This week in buildings, land and industry decarbonization news, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released its annual state scorecard, and James Downing wrote an article for NetZero Insider summarizing it. The report ranks states on whether they have adopted the most effective efficiency policies across several categories, including utility programs, buildings and transportation. This year it gave California the highest score.

New Jersey’s latest Energy Master Plan, which includes a vigorous building electrification strategy, was released this week (too late for ACEEE’s 2024 scorecard), and NetZero Insider’s Hugh Morley has the details covered. The new plan predicts a 66% boost in electricity demand by 2050 if the state pursues its existing policies, but it could be even more if electrification efforts for buildings and transportation are higher than expected. 

ISO-NE released a forecast for transportation and building electrification, which NetZero Insider’s Jon Lamson reported was dialed back from earlier forecasts. The drop is bigger in transportation, though the uptake of heat pumps has been lower than expected in the two largest states, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The slower heat pump adoption led the RTO to cuts its winter peak forecast for 2033 by 8.7% down to 24,440 MW. 

EnergyTech reported on an effort by the Electric Power Research Institute with major tech players called the “Open AI Power Consortium” that seeks to use artificial intelligence to improve power system operations. While the energy demands of AI have been well documented lately, it can also help wring efficiencies out of the grid once utilities and other firms come up with generative AI applications that use data generated by the grid. 

E&E News by Politico has a story on how the water heater manufacturing industry is split on whether Congress should try to undo some efficiency standards set late in the previous administration. With a manufacturing plant in Tennessee, A.O. Smith wants the standards to stay in place, while Japanese-based Rinnai wants to scrap the rule, and both are dueling for influence over the legislative process. 

 
Read some more stories in this week’s Intelligence Report: