Robert Chun’s Post

This week I had the privilege of participating in the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, where I witnessed first hand the exciting advancements in the state's energy transition. Alaska, the largest state in the U.S.(2.5 times the size of Texas!), is home to over 200 native tribes, vast mineral resources, and the world's third largest cargo port in Anchorage. The state's energy transition is gaining momentum with groundbreaking legislation. The "Hole Bill" (HB50) incentivizes carbon capture, leveraging Alaska's vast sequestration capacity. The "Tree Bill" (HB49) creates carbon credits for forest lands, another Alaska advantage. These bills not only pave the way for a cleaner energy future but also create jobs and enhance energy security. Siemens Energy can help Alaska in its ambitions by offering cutting edge technology and its expertise. For instance, AI driven software tools can help optimize energy management and improve efficiency of the state’s power plants. Exciting times for sustainable growth in the Last Frontier! #EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Alaska #AI https://lnkd.in/gtbARDFx Clay Koplin Jay Byam Erin Searcy Sam Enoka Martin Tartibi Dr. Janarthanan V. Nythruva Rich Voorberg Daniel Morell Mike Dunleavy

📣 For the 2nd year running, I presented at the Center Forward Conference in Virginia for a House-Ethics Committee approved conference based on moving forward on the most contentious issues of our time, with Chiefs of Staff from both Democrat and Republican parties. Alongside lobbyists and trade association representatives from organizations like Pacific Gas and Electric Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Anheuser-Busch and others, I facilitated a session on reaching bipartisan agreement and progress on key issues in Energy Affordability and Reliability, Climate Risk Disclosures & Reporting, and the Energy Workforce of the Future and Decarbonized Infrastructure. Some of our takeaways (of the ones that I can share!): 👉 Political uncertainty is one of the biggest barriers at the moment for Corporate America to invest in renewable energy, given uncertainty around IRA tax credits extending beyond the current administration 👉 Policy incentives that support local communities for energy projects are essential, making sure that communities become proud advocates of renewable energy projects that deliver jobs and create economic ripple effects from inception 👉 There is a short term and long term tradeoff when we think about Energy Affordability & Reliability - PG&E are investing billions putting transmission lines underground to reduce wildfire risk, which is at odds with providing affordable energy to consumers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Follow us at OnePointFive (opf.degree) or me here, to get the key climate policy takeaways as they come up during this election year. #climate #climatepolicy #sustainability

California energy policy unavoidably impacts YOUR propane business. Before you plug your ears and roll your eyes, take a look at this article from Western Propane Gas Association CEO Colin Sueyres, which lays out why you avoid paying attention to what's happening in California at your own peril. #Californiapolicy #propanepolicy #energyregulations

One of the issues that we have become fascinated with over the last couple of years is #power: power #availability, power #costs, power #reliability, #growth in #demand for power, and the overall #complexity of our power systems. We’ve also become extremely interested in how these power issues are meaningfully affecting states, countries and industries. With all of that in mind, we read with particular interest recent publications from today’s COBT guest, Susan Shelley, Columnist and Member of the Editorial Board for the Southern California News Group. Susan covers #local, #state and #national issues across eleven daily papers including the Los Angeles Daily News, the Orange County Register, the Riverside Press-Enterprise and the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Much of the #energytransition discussion is around #decarbonization and economic justice, extremely important and complicated topics. What is often missing is an examination of the costs of various decarbonization alternatives and the ways in which those choices could be hitting different segments of society. On today’s COBT, we greatly enjoyed discussing with Susan California’s power choices and talking about their costs and their debatable benefits.

Something I love about Veriten is its ability to report on energy issues in a politically agnostic way. Because they are a research, investing, and strategy firm that draws from its energy-focused network and knowledge platform they are able to bring diverse perspectives to the discussion. Something that becomes increasingly frustrating is when the #politics of it all interferes with people's ability to understand certain realities. In this instance, that there is a "disconnect between the perceived benefits of green energy policies and the reality of high #energycosts." This episode focuses specifically on how Californians are reacting to rising energy costs, with some leaving the state due to #affordabilityissues. I post this here in hopes of spurring conversation, not criticizing #greenenergy or any of the #climategoals its proponents seek to achieve. If there is any chance that California is serving as an #energy bellweather for other states, including #Texas, this is a topic we should all be following and educating ourselves and each other on. #climate #resillience #electricgrid #reliability #affordability #renewableenergy #greenhousegas #themoreyouknow #accountability #electricity

Wasted oilfield gas ➡️ clean data centers? This is a game-changer for clean energy ☀️, showing how resourcefulness & technology can pave the way for a sustainable future! ✨ #EnergyIndustry #GasCompression #PowerGeneration #EnergyTransition #Innovation #Sustainability #WaukeshaEngine

As the largest landowner in the country — about 28% of the 2.27 billion acres in the United States — the public sector is a crucial partner in our collective efforts towards emissions reduction and sustainability. Federal, state, and local governments are developing decarbonization policies and initiatives that resonate with the evolving energy landscape, all while driving economic growth and job creation in new industries like renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean technologies.

