SUMMER 2016 VOL. 9 NO. 1

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY Greening Energy in China and Beyond

HELPING CHINA INNOVATE NEW ENERGY SOLUTIONS

TAKING CLEAN ENERGY TO O Y M UN ARBON DEVELOPING NATIONS K T C C A I O N

R

PLUS: AMORY’S ANGLE, RMI’S I W N E A M INNOVATION CENTER, AND MORE STIT U T R R O O TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMER 2016 /VOL. 9 NO. 1

GOING GLOBAL GOING GLOBAL

CLEARING THE AIR IN CHINA AFFORDABLE, CLEAN ELECTRICITY FOR ALL Rocky Mountain Institute works with China to peak carbon emissions early and low, and to follow a clean energy pathway Rocky Mountain Institute’s work in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean improves people’s well-being 14 for its large and growing economy 22 Table of Contents Table 1 Summer 2016

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

CEO LETTER MY RMI WALK THE WALK

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY: EXPANDING RECIPE FOR LASTING CHANGE: JOHN 33 YEARS OF IMPACT: LONGTIME Our Printing and Paper OUR IMPACT IN CHINA, AFRICA, THE “MAC” MCQUOWN ON WHAT MAKES STAFFER MICHAEL KINSLEY RETIRES. This issue of Solutions Journal is printed on elemental 02 HIS INFLUENCE CARRIES ON chlorine-free paper. Specifically, it is #2 FSC-certified CARIBBEAN, AND BEYOND 10 RMI TICK 28 CPC Matte Book and FSC-certified CPC Matter Cover, Sappi Papers in Minnesota, sourced from SFI-certified pulp. Using certified paper products promotes environmentally appropriate and economically viable AMORY’S ANGLE QUESTION & ANSWER INNOVATION BEACON management of the world’s forests.

SOFT ENERGY PATHS: LESSONS OF GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE: MARIA VAN RMI’S INNOVATION CENTER: 5 REASONS THE FIRST 40 YEARS DER HOEVEN ON ENERGY SECURITY, IT’S THE OFFICE OF THE FUTURE 04 12 ENERGY ACCESS, AND COLLABORATION 30 Staff Editorial Director – Cindie Baker Writer/Editor – Laurie Guevara-Stone Writer/Editor – David Labrador RMI-CWR IN BRIEF GOING GLOBAL : cover iStock.com; left, iStock.com; right, courtesy Off-Grid:Electric left, iStock.com; iStock.com; cover : Art Director – Romy Purshouse NEWS FROM AROUND THE A PARTNER’S PERSPECTIVE: Lead Designer – Marijke Jongbloed 09 INSTITUTE 20 MR. DAI YANDE PHOTOS Designer – Alexandria Kleidon CEO LETTER GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY Expanding Our Impact in China, Africa, the Caribbean, and Beyond By Jules Kortenhorst

ust this past May, scientists predicted seem daunting, there is much reason for opti­ that at two carbon dioxide measuring mism. In the past year, President Obama and stations in distant parts of the world—in China’s President Xi Jinping reaffirmed their JAustralia and Hawaii—the levels will not dip deter­mination to move ahead decisively to imple­ below 400 ppm again. The effects of climate ment domestic climate policies, to strengthen change are visible everywhere, perhaps nowhere bilateral coordina­tion and cooperation, and to more so than on islands, greatly impacted by promote the transition to low-carbon and climate- rising sea levels, increased storm intensity, and resilient economies. And in Paris, delegates from GLOBAL REACH These and other stories within these pages show There is plenty of high energy costs. China, now the world’s largest nearly 200 countries approved a historic agree­ In this issue of Solutions Journal, you will read about that a clean energy future is within our grasp. reason for optimism emitter of green­house gases, is facing debilitating ment to address climate change. our work with the Chinese government and But we need to act faster to reach the targets set about addressing The Mauna Loa smog in many of its urban centers. And as influential partners to deliver an economically in Paris, and keep global temperature rise the world’s energy Observatory, in emerging economies around the world continue to Yet emerging economies and developing compelling alternative development path for the well below 2 degrees Celsius. Through the problems for the Hawaii, is the grow, they are expected to become major sources countries need our help to translate their Paris country, through our Reinventing Fire: China international projects described in these pages— next generation.

premier CO2 of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. commitments into implementation plans. That is program. You will discover how the Alliance of along with our work decreasing emissions of the monitoring station why Rocky Mountain Institute, with your help, is Peaking Pioneer Cities (APPC) is helping 23 Chinese global shipping and aviation industries, and in CEO Letter on the globe. Although the world’s energy problems might working to transform energy use on a global scale. cities peak carbon emissions early and low by the U.S. accelerating the transition from fossil 2 providing technical support and resources, and fuels to renewables, transforming mobility in 3 how we are working with the APPC to create a cities, improving the efficiency of trucking, peaking handbook that any Chinese city can use to addressing fugitive methane emissions, and do the same. You will also learn how we are freeing increasing building efficiency—RMI is working Caribbean and other islands from their dependence hard to help realize a global energy revolution. on expensive, imported oil, and helping increase Summer 2016 access to affordable, reliable electricity in sub- But we can’t do it alone. Our industry and Saharan Africa. Our Islands Energy Program and philanthropic partners are integral to our SEED Program (Sustainable Energy for Economic success. With your support, we can transform Development) are critical to these countries’ global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, necessary integrated energy transitions. and secure low-carbon future.

