Why Regulated Utilities Lose More on Uneconomic Power Plants
RMI’s new analysis finds that rate‑regulated utilities, which can pass fuel costs to customers, keep coal and gas plants running even when market prices make them uneconomic, generating $23 billion in gross losses since 2015. Although they own about 78% of U.S. coal capacity, these utilities account for 96% of the losses, while merchant owners—who sell electricity on wholesale markets—incur far fewer losses despite holding 22% of coal capacity. The pattern repeats for gas‑fired units, indicating that the issue stems from regulatory incentives rather than fuel type or plant flexibility. The report calls for tighter fuel‑cost scrutiny and market rules that allow economic de‑commitment.
Using Regional-First Planning to Streamline Large Load Interconnection
RMI proposes a regional‑first planning framework that merges large‑load interconnection queues with system‑wide transmission planning. The approach centralizes requests, identifies necessary system projects first, then targets incremental local upgrades. By coordinating these processes, utilities can achieve right‑sized investments, lower total...
Toward a New Carbon Economy
The article reframes the energy transition by emphasizing that carbon, a core feedstock for plastics, fertilizers and pharmaceuticals, will remain vital even as the world decarbonizes. It proposes a "new carbon economy" where carbon dioxide is deliberately captured, transformed, transported,...
The Diffusion Problem
The article defines the “diffusion problem” – the gap between powerful AI tools for climate and energy and their limited real‑world impact. While AI can now forecast electricity loads, detect methane from space, and map emissions with unprecedented precision, institutional...
Rethinking Air Conditioning for a Hotter, More Humid World
Extreme heat and humidity are driving a surge in air‑conditioner use across India and the global South, exposing the inefficiencies of conventional temperature‑only cooling. A two‑day workshop in Ahmedabad, led by CEPT University, RMI and OTS R&D, equipped engineers with...
Unlocking Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete Through Book and Claim
Cement and concrete generate roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, making decarbonisation a critical climate priority. Existing low‑carbon technologies face high capital costs and uncertain price premiums, limiting scale. In March 2026, RMI and the Center for Green Market Activation...
No Time to Read 36 Resources on State Permitting Reform? We Built an Easy-to-Use Tool That Will Do It for...
RMI released the State Permitting Power Tool, a web‑based platform that distills nearly 40 recent reports—over 1,000 pages—into a searchable matrix of permitting challenges and policy solutions. The tool lets states pinpoint specific barriers such as fragmented authority or unclear...
EV Charging – The Importance of Affordable, Convenient Access
Chinese automaker BYD unveiled its Flash Charging technology paired with the second‑generation Blade Battery, claiming a 60 % charge in five minutes. While the breakthrough highlights EV maturity, the article argues that ultra‑fast charging is not the primary solution for everyday...
When Insurance and Policy Align, Resilience Scales
Extreme weather is driving insurance costs up, creating a “doom loop” as private insurers exit risky markets. State‑led programs that tie premium discounts and matching grants to verified home resilience upgrades are proving effective, with studies showing up to $111 million...
Technical Explainer: Orphaned Oil and Gas Well Carbon Credits
Since 2023 the voluntary carbon market has begun financing the plugging of orphaned oil and gas wells, which account for up to 6 % of methane emissions from abandoned wells in the United States. Approximately 8.3 million carbon credits have been generated...