Visualizations of Racial Inequity

Client: Renew New England
Authors: AEC Staff

August 2020

On behalf of the Renew New England coalition, AEC used publicly available data to produce visualizations of racial disparities. 

There are three sets of data graphics:

1) The first set shows disparities in rates of incarceration, average income, COVID-19 cases, and unemployment across as many as five racial categories: Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx and white. This data is presented for each of the New England states and the U.S.

2) The second set shows Black/white disparities across as many as 23 measures (e.g. homelessness, infant mortality, educational attainment). This data is presented for Massachusetts and the total U.S.

3) Black/white unemployment for all U.S. states and the U.S. average. 

The data demonstrate that racial inequalities are pervasive across common measures of well-being like employment, incarceration, poverty status and educational attainment. These inequalities are consistent across New England and the rest of the United States. For example, across the United States today, a Black individual is 6.4 times more likely than a white individual to be incarcerated, 2.4 times more likely to have a positive COVID-19 test, and 2.2 times more likely to be unemployed.

Link to Presentation

Link to Downloadable Images

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AEC Building Electrification: The Shift Away from Gas

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD

August 2020

On August 11, 2020, Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD, presented at a meeting on Climate Impacts Considerations in Electricity Advocacy, held by the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates Electricity Committee. Dr. Stanton spoke on building electrification and the transition away from gas.

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Testimony on Pennsylvania’s Duquesne Light Default Service Plan

Windmill farm in Bradford County, PA. Photo Credit: Don Biresch

Client: MAREC Action

Author: Liz Stanton, PhD

July 2020

On behalf of the MAREC Action, Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD provided Applied Economics Clinic expert testimony to Docket 20-3019522 before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. In her testimony, Dr. Stanton discussed the benefits of long-term contracts for renewables in the context of Duquesne Light’s Default Service Plan proposal. Dr. Stanton recommended that the Commission require Duquesne to issue a bundled renewables Request for Proposal, or require Duquesne to initiate a pilot program amounting to 10 percent or more of its total obligation. Lastly, Dr. Stanton recommended that, for optimal results for ratepayers, the Commission should direct Duquesne to collaborate with stakeholders to design a prudent mixture of resources to yield the benefits of long-term contracts for renewables. In response to several rebuttal testimonies, Dr. Stanton provided a surrebuttal testimony also on behalf of MAREC Action to provide additional information and updates relating to long-term renewable contracts.

Link to Testimony

Link to Surrebuttal Testimony

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Paying for Clean Energy, 25 Cents at a Time

Author: Bryndis Woods

July 2020

Researcher Bryndis Woods prepared a policy brief that investigates a hypothetical scenario: What could a 25-cent per month electrification surcharge on Massachusetts consumers’ electric bills buy? This policy brief presents different investment options for the Commonwealth, including installing high-speed electric vehicle chargers, installing electric air source heat pumps, providing used-electric vehicle rebates, and providing zero-interest loans on used electric vehicle purchases. 

Link to Policy Brief

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Comments on AltaGas Climate Business Plan

Client: DC Office of the People’s Counsel 

Author: Liz Stanton, PhD

July 2020

On behalf of the DC Office of the People’s Counsel, Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD prepared an affidavit, which reviews the policy and economic aspects of AltaGas’ Climate Business Plan and the Renewable Natural Gas Study prepared by ICF Resources. Dr. Stanton concluded that while AltaGas’ analysis does not provide sufficient information regarding assumptions, data, and methods for a comprehensive review, certain AltaGas and ICF assumptions and conclusions are inconsistent with other recent analyses. Dr. Stanton recommended that the Commission continue to gather more information.

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Link to OPC’s Comments

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Testimony on Consumers Energy's 2020 Rate Case

Source: MiBiz

Client: Michigan Environmental Council, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and Citizens Utility Board of Michigan

Author: Tyler Comings

June 2020

On behalf of Michigan Environmental Council, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and Citizens Utility Board of Michigan, Senior Researcher Tyler Comings filed testimony on the Consumers Energy rate case in Michigan. Mr. Comings evaluated the economics of two coal units, Campbell Units 1 and 2. He concluded that the units should be considered for retirement and that future spending that could be avoided with earlier retirement should be disallowed. He also found that other spending should be disallowed because the company failed to provide sufficient documentation for those projects. 