As the world becomes more connected, and Jules Kortenhorst climate change affects each and every one of us, a is chief executive global viewpoint is crucial. So we speak with our officer of Rocky board member Maria van der Hoeven, former Mountain Institute. head of the International Energy Agency, about energy security and the importance of collab­ oration to transform our energy future. GET INVOLVED

Philanthropic support makes RMI’s work possible. Join us by making HELPING AT HOME a donation today to help create a clean, prosperous, and secure low- Of course, we are also working close to home. In carbon future. this issue we take you on a photo tour of our new Give an unrestricted gift or target your gift to support an RMI Innovation Center in Basalt, Colorado. Our net- project that addresses your passion.

top left, © Rocky Mountain Institute; bottom left, iStock.com; right, iStock.com zero energy office building serves as a “living lab” and a practical model to propel the industry www.rmi.org/donate

PHOTOS: toward deep green buildings. AMORY’S ANGLE

what we want energy for—what “end-uses” we FIGURE 1A: A “hard” energy path representing government and industry forecasts of total U.S. sought, such as hot showers, cold beer, mobility, energy use during 1975–2025. SOFT ENERGY PATHS comfort, smelted alumina, baked bread—and how to deliver each of those services by providing An Illustrative, Schematic Future for U.S. Gross Primary Energy Use the amount, kind, scale, and source of energy Lessons of the First 40 Years 250 best suited to the task. This end-use concept soon By Amory B. Lovins merged with Roger Sant’s “least-cost” language, 200 resonant with the emerging Reaganomics hen the 1973 oil shock threatened Forty years later, a review of its initial reception emphasis on free markets. The resulting “end- 150 COAL security and prosperity, America’s and continued influence shows what lessons have use/least-cost” approach revealed the most cost- per year ) BTU 15 initial policy responses were con- and haven’t been learned. effective solutions, chosen via competition or 100 Wfused and ineffectual. Intensifying business as planning, to such questions as whether to keep usual—drilling oil and gas wells, building giant warm in winter by gas or electric heating, or by A LOOK BACK TO 1976 50 OIL AND GAS

coal and nuclear plants, perhaps developing coal- insulation and weatherstripping. Quadrillion (10 NUCLEAR to-liquids synfuels—was vigorously proposed, To this 28-year-old author, it felt like dropping 0 but soon began looking too costly, dirty, slow, and a seed crystal into a supersaturated solution, Different questions yield different answers, so the 1975 2000 2025 difficult. The huge capital requirement would suddenly crystallizing the liquid into a whole new article contrasted two ways the U.S. energy system

