Environmental Policy, Planning, and Compliance

In a heating transformation study presented to Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, Brattle economists examine potential solutions that can transform Rhode Island’s heating sector as part of the state’s commitment to economy-wide decarbonization.

Brattle Principal Frank Graves, assisted by Principal Metin Celebi and Associate Long Lam, was retained by PNM to provide expert testimony in the unanimous NMPRC decision for PNM to abandon a San Jaun coal plant.

In conjunction with Mintz and the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC), The Brattle Group recently co-hosted the Northeast Region Emissions Reduction Summit, a half-day program dedicated to addressing the Northeast region’s ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Brattle Principal Metin Celebi joined a National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI) webinar on “PURPA Perspectives: Do the Comments Provide Opportunities for Common Ground?” on January 29 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. (ET).

Brattle Principal Jürgen Weiss spoke at the Environmental Business International (EBI) New England Environmental Industry Summit, which was held on December 6 in Boston.

Brattle Principal Jürgen Weiss has published an op-ed in CommonWealth Magazine on a report he coauthored with a team of Brattle economists on what is needed for New England to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050.

A new study prepared by Brattle economists has found that achieving the goal of an 80% reduction in GHG emissions, while feasible, will require New England to significantly accelerate clean energy resource deployment.

A recent white paper, authored by Brattle economists and prepared for NRG, that provides a framework for a clean energy market to meet carbon reduction goals has been submitted to the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee in response to questions posed by the Committee.

Brattle Principal Metin Celebi will speak at the Electric Utility Consultants, Inc. (EUCI) Modernizing PURPA conference, which will be held September 9-10 in Denver, CO.

Brattle Senior Associate Michael Hagerty will speak at the Law Seminars International (LSI) 6th Annual Conference on Transmission and Clean Energy in the Northeast, to be held March 21-22 in Boston, MA.

Brattle Principal Sanem Sergici will speak at the 46th Annual Public Utility Research Center (PURC) Conference, “Digitalization, Disruption, Dogma: The Amazon-Uber-fication of Utilities?,” to be held February 20-21 in Gainesville, FL.

Brattle Senior Associate Michael Hagerty will speak at the Law Seminars International (LSI) Climate Change in California Conference, to be held December 3-4 in San Francisco, CA.

A report by Brattle economists estimates the cost of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) proposed draft memorandum plan to support uneconomic coal and nuclear plants across the country.

A discussion paper by economists at The Brattle Group examines the trends of the California greenhouse gas (GHG) market and analyzes the underlying future drivers that will affect California GHG prices to achieve the state’s ambitious goal of 80% decarbonization by 2050. 

Brattle Principals Metin Celebi, Marc Chupka, Dean Murphy, Sam Newell, and Ira Shavel recently co-authored an article that analyzes the decline in coal-generated electricity in North America and discusses the implication of a recently-proposed U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) rule that could shield certain coal and nuclear plants from competitive market forces.

An analysis of the electricity generation sector and coal market by an economist at The Brattle Group finds that the Trump Administration’s energy and environmental policy initiatives tend to favor natural gas as a generation fuel, likely reducing coal production and mining employment.

A report authored by Brattle economists and prepared for the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) finds that adding a carbon charge into the wholesale energy market could improve the state’s ability to meet its decarbonization goals cost-effectively. The study reveals that refunding collected carbon revenues back to customers results in minimal impact on customer electricity costs compared to current policies.

Brattle Principal Philip Hanser will present at The Climate Resilient Grid: A Forum on Energy, Climate, and The Grid, taking place June 14-15, 2017 in Asheville, NC.

Brattle Principal Metin Celebi will present at the American Coal Ash Association’s (ACAA) 2017 Winter Membership Meeting, taking place January 24-25, 2017 in Jacksonville, FL.

Brattle Principals Robert Mudge and Metin Celebi will participate in the Energy Bar Association’s (EBA) Energizer, “Ongoing Climate Imperative,” taking place November 10, 2016 at Milbank, Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP’s Washington, DC office.

Brattle Senior Associate Neil Lessem will present at the upcoming International Energy Policy & Programme Evaluation Conference (IEPPEC), “Make the Paris agreement a reality with effective evaluation for energy efficiency,” taking place June 7-9, 2016 in Amsterdam.

Brattle Principals Robert Mudge and Marc Chupka will present at the upcoming Thomson Reuters Practical Law webinar, “Key Developments and Trends in the U.S. Power Industry,” taking place on February 23, 2016 from 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm EST.

Brattle Principal Ira Shavel will present at the upcoming Resources for the Future (RFF) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Seminar, “The Impact of the Clean Power Plan: Modeling for Strategic Insights,” taking place February 11, 2016 in Washington, D.C and through webcast.

Brattle Associate Michael Hagerty presented on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP) and its implications for the western interconnect at a recent EUCI conference, “Optimizing Carbon Market Mechanisms in the Western Interconnect."

Brattle Associate Michael Hagerty presented on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP) and its implications for the western interconnect at a recent EUCI conference, “Optimizing Carbon Market Mechanisms in the Western Interconnect."

Economists at The Brattle Group issued a policy brief that examines the compliance and implementation challenges facing states and utilities under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed CO₂ emissions standards for existing fossil units under the Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 111(d), known as the Clean Power Plan (CPP).

Brattle principal William Zarakas will present at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Conference, “Partnership for Energy Sector Climate Resilience,” taking place November 19, 2015 in Washington, DC.

Brattle principal Jürgen Weiss has been selected to participate in a panel discussion on the Clean Power Plan and reliability at the upcoming National Governors’ Association workshop, “Policy Academy on Examining Federal Greenhouse Gas Rules in the Electric Power Sector.” The event will take place on May 5-7, 2015 in Annapolis, MD.

Brattle principal Metin Celebi will participate at the EUCI conference, “The EPA’s Clean Power Plan: Its Effect on Electric Reliability in North America,” taking place March 31-April 1, 2015 in Houston, TX.

Brattle consultants released a report analyzing concerns raised by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) in its Initial Reliability Review (IRR) about the impact of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan (CPP) for reducing carbon emissions.

Principal Sam Newell has been invited to present at the upcoming Goldman Sachs Power, Utilities, MLP and Pipeline Conference, taking place August 12 in New York, NY.

Brattle economists issued a policy brief that examines the primary features and implications of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed CO₂ emissions standards for existing fossil units under the Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 111(d).