Journey to 2030
Jan Vrins is the Global Energy, Sustainability and Infrastructure Segment Leader at Guidehouse.
We have a new president in the White House who recognizes that climate change is an existential threat that needs to be addressed more aggressively. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on day one to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, which sends a strong message to the world that the U.S. is ready to once again lead on sustainability and climate change.
In his climate plan, President Biden has stated a goal to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and to invest 1.7 trillion dollars in clean energy and jobs. He is also targeting carbon-free electricity generation by 2035, which will accelerate decarbonization plans for many utilities.
While working toward these carbon reduction targets, we are experiencing the growing impacts of extreme weather events like fires, flooding, and heat waves. Power outages are becoming a common occurrence.
Clean energy technologies like renewable energy, along with energy efficiency, storage, grid modernization, renewable gas (green hydrogen), and better transmission can improve grid reliability and resiliency, and help to address the strains that many independent system operators and consumers are experiencing.
The energy sector will need to improve planning, procurement, and market operations, and develop creative financing and business models to achieve these important climate and energy goals.