choke off other needed investments and ultimately form. A year later, President Carter invited me could evolve (Figures 1A and 1B). FIGURE 1B: An illustrative alternative “soft” energy path yielding the same GDP growth but make energy prices soar, so faltering demand into the Oval Office to discuss the article. He now combining efficient use with right-sized, right-quality, renewable, and widely accessible couldn't pay for the costly new supplies. Yet by says he found it very helpful in forming his energy sources (“soft technologies”). autumn 1976, no coherent alternative vision had policy—apart from Energy Secretary Schlesinger’s SAVINGS: ACCURATELY ENVISAGED been articulated. Policy imagination was stuck. synfuels effort, the most coherently pro-efficiency- A later scholarly review found the article had An Alternative Illustrative Future for U.S. Gross Primary Energy Use and-renewables policy before or since. been the only one of dozens of mid-1970s studies 250 s Angle At that teachable moment, my Foreign Affairs with accurate foresight about total U.S. primary ’ article “Energy Strategy: The Road Not Taken?” Incumbent energy industries greeted the article energy use in 2000 (foresight, but explicitly not a 200 Amory reframed the energy problem and added an with skepticism, scorn, even outrage. A four-inch- forecast, as it is often still mischaracterized). The alternative vision of U.S. energy strategy. The thick Senate hearing record compiled three dozen soft path shown in Figure 1B is 0.8 or 4.0 percent 150 4 per year ) BTU 5 “hard path” was more of the same; the “soft pairs of critiques and responses. Nowadays it makes below actual 2000 energy use, normalizing to 15 President Carter and path” combined energy efficiency with a shift to amusing reading, reminding us that 40 years ago actual GDP growth or not, respectively. But the 100 Amory discussed renewable supply. The article soon became that energy efficiency was novel and controversial, best contemporaneous econometric forecasts COAL the article in the venerable journal’s most-reprinted ever, spreading while renewable energy was strange, threatening, were approximately 60–70 percent too high. Then 50 Oval Office in 1977. as virally as pre-Internet technologies permitted. or absurd. Some people still cling to those views. in 2000–15, far from turning upwards, energy Quadrillion (10 OIL AND GAS SOFT TECHNOLOGIES Summer 2016 intensity fell by a further 24 percent. 0 When the hubbub died down, ARCO’s chief 1975 2000 2025 economist, Dr. David Sternlight, nicely captured Figure 2 compares the hypothetical energy- the conclusion of sober observers: He for one didn’t intensity trajectory the article suggested as care if I were only half right—that would be better feasible in 1976, falling 72 percent in 50 years, FIGURE 2: U.S. primary energy use per dollar of GDP (“energy intensity”) as officially forecast performance than he’d seen from the rest of them. with its actual 56 percent fall in 40 years. The around 1975, or as suggested by Lovins in 1976, compared with actual data—and with the Over the next decade, the article’s thesis gained “near-halving” envisaged by “about the turn of the threefold further gain found in RMI’s Reinventing Fire (2011) to be feasible at even lower cost. The decreased intensity achieved so far is due roughly one-third to structural shifts in the enough credence that many of its harshest critics century” occurred in 2008. economy, two-thirds to better technical efficiency. hired RMI, founded in 1982, to help them adopt it. By the current decade, two leading journals of the To make a dollar of real GDP, the U.S. in 2015 1.25 electricity industry generously recognized our used 56 percent less total primary energy than in approach’s prescience, and the article’s thesis has 1975, 59 percent less coal, and 65 percent less oil 1 broadly prevailed in the energy marketplace. and directly used natural gas. Coal’s 2015 share Government and Industry Forecast, 1975 of primary supply (16.0 percent) was below its 0.75 The article was so influential because rather than previous post-World War II low (16.6 percent in Actual just proposing yet another portfolio of energy 1972). Instead, the U.S. got 10 percent of its primary 0.5 investments, it redefined their purpose and logic. energy use and 14 percent of its electricity use from Previously, the problem was where to get more renewables, which were 68 percent of new added 0.25 Lovins, Foreign Affairs,Fall 1976 energy—more, of any kind, from any source, at generating capacity. any price. Planners extrapolated historic growth Reinventing Fire, 2011 : top left, © Rocky Mountain Institute; bottom left, courtesy Amory B. Lovins 0

in energy demand and built supply to meet it. Electricity is the costliest form of energy, yet GDP (1975=1.0) Dollar of Real Primary Energy Per Index of U.S. 1975 1990 2005 2020 2035 2050

The article started at the other end by asking PHOTOS Americans have saved electricity only half as fast AMORY’S ANGLE

vehicle efficiency worsened in 1987–2004, FIGURE 3A: Lovins’s 1976 soft-energy-path sketch, with hydropower and nuclear power taking 22 years just to regain its 1987 level: (explicitly omitted from Figure 1 as “minor and relatively constant”) added back by 2016 The pace of saving oil fell by two-thirds, and estimation applying similar methods to the information available in 1975. approximately 99 percent of the major gains in Foreign Affairs, 1976 engine efficiency boosted acceleration rather than saving fuel. Legislation was blocked 140 until President G.W. Bush’s 2007 update, then the new rules were suspended amid Detroit’s distress a year later. This stagnation wasted 120 two turnovers of the auto fleet, prolonging high oil demand for a quarter-century while 100 oil interests sought to suppress competing biofuels. COAL 80 ) BTU per year ) BTU • The rapid growth of “soft technologies” (diverse, 15 right-sized, right-quality, widely accessible 60 NATURAL GAS renewables) in Figures 1B and 3B, predicated on “aggressive support,” instead got largely hostile Quadrillion (10 federal policies for 32 of the past 40 years. Even the 40 SOFT TECH fossil-fuel companies that invested in renewables OIL impatiently dumped them just as they were poised for success. President Carter’s 1978 PURPA 20 law, which let independent and distributed HYDRO s Angle ’ generation compete fairly, enabled a false dawn 0 NUCLEAR of renewables in the early to mid-1980s. Though

1975 1985 1995 2005 2015 2025 Amory weakened by legal and regulatory attacks, PURPA destroyed the rationale for utility monopoly 6 FIGURE 3B: What happened instead, together with the Energy Information Administration’s 7 and laid the groundwork for today’s competitive 2004 and 2016 Reference Case forecasts, declining to converge with reality. Actual 2015 power markets, which now replace PURPA in primary consumption (97.5 QBTU) exceeded Figure 1B’s by ~18.5 QBTU, of which 15.4 QBTU reflects the one-third smaller actual 2000–15 intensity decline shown in Figure 2. Figure 3A’s half the nation. Thus after a long, bumpy detour, soft technologies also avoid electrical system losses. Figure 1B excludes but Figure 3B includes renewables since about 2010 have at last taken off feedstock uses (4.5 QBTU in 2011) for which this comparison doesn’t adjust. as hoped in 1976—but roughly 35 years late. ACTUAL Summer 2016

