory Director, Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA). Thomas joined ZETA after nearly 7 years at the US EPA, working with the Office of Transportation and Air Quality and the Office of Congressional Affairs. His work at EPA covered a range of transportation-related topics including light-duty vehicle emission standards, heavy-duty vehicle emission standards, and implementation of the renewable fuel standard. He also helped facilitate EPA’s engagements with Congress during passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Thomas holds a BS in Geology from Virginia Tech and an MS in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University.Trisha DelloIacono, Federal Policy Director, CALSTART Trisha leads efforts in Congress and at key agencies such as EPA, DOE, and DOT, while providing support to the US EV Battery Leadership Coalition. She also leads the Federal Policy Action Group. Prior to joining CALSTART, she ed the American Apparel & Footwear Association's sustainability and product safety initiatives and was the chief liaison to Product Safety Council and Environmental Committee. DelloIacono spent the previous decade with Moms Clean Air Force/Environmental Defense Fund, working with Members of Congress to advocate for policies that protect children’s health, with a special focus on electric vehicle policy. She has an MBA and a BS in Marketing. She serves on the board for the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health in NYC and is a member of the Women of EVs global organization. To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources: Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) ZETA White PapersCALSTARTEPA’s Proposed Rule: Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty VehiclesEPA’s Proposed Rule: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3

The Inflation Reduction Act allocates billions for home and building upgrades over the next ten years; these rebates and incentives can cut energy bills, reduce energy burdens, improve public health, and slash emissions, but state and tribal governments must work quickly to develop and implement well-designed programs to realize their full potential. This episode features energy policy researchers Dr. Yunus Kinkhabwala of PSE Healthy Energy and Dr. Arjun Makhijani of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, as well as heat pump and energy efficiency expert Dana Fischer with Mitsubishi Electric US discussing program design, data-driven approaches, and strategies that help people, especially low- to moderate income households and underserved communities, benefit from new funding. Guest BiosDr. Arjun Makhijani, PhD is the President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research holds a Ph.D. in engineering (specialization: nuclear fusion) from the University of California at Berkeley. He has produced many studies and articles on nuclear fuel cycle related issues. He is the principal author of the first study  on energy conservation potential in the U.S. economy. Most recently, Dr, Makhijani has authored Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy (IEER Press), the first analysis of a transition to a U.S. economy based completely on renewable energy. He is the principal editor of Nuclear Wastelands and the principal author of Mending the Ozone Hole, both published by MIT Press.Dr. Yunus Kinkhabwala, PhD is a Senior Data Scientist, PSE Healthy Energy, where he develops sophisticated data-driven models to guide decision making and policy. Projects include optimizing the geospatial siting of solar and storage resilience hubs for vulnerable populations and estimating detailed household energy usages and costs to investigate impacts of policy scenarios aimed at improving energy affordability for low-income households. He received his PhD in Applied Physics from Cornell University as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and holds a BS in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dana Fischer is the Director of Regulatory Strategy at Mitsubishi Electric US and has been with Mitsubishi Electric for 5 years working with individual homeowners and utility and industry organization and to the US Secretary of Energy. He was the Program Manager of the Home Energy Savings Program at Efficiency Maine and established the still active residential rebate and loan programs for weatherization, conventional heating systems, and heat pumps. He also has background in municipal finance, solar thermal, and ultra-high purity manufacturing.To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources: Energy Affordability in Maryland: Integrating Public Health, Equity, and Climate | PSE Healthy Energy (February 2023)Mitsubishi Electric http://us.mitsubishielectric.comPSE Healthy Energy https://www.psehealthyenergy.orgInstitute for Energy and Environmental Research https://ieer.orgEfficiency Maine Heat Pump Program https://www.efficiencymaine.com/about-heat-pumps/

Three national climate policy stars kick off Season 3 to recap 2022 successes, predict what’s in store for 2023 on the policy front, and outline how the Inflation Reduction Act will benefit states, households, and the climate. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor of Florida, and Kelly Speakes-Backman of Invenergy share their insights on how we made major progress last year and why we can expect an action-packed year ahead!  Guest BiosU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (New Mexico) has served in the Senate since 2012 and sits on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources, Appropriations, Intelligence, and Joint Economic Committees. Senator Heinrich is focused on creating the jobs of the future and confronting the climate crisis. He served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and four years as an Albuquerque City Council, serving as City Council President. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri. U.S. House of Representatives Kathy Castor (Florida) is Tampa Bay’s voice in the U.S. Congress. She was elected in 2006 and represents Florida’s 14th Congressional district, and is the first woman to represent Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in Congress. She serves as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Chair of the former Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. She previously served as a Hillsborough County Commissioner, Chair of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, and President of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers. She holds degrees from Emory University and Florida State University College of Law. Kelly Speakes-Backman is the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs with   Invenergy, where she leads communications, government affairs, and marketing activities. She previously served as the Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy, where she oversaw the planning and execution of the organization’s $3.2B portfolio of activities in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation. She also served as the first CEO of the Energy Storage Association and Commissioner of the Maryland Public Service Commission. Kelly was honored in 2019 by The Cleanie Awards as Woman of the Year.To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:White House Fact Sheet on the Inflation Reduction Act & White House Inflation Reduction Act GuidebookHouse Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Archive Website  Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act Report Series, Energy InnovationInfrastructure and Investment in Jobs Act Resources for Local Governments Energy Innovation Careers - We're Hiring!