How and Why Local Governments Should Shape the Energy Systems of The Future

Local governments face increasing challenges in meeting their community’s clean energy goals while supporting affordable electricity and a reliable electric grid. Now more than ever, it is important for local governments to engage in the decision-making that establishes how our energy systems look in the future.

The story across the United States is one of the increasing challenges of delivering clean, affordable, and reliable electricity. These challenges include significant forecasted load growth, an aging electric grid, a transition to carbon-free generation sources, the introduction of new and digital technologies, an unclear and ever-changing federal policy landscape, and an inconsistent patchwork of state policies and electric utility regulations.

State electric utility regulators are fundamental to the decision-making process that determines electricity prices, generation sources, and grid upgrades. Unfortunately, electricity is at risk of becoming less clean, less affordable, and less reliable. Local governments have a critical role and responsibility to engage with their state electric utility regulators to shape the future of energy policy in their region. Local government voices can help ensure an equitable clean energy transition as a part of the evolution of the future electricity grid.

Join World Resources Institute in a series of discussions on why it is more important than ever for local governments to engage in energy-system decision-making. In this first webinar discussion, WRI will share current and upcoming trends for local governments to be aware of and strategies for getting involved. Speakers will also explore the key roles of local governments in engaging with regulators and utilities to protect ratepayers from burdensome rate increases while bolstering access to clean energy.

Speakers:

• Heather Bolick, Chief Sustainability & Resiliency Officer, City of Charlotte, NC
• Kathleen O’Neil, Energy Program Manager, City of Boise, ID
• Bill Eger, Founder & Principal, ETHOS Sustainability
• Lacey Shaver, Director, U.S. City Clean Energy Transitions, WRI Polsky Energy Center