140 The hard energy as direct fuel. That’s partly because until about The differences between Figures 3A and 3B have THINGS I GOT RIGHT path required 2001, 48 states’ utilities were still rewarded for three main causes affecting each element of supply: Climate understanding isn’t new. The 1976 Foreign EIA 2004 investments, selling more energy; even now this is done in 36 Affairs article says of the hard path: 120 infrastructure, and states for electricity (with reforms pending in 8) • Natural gas was then thought to be a scarce institutions that and 28 for gas (with reforms pending in 4). But as byproduct of dwindling oil, so federal policy The commitment to a long-term coal economy 100 precluded the soft such perverse policies begin to fade, electricity outlawed its power-plant use in 1978–87 and many times the scale of today’s makes the EIA 2016 energy path. use has drifted down from its 2007 peak. In the strongly promoted coal-fired generation doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide COAL long run it may shrink by about 1 percent a year instead. That vast coal fleet, long exempted concentration early in the next century per year ) BTU 80 15 despite solid economic growth and all-electric from Nixon-era environmental laws, is only virtually unavoidable, with the prospect then automobiles. now fading while resurgent gas persists. or soon thereafter of substantial and perhaps 60 NATURAL GAS irreversible changes in global climate. Only Once President Ford got auto-efficiency the exact date of such changes is in question. • Quadrillion (10 SUPPLY TRANSITION: DELAYED BY standards passed into law in 1975 (effective 40 CONTRARY POLICY 1978), U.S. oil intensity fell by an average of 5.2 Are we there yet? Cue the Clean Power Plan and the OIL The demand-side foresight of the projected soft percent per year. But the resulting 1985–86 oil Paris Agreement. path wasn’t matched on the supply side (Figure 3). price crash fostered complacency. This helped 20 SOFT TECH Though some states like California successfully lobbyists persuade Congress to ignore—for 25 Anticipating RMI’s 2002 book Small Is Profitable HYDRO pursued their own soft paths, powerful lobbies years for cars and for about 17 years for light and today’s market trends, the article says avoided NUCLEAR iStock.com 0 and hence national policy strongly favored the trucks—the legal mandate to raise efficiency grid costs and diseconomies of scale could reduce 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015 2025

hard path in energy supply. standards in step with technologies. Light- PHOTO: electricity costs, and “an affluent industrial AMORY’S ANGLE