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Planning for the Future: Massachusetts Cleans Up Its Heating

Client: Gas Leak Allies

Author: Joshua R. Castigliego and Liz Stanton, PhD

June 2020 (Updated Sept. 2020)

On behalf of the Gas Leak Allies, Researcher Joshua Castigliego and Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD prepared a policy brief that compares the costs of status quo gas system repair in Massachusetts to the costs of repair under the FUTURE Act. The “FUTURE Act” (An Act For a Utility Transition to Using Renewable Energy, H.2849, S.1940) was introduced in the Massachusetts Legislature in early 2019. The Act aims not only to address existing safety challenges, but also to create a path forward for gas distribution companies to move away from the fossil fuel delivery business and be a part of the clean energy transition. Our assessment finds that Massachusetts’ FUTURE Act (if passed) could save consumers $10.7 billion while transitioning the Commonwealth to a zero-carbon, renewable thermal future.

Link to Policy Brief (Updated 9/22/2020)

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Comments on Evergy's 2020 Integrated Resource Plan

Client: Sierra Club

Author: Tyler Comings

May 2020

AEC Senior Researcher Tyler Comings assisted the Sierra Club with comments on the Evergy Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process in Missouri. The comments recommend that Evergy fully assess the economics of its existing fleet, use realistic costs for replacement resources, re-design its solicitation to encourage more competition from new resource options, and more seriously address risks of environmental compliance costs.

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A Needs Assessment of the Hopkinton-Ashland Transfer Line Replacement Project

Client: Town of Ashland

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD, Joshua R. Castigliego, Bryndis Woods, and Eliandro Tavares

May 2020

Clinic Director Liz Stanton, PhD, Researchers Joshua Castigliego and Bryndis Woods, and Assistant Researcher Eliandro Tavares authored this white paper on behalf of the Town of Ashland to assess the need for the Hopkinton-Ashland Transfer Line Replacement project. Proposed by Eversource to the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board in 2018, Eversource maintains that the pipeline is required to address current and future customer gas demand, as well as the need for redundancy in the gas delivery system. AEC found that Eversource's claims are not strongly substantiated, include errors/omissions, and do not adequately consider alternatives to building additional gas infrastructure. Overall, this white paper deems the project unnecessary in satisfying both current and expected gas demand, that redundancy is not the planning standard in the state, and that the pipeline contradicts emissions targets and climate laws as Massachusetts transitions to a zero-carbon future. 

Link to White Paper

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Comments on Massachusetts Decarbonization Roadmap

Client: Conservation Law Foundation

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD, Bryndis Woods and Eliandro Tavares

Updated April 28, 2020

In February 2020, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs requested public feedback on setting a 2050 emissions limit that will achieve the Commonwealth’s 2050 goal of net-zero emissions. On behalf of Conservation Law Foundation, this Applied Economics Clinic white paper provides eight recommendations for the Commonwealth as it works to set its 2050 emission targets. We argue that Massachusetts should set an ambitious 2050 emissions reductions target that builds in flexibility to account for truly recalcitrant emissions via carbon sinks, distinguishes the state as a national leader on climate, clearly defines and limits the use of carbon sinks until the Commonwealth approaches full decarbonization in 2050, considers the context of global climate change and local impacts, is in line with the best available science, and uses modeling tools that are able to consider a full range of emission reduction technologies.

Link to White Paper

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Cost of Capital and Asset Return for Workers' Compensation Insurance in Massachusetts

Author: Tyler Comings

AEC Senior Researcher Tyler Comings prepared an advisory filing for the State Review Board (SRB) of the Massachusetts Division of Insurance. Mr. Comings estimated the cost of capital and asset rate of return for the industry for use in regulated rates of workers' compensation insurance. All parties reached an agreed upon change in rates, which was accepted by the Division of Insurance (Docket No. R2019-01). 

Comments on Ameren Missouri Integrated Resource Plan

Client: Sierra Club

Author: Tyler Comings

April 2020

AEC Senior Researcher Tyler Comings assisted the Sierra Club with comments on the Ameren Missouri Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process. The comments recommend that Ameren fully address environmental compliance costs and emissions impacts, conduct rigorous economic modeling of its coal fleet, and reasonable cost assumptions for existing and new resources. 

Link to Comments

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New England Housing Costs: Rent as a Share of Income

Authors: Bryndis Woods, Liz Stanton, PhD and Eliandro Tavares

March 2020

Researcher Bryndis Woods, Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD and Assistant Researcher Eliandro Tavares prepared a presentation that assesses housing costs as a share of income across the New England states. We find that, across New England, lower-income households bear a greater rent burden than higher-income households. Between 2011 and 2017, some households’ rent as a share of income has risen, as a result of falling incomes and/or rising rents that can lead to displacement.