In both the #UnitedStates and #Canada - they are dismantling our decarbonization strategy. Danielle Smith is pushing regulations to ban renewable projects in #alberta - because #commonsense #Conservative policies must balance tourism with energy - #Alberta is pushing to ban #renewables to "protect views" of the #rockies. While the #Federal pump billions into subsidies - the #state or #provincial governments are banning renewables. To understand - we can look to how large-scale agri-corporations largely exploited and channeled the tax payer supported subsidies for #European farmers into their corporations in #Europe - weakening #european #farmers' collective power and voice. Funny how somehow the #rich finds a way to #steal everything that belongs to the public. Here, there is a growing trend of #oilgasindustry acquiring agricultural real estate. #Oilandgas like #agricorporations are using regulation to consolidate their control over energy. These move further weaken the collective powers of #farmers in both #Canada and #UnitedStates while Oil and gas are acquiring farm lands in record number to build renewables because they are profitable. #commonsense policy pushed by Danielle Smith means #Albertan farmers are not allowed to profit from #renewables on their land - but #oilandgas is will. Remember going more into details. Here, The World Bank, including the World Economic Forum with the International Energy Agency (IEA) are all pushing for privatizing electric grids across the world - especially in the #GlobalSouth. In fact - it is about #knowledge. See, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory study looked at linking #SriLanka and #India’s power grids to allow for cross-border energy trade. #NREL’s cost study shows #SriLanka’s cost for electricity production will reduce by 25%. While the #transmission lines between #madurai and #anuradhapura cost between 600 to 800 USD millions, and #NREL showed $180 USD savings. But we know #NREL study does not consider #decarbonization since the savings are being off-set by cheaper #fossilfuels. So, to get the full picture - we must connect the #dots. So what about #modernization? Well - India's Ministry of power did run pilot projects across multiple states including in #puducherry, #assam, #mysore and #Naroda. In total, the installation of over 150,000 advanced meters reduced technical and non-technical power loss in the grid from 24% to 9% and increased billing efficiency by almost 5%. So, while the #NREL scope did not consider the modernization of #SriLanka’s and #TamilNadu’s power grid - we can integrate these findings into #NREL’s study. Further, #AI will further improve the payback periods. Here - #decentralization can also improve #security and create #wealth for #rural India and #srilanka - but also, a #decentralized power grid represent a #decentralization of power too! #knowledge is indeed the #greatest weapon known to our species. Its the only #weapon we hold right now!

Also, about 30% of #bangladesh’s power generation infrastructure is critically threatened due to #climatechange and rising sea waters. If connecting #srilanka and #India grid reduces the cost of power production by 25% without other added benefits of digitalization, decentralization, and integration of #artificial intelligence, it means one critical pathway for #bangladesh to secure its critical energy goes through connecting with #India’s grid. However, given the lack of leadership from #Modi - both #SriLanka and #bangladesh with #pakistan are leaning towards #China. Coordinating South Asia's climate policies with #pakistan, #India, #srilanka, #nepal, #bangladesh is a solid policy due to similar cultures - shared history but also an infrastructure model that is similar due to the subcontinent's historic links with #UK. These are advantage to help ease regulatory constraints, etc. But no - #Modi wants to divide and govern. #Modi is still governed by a mind that is filled with #anger and #rage at #muslims that he rather allows his rage to break up all of #India instead of trying to find a way to lead #India into the #21st century. If #India brings the #subcontinent together - #SouthAsia will can lead the #21st and chart its own path. It's okay - #Modi - you carry on with your little taxpayer-funded photo-op under the water!

NIMBYism and Transmission buildout are often under-appreciated inhibitors to the energy transition. It's critical to collaborate with, and benefit, local communities to continue renewable buildout. However, I believe the permitting hurdles may be too great to fully reach renewable penetration potential. For that reason, I strongly believe innovations such as SMRs (especially designs light on-site development) and point source CCS will play bigger parts in the broader decarbonization path.