economy could advantageously operate with no formations, I’d have treated it separately from oil, central power stations at all!” It also notes that and emphasized natural gas rather than advanced “Energy storage is often said to be a major problem coal as a transitional technique used “briefly and RMI-CWR IN BRIEF of energy-income technologies.” But partly sparingly to build a bridge to the energy-income since thermal storage is easier and cheaper than economy of 2025.” These insights weren’t obvious News From Around the Institute electrical storage to do the same tasks, “On the until the past decade. whole…energy storage is much less of a problem in a soft energy economy than in a hard one.” So The “temporary and modest (less than twofold model for the industry to achieve greater savings, while creating at peak)” expansion of 1975 coal mining ended win-win scenarios for both charterers and owners. The grant was “One of the article’s most controversial up at 2.16-fold due to the unnatural policy-driven funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery, which granted €1 million to suppression of gas and expansion of coal power. Carbon War Room to expand its impact in the shipping industry. claims—that soft and hard energy (Modern combined-cycle gas-fired power plants paths are mutually exclusive—has emerged only in the 1980s.) The climate-protecting vision of squeezing at least the oil part of the oil- A BOOT CAMP TO TRANSFORM THE unfortunately been borne out.” and-gas wedge between efficiency and renewables ELECTRICITY SECTOR is finally getting underway, and coal is now In April, RMI convened the third annual e-Lab Accelerator event, says the market today. Renewables’ lower costs, squeezed between efficiency, renewables, and gas. bringing together teams from throughout North America working risks, and hassles; favoring market-led over policy- on high-impact and innovative projects to address complex driven adoption; and reinforcing individual and The article’s most consequential failure was not electricity system challenges and increase the deployment of community choice are all now commonplace. convincing policymakers to use the power of the U.S. distributed energy resources. Thirteen teams from Hawaii to example to slow or stop the spread of nuclear New York brought a mix of decision makers—including state The hard path’s political risks sound familiar too: weapons. When I enlarged this argument in Foreign and city government officials, utility executives, and technology Affairs four years later, it again sank without trace providers—to work on issues such as microgrids, zero-carbon In contrast to the soft path’s dependence on because nuclear advocates dominated most nations’ communities, solar plus storage, resilience, and the integration Participants in NY Change Lab, convened by RMI in June, came together pluralistic consumer choice in deploying a energy policy, as they still do in many including our to address how low-income households can increase access to clean of electric vehicles. RMI-CWR in Brief RMI-CWR myriad of small devices and refinements, the own. Thirty years after that, far stronger evidence energy and its benefits. 8 hard path depends on difficult, large-scale in Foreign Policy still had little effect. Therefore we 9 projects requiring a major social commitment worry today about self-inflicted risks from North A BUSINESS MODEL FOR NET-ZERO ENERGY under centralized management…. The hard Korea, Pakistan, and Iran. CLEAN ENERGY FOR LOW-INCOME DISTRICTS path, sometimes portrayed as the bastion of HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW YORK RMI created an integrative business model for developing net- free enterprise and free markets, would instead In June, RMI held the third meeting of the NY Change Lab, an zero energy or ultra-low energy districts, in a way that is attractive be a world of subsidies, $100-billion bailouts, DEEPER LESSONS initiative of RMI’s e-Lab Leap program to increase access of low- to the district developer, parcel developer, and tenants, as well as Summer 2016 oligopolies, regulations, nationalization, emi- One of the article’s most controversial claims— income households and communities to energy efficiency and beneficial to the local electric grid and neighboring community. nent domain, corporate statism. that the soft and hard energy paths are mutually renewables. In total, 35 lab participants and 10 guest experts The business model was developed specifically for Almono, a exclusive, because each requires investments, attended, representing more than 40 different organizations. 180-acre development in Pittsburgh, and shows how pursuing The grave vulnerabilities of overcentralized infrastructures, institutions, and attitudes that These meetings strengthen the capacity for diverse stakeholders net-zero energy is not a cost, but rather a significant value driver systems, later amplified in Brittle Power (1981/82), inhibit or preclude the other—has unfortunately to work together, and enable progress on five unique lab that can create new income streams. This innovative business are also now visible. been borne out. It’s visible daily as hard and soft initiatives designed to drive innovative solutions to low-income model can be used to develop net-zero energy districts around Amory B. Lovins is technologies fight for market share and political challenges. And in July, RMI piloted a workshop for accelerating the world, and China has already expressed great interest in cofounder, chief Other gratifying content from the article includes influence. Dangerous delays in the transition to the development and implementation of business models that the approach. scientist, and chairman the utility death spiral, backcasting, integrative a post-fossil-fuel and climate-safe energy system, provide low-income tenants with access to on-site solar, attended emeritus of Rocky design (demonstrated in my house seven years the article warned in 1976, “are exactly what by 21 participants representing specific stakeholder roles. Mountain Institute. later), institutional barriers and solutions, we can expect if we continue to devote so much ACCELERATING CORPORATE RENEWABLE cogeneration, reliance on market principles and money, time, skill, fuel, and political will to the ENERGY PROCUREMENT mechanisms, and utilities’ financing customers’ hard technologies that are so demanding of them.” SHIPPING RETROFIT DEAL WINS BUSINESS RMI’s Business Renewables Center (BRC) is streamlining and WEB EXTRA solar systems (though “solar” in 1976 meant solar- GREEN AWARD accelerating the procurement of renewable energy by some For more thermal, as photovoltaics were still “exotic”). Slowly but with gathering speed, markets have Business Green awarded its prestigious Energy Efficiency of the world’s most influential companies. As of July 2016, information on this begun to triumph over incumbents’ political Project of the Year award to the landmark collaboration between there were more than 128 BRC members and over 4,000 topic visit: means of enforcing their natural desire to protect shipowner Hammonia Reederei and charterer Intermarine, MW of renewable energy deals completed by BRC members. http://www.rmi.org/ THINGS I’D CHANGE the old energy system, not enable the new. Yet which was facilitated by a grant from Carbon War Room, an RMI The market impact is substantial: Clean Edge, a research and Knowledge-Center/ The article’s main error was about natural gas. Had the challenge of speeding that shift remains, business unit. The deal saw three vessels retrofit with multiple consulting firm, used BRC membership as a criterion to rank large Library/E77-01_ the scientific community known in 1976 that U.S. while the imperatives of climate, public health, efficiency technologies, each expecting to see 25 percent fuel corporations and determine which are clean energy leaders. The : © Rocky Mountain Institute EnergyStrategy gas is often unassociated with oil, quite abundant, security, development, and democracy heighten savings. The unique contractual agreement shares the risk and BRC continues to be at the center of the corporate renewables

RoadNotTaken and profitably recoverable from deep and tight its urgency. PHOTO the profits between the shipowner and its charterer. The deal is a market to enable 60 GW of new renewables by 2030. MY RMI