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Running Behind: New York State's Renewable Transformation

Client: Earthjustice

Authors: Bryndis Woods, Sagal Alisalad and Liz Stanton, PhD

March 2020

On behalf of Earthjustice, Researcher Bryndis Woods, Assistant Researcher Sagal Alisalad and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD prepared a report that reviews New York State’s past progress on its new climate law as it applies to the electric sector. We find that the state has its work cut out for it in meeting its ambitious targets regarding: renewable energy development, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Given historical trends in these areas, New York will need to dramatically scale up its efforts, beginning immediately, to reach its goals. Importantly, we also find that solar, wind and solar plus storage technologies are feasible and immediately available, and that currently planned gas capacity is at odds with the state’s renewable energy and emission reduction goals and will, therefore, impose unnecessary costs on New York consumers.

Link to Report

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Health and Cost Benefits of Energy Efficiency Policies

Client: Green Energy Consumers Alliance (GECA)

Authors: Bryndis Woods, Hannah Brown and Myisha Majumder

March 9, 2020

On behalf of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance (GECA), Researcher Bryndis Woods and Research Assistants Hannah Brown and Myisha Majumder prepared a policy brief that assesses the impact of various efficiency policies on energy savings. We find that, on average, the more fully policies account for the benefits of energy efficiency, the more energy they save; states that account for participant health benefits, societal health benefits or mandate the implementation of all cost-effective efficiency measures save more energy than states that do not. In states that do not consider participant and societal health benefits, fewer efficiency measures are implemented—leaving both energy savings and benefits on the table.

Link to Policy Brief

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New Orleans' Renewable Portfolio Standard: Cost-Effective, Reliable, Resilient

Client: Alliance for Affordable Energy

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD, Bryndis Woods, Eliandro Tavares and Sagal Alisalad

March 2020

Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD, Researcher Bryndis Woods, and Assistant Researchers Eliandro Tavares and Sagal Alisalad prepared a report that addresses Entergy New Orleans’ (ENO) critiques of the Energy Future New Orleans Coalition's July 2019 Resilient Renewable Portfolio Standard (R-RPS) proposal to achieve a 100 percent renewable electric generation by 2040. ENO incorrectly claims that the R-RPS would: be prohibitively costly; harm grid resiliency, and harm grid reliability. AEC’s analysis of the R-RPS found the plan to be affordable, would provide substantial resiliency benefits, and would reliably provide New Orleans’ energy needs.

Link to Report

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AEC Climate and Social Equity Framework

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD and Bryndis Woods

March 2020

AEC’s climate and social equity framework offers guidance on how to incorporate considerations of social equity in climate planning. Every community will face different climate and social equity changes, and will need its own tailored approach to achieve the best outcomes. The framework can be used as a jumping off point, a discussion piece to spark ideas, or a to do list.

Link to Framework

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Testimony on Algonquin Gas Transport Agreement

Client: Town of Weymouth

Author: Liz Stanton, PhD

February 2020

On behalf of the Town of Weymouth, Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD provided Applied Economics Clinic expert testimony to Docket 19-132 before the Massachusetts' Department of Public Utilities. In her testimony, Dr. Stanton examined whether National Grid's proposed Atlantic Bridge Agreement meets the following criteria: (1) the public need for this capacity based on forecasted demand and available alternatives, (2) the public need for this capacity based on price, and (3) consideration of evidence relevant to the Global Warming Solutions Act ("GWSA"). Dr. Stanton concluded that National Grid failed to prove the necessity, cost-effectiveness, and GWSA compliance of the proposed Atlantic Bridge Agreement.

Link to Testimony

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A Whole New Ballgame: Indiana Coal and the New Energy Landscape

Client: Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD, Bryndis Woods, Joshua Castigliego, Eliandro Tavares and Sagal Alisalad

February 2020

Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD, Researchers Bryndis Woods and Joshua Castigliego and Assistant Researchers Eliandro Tavares and Sagal Alisalad prepared a report on behalf of the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana that responds to several myths that persist regarding claimed benefits of aging coal-fired generators over renewable wind and solar. The report finds that legacy power generation sources like coal are characterized by a lack of flexibility, making them costly and inconvenient to integrate with more modern renewables.

Link to Report

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Testimony on Indiana Michigan Power Company's Integrated Resource Plan

Client: Earthjustice

Author: Tyler Comings

January 2020

AEC Senior Researcher Tyler Comings filed testimony on behalf of Sierra Club on the Indiana Michigan Power Company (I&M) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) in Michigan, focusing on two coal units (Rockport 1 and 2). Mr. Comings found that I&M was justified in proposing retirement  of Rockport 1 in 2028 and letting its lease expire for Rockport 2 in 2022. Mr. Comings found that there was additional savings from retiring the Rockport 1 unit even earlier than I&M was proposing: 2025 instead of 2028. He also recommended additional Commission oversight of the Company's share of output from the Kyger Creek and Clifty Creek coal units.

Link to Testimony

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