“That’s where innovation occurs,” Mac says, characteristics. We sit back and pay attention to it John and Leslie “where you get people and capital that come before we do it, and RMI passes muster, in spades.” McQuown at their RECIPE FOR LASTING CHANGE together that want to do it.” He’s been the creator Sonoma farm, where who was grateful for “the attitude of a couple of “The best example I can think of is Reinventing they are immersed CEOs back in the ’60s and ’70s who were willing Fire: China,” Mac says. Mac bought the original, in transformative John “Mac” McQuown on what makes RMI tick to innovate,” and now he’s underwriting other U.S.-focused Reinventing Fire book when it was energy work. By David Labrador innovators, in turn. “Those of us who were first published, and gave copies to many friends, involved in the work at Wells get a lot of credit, including some Sinophiles like Jack Wadsworth. but, I’ll tell you, even more credit goes to the “We began to ask: suppose you looked at China management who were willing to put up a lot of through the lens of Reinventing Fire, what picture capital over a long period of time in order to see would emerge?” Mac and Jack became major that innovation through,” he says. “It’s pretty interesting that RMI emerged CONFRONTING CLIMATE CHANGE out of the head of Amory and a few Mac’s passion for environmental stewardship stems from his youth as a farm boy in the other people 35 or 40 years ago in Midwest. Life on his uncle’s farm was marked by Colorado, and not at a particular bastion thrift, conservation, and “a consciousness of what we were doing to the land upon which we lived of higher learning.” and depended for our livelihood,” he says. “There was no throwaway culture.” supporters of the Reinventing Fire: China project (see page 14). “In order to do that, we had to have a Mac always felt the importance of stewardship of lot of confidence in the ability of RMI to focus on a land and water. But about 15 years ago, he joined critical issue and bring the right kind of intelligence My RMI the Director’s Council of the Scripps Institution of and data to the problem,” Mac says. “What does 10 Oceanography in San Diego, and became immersed Amory say? ‘In God we trust; all others bring data.’” 11 in Scripps work in atmospheric science, including its

CO2 measurements at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii (see photo on page 2). This data set, nearly CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE AT HOME, TOO 60 years in the making, is the foremost indicator of Mac and Leslie are immersed in the kind of rising greenhouse gases, and it set Mac on a path to transformative energy work in which RMI is a Summer 2016 do what he could to combat climate change. leader. They are building a microgrid at their Sonoma farm, testing several cutting-edge clean “I’ve been up front and personal with this research energy technologies. Arresting climate change for a number of years now,” says Mac. “And it is “going to take data and engineering and free certainly has sensitized me to the need for we markets,” Mac says, and he’s collecting some of that humans to start paying a whole lot more attention data himself. In addition to three separate battery ohn “Mac” McQuown knows a thing UNEXPECTED INNOVATION HUBS to the consequences of our consumption and systems and about three-quarters of a megawatt of or two about innovation. Bloomberg Mac and some others created the first stock index production.” Does this have a bearing on Mac’s generating capacity, Mac says, “We’re electrolyzing Markets magazine described him as fund at what was then a small regional bank in philanthropy? “It does,” he says, “for certain.” In gray water to produce our own hydrogen. It’s under J“one of the architects of the modern investing San Francisco, far from the centers of financial 2010, Mac and Leslie made a $25 million gift to study by a team from MIT. Everything’s being system” for, among other things, his role in orthodoxy. Mac says, “It’s interesting that some the University of Chicago, where Mac works with measured and it’s all open source.” pioneering the creation of the first stock index of the innovations in finance took root in San a project on measuring the social cost of carbon. David Labrador is fund in the late ’60s. Mac has been a strong Francisco under the auspices of Wells Fargo bank, And they are strong supporters of RMI’s work. The point is that “We’re going to have go through a writer/editor at supporter of RMI for nearly as long. “Amory not at the big money-center banks in London or a major process of technological substitution,” Rocky Mountain and I go back to the late 1970s,” Mac said. “His New York. That’s not an accident.” In much the he says. “First of all, we’ve got to figure out what Institute. point of view rang a responsive chord in me.” same way, he says, “It’s pretty interesting that RMI SUPPORTING THE RIGHT APPROACH technological substitutions we really need to Part of RMI’s new Innovation Center is named emerged out of the head of Amory and a few other “We spend a fair amount of time paying attention do.” This spirit of experimentation underlies the for Mac and his wife, Leslie, because of their people 35 or 40 years ago in Colorado, and not at a to what’s actually going on at RMI,” Mac says. He test bed microgrid at the Innovation Center and WEB EXTRA belief that the right ingredients for creating particular bastion of higher learning; it certainly and his wife believe strongly that institutions they at the Amory Lovins Green Home, RMI’s first For more lasting change include out-of-the-way places didn’t start in Washington.” He is convinced that support should be apolitical and committed to headquarters. It’s key to RMI’s theory of change, information : © Leslie Sophia Lindell Sophia Leslie © : like Basalt, Colorado, institutions like RMI, and original thinking should be supported where it is openness and innovation. “We don’t give to any and is a big part of why Mac has been supporting on this topic visit:

philanthropists like them. found, and that underlies his philanthropy to RMI. PHOTO institute or any pursuit that doesn’t have these critical Amory and RMI for nearly 40 years. rmi.org/our_goals QUESTION & ANSWER

people—or even tens of millions of people—getting it is also part of the solution. When policy, innovation, out of energy poverty, the number of people left is still and the market all come together, change can happen. GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE huge. How to help people get out of energy poverty is another challenge, and an opportunity as well. SJ: The June 2016 World Energy Outlook focuses on energy and air pollution. How do market-based Maria van der Hoeven on energy security, Even though there are a lot of projects happening, to approaches help address these issues? And do you make a project sustainable one must take a whole- think it’s possible to solve the world’s air pollution energy access, and collaboration systems approach. Too often, when an organization problem while also sustaining economic growth? implements a project and then leaves, the project Interviewed by Laurie Guevara-Stone disappears. The organization has not taken into MVH: There are quite a few countries where the account the supply chain, the service chain, added word “climate” doesn’t resonate as much as in other member of RMI’s Board of Trustees value, capacity building, and other important issues. countries. In China for example, air pollution is a since October 2015, Maria van That’s why RMI’s project in Rwanda is an excellent huge problem, caused by coal-fired power plants (see der Hoeven has had a long career test case (see page 22). We are bringing all of these page 14). That’s why focusing on air pollution can working on challenging modern things together and doing it with all the different Aenergy issues. She served as executive director of stakeholders, including the government. the International Energy Agency from 2011 to 2015, “Focusing on air pollution can be a great was on the Advisory Board for the UN Sustainable SJ: What do you think is the most critical energy vehicle to limit fossil fuels.” Energy for All initiative, and served as minister issue globally today? of economic affairs of the Netherlands and as Dutch minister of education, culture, and science. MVH: We are living in a moment of growing be a great vehicle to limit fossil fuels. Many people Solutions Journal recently spoke with Ms. Van der geopolitical tension. This makes it harder to say coal is cheap, but coal isn’t cheap at all. Buying Hoeven about critical global energy issues. collaborate. But we need to collaborate on carbon and coal is cheap, but the use of coal brings in a lot of emissions reductions. Take, for instance, the INDCs costs—health costs, environmental costs, and more. Solutions Journal: You spent four years as executive [intended nationally determined contributions] from It’s important to show people who don’t believe in the Question & Answer director of the International Energy Agency, which COP21. To reach these targets, countries need to work climate issue that air pollution is a huge problem that 12 focuses on energy security. How do renewables and together. The INDCs will definitely be difficult to needs to be improved. And yes, it is definitely possible 13 efficiency, and by extension RMI’s work in those areas, achieve. Right now they’re still on paper. The proof to solve the air pollution problem while sustaining help improve energy security? is going to be seen in the next five years. But if economic growth. There are examples from all over developed and developing countries work together, the world where there has been a decoupling of the Maria van der Hoeven: The IEA started in 1974, we can reach our targets. two, for example, in both the U.S. and China. during the height of the oil crisis, and focused on Summer 2016 oil, then gas, then coal, as an answer to the energy SJ: The IEA publishes a yearly World Energy SJ: What excites you most about our work? crisis. But energy security means you have affordable, Outlook, an incredible source of energy market reliable, uninterrupted energy for all, and renewable analysis and projections. What do you think the MVH: One exciting thing for me about RMI is energy and energy efficiency are a big part of that. energy mix will look like in 2050? the commitment and engagement of the staff and You can’t have energy security without reliable donors. There are so many people who want to work locally sourced power. So in 2012 and 2013 we put out MVH: The World Energy Outlooks use different with us. Not only do we have dedicated donors, but midterm reports on renewables and energy efficiency, scenarios based on different policies to project we have an incredibly committed, dedicated, and the first time the IEA addressed those issues. It was outcomes. It is clear that different policies get you skillful staff. That kind of engagement is exciting. quite apparent to me and to many others that those to a different outcome. In the most positive one we You can have the money, but without the right staff, two issues are a huge part of energy security. stay within two degrees, and in another scenario we you can’t deliver, and vice versa. Another thing is may go beyond six degrees. that RMI is well respected. Being an independent SJ: You also worked with the UN Sustainable Energy nonprofit gives the organization a lot of credibility. Laurie Guevara- for All initiative. What do you think the biggest My hope is that everything that has been said and been Stone is a writer/ challenges and opportunities are for bringing access promised about phasing out coal and putting a price on I also like that RMI is working on disruptive editor at Rocky to sustainable electricity to developing countries? coal and carbon is going to happen. But it depends on approaches. But what really makes the difference Mountain Institute. how well policymakers will work to make it happen. In is the approach—getting business involved, getting MVH: One of the biggest challenges is the sheer 2050, we will still have fossil fuels, not only in power innovation involved, and getting the financial world numbers involved. We have 1.2 billion people on the generation, but also in other parts of industry. But it will involved. Programs like e-Lab and the Business WEB EXTRA planet without access to electricity. Many of these be and needs to be less than now. That’s where energy Renewables Center are excellent, bringing together For more people live in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where efficiency comes in, and of course renewable energy, innovation and industry. That makes it possible to information : courtesy International Energy Agency Energy courtesy International : there is a huge growth in energy demand and and even innovation in fossil fuels. What RMI is doing scale up. And in the end, we need to have a certain on this topic visit:

in population. So when we talk about a million PHOTO now to reduce fugitive methane emissions is excellent; scale and impact to make a difference. rmi.org/international 14 By KateBy Chrisman for itslargeandgrowingeconomy emissions earlyandlow, andtofollowacleanenergypathway Rocky MountainInstituteworkswithChinatopeakcarbon AIR INCHINA CLEARING THE GOING GLOBAL A wind farm in China. 15 Summer 2016 Going Global GOING GLOBAL

a similar approach might be applied to China. The rationale was simple: If the U.S. was dependent on coal, China was downright addicted. In fact, China uses almost as much coal as the rest of the world combined. But like any addiction, coal use has a dangerous side: It contributes to climate change and pollution. Moreover, RMI recognized that without China, any efforts to combat climate change would inherently fall short.

In 2013, with donor support, RMI launched Reinventing Fire: China to develop an energy plan for China that integrates the largest sectors of the country’s economy to generate massive economic and energy savings.

Reinventing Fire: China is a partnership between RMI and three organizations that have decades of leadership in China. Our Chinese partner, Energy Research Institute (ERI), is a government think tank that helps set national policy on energy issues. This gave us an inside look at the challenges China faces, as well as the opportunities to shape the future (see page 20 for ERI’s view on the partnership). Our U.S. partner is the China Energy Going Global Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 16 (LBNL), an organization that has been active in 17 Pollution in much of n a fall day in 2015, RMI’s Beijing other major nation in the world, and it’s doing China’s industry, to assisting cities to peak carbon China since 1988 and has an impeccable reputation China is an urgent staff woke up to off-the-chart so at crucial point in history—when the world is emissions sooner, we are working tirelessly to for pushing energy efficiency forward and driving public health crisis— pollution levels. The city issued collectively facing the challenges and dangers of make this vision a reality. low-carbon solutions in China. And finally, Energy and a climate crisis. itsO first ever “red alert,” warning residents to stay climate change. Now China is being asked to grow Foundation China (part of the San Francisco-based indoors and take precautionary measures. Days without polluting and at the same time to be the But this vision cannot be accomplished alone. Energy Foundation), an established advisor to the Summer 2016 like these—when air pollution levels exceed 200 world’s factory at rock-bottom prices. Problems in China come in one size: bigger. Efforts Chinese government and a grant-making charity parts per million (ppm), way over the World Health to tackle those problems must be ambitious and organization, has helped fund and shape the clean Organization’s recommendation of less than The outlook could be dire, but a combination of incorporate the top thinking from governments, energy and environmental revolution, advocating 10 ppm—are far too common. domestic initiatives (China is already a world leader companies, and nongovernmental organi­zations the adoption of supportive policies that deliver the in renewable energy) and pan-Pacific partnerships (NGOs). At RMI, we are dedicated to helping solve Reinventing Fire vision. Air pollution is just one of the many physical is changing the equation. In June 2014, after China’s greatest energy problems by partnering manifestations of an energy system built on fossil decades of rapid economic growth fueled primarily with leading organizations to effect change. fuels, but China faces challenges larger than smog. by fossil fuels, China’s President Xi Jinping “We imagine a China that blazes a path Some thirty years ago, China’s skylines were mostly called for “a revolution in the production and for all developing countries, proving buildings of five stories or fewer and the country consumption of energy.” Subsequent actions and CHARTING A CLEAN ENERGY PATH was a net exporter of oil. On a global scale, the public commitments by the government indicate a In 2011, RMI published Reinventing Fire, a clean that clean energy can be a powerful country’s contributions to carbon emissions and strong desire to fulfill this vision. energy roadmap for the United States. It outlined a instrument of economic growth.” energy use were negligible. Today China is the bold economic strategy to transition the U.S. off coal world’s largest carbon emitter, the world’s largest At RMI, we imagine a China that not only runs and oil by 2050 by aggressively deploying energy net importer of oil, and the world’s factory. Four of on renewable energy, but is a global leader in the efficiency and renewables. A key to achieving the “When we initially thought about how to mainland China’s cities—Shanghai, Chongqing, movement toward clean fuels. We imagine a China economic success in Reinventing Fire—a $5 trillion transform the Chinese energy economy, we Guangzhou, and Shenzhen—rank in the top ten for that blazes a path for all developing countries, cost savings compared to the current trajectory— knew we had to partner with the best minds cities with the most skyscrapers in the world. proving that clean energy can be a powerful is the integrated transformation of the build­ings, already working in the space,” says Jon Creyts, instrument of economic growth. And we imagine electricity, transportation, and industry sectors. a managing director at RMI and director of The changing skyline of China’s biggest, and its a China where access to energy is equitable and its China Program. “Our partnership with : previous page, iStock.com; above, © Gilles Sabrié smallest, cities alludes to a larger development affordable. From conducting groundbreaking Because of the power of Reinventing Fire in the U.S., complementary expert teams led by Dai Yande

picture. China is urbanizing faster than any research, to convening influential players in PHOTOS forward-thinking RMI supporters asked whether from ERI and Lynn Price from LBNL has resulted GOING GLOBAL

in extraordinary fact-based insights. Together, we usual scenario—and carbon intensity (carbon emissions earlier than the national goal of 2030. are now using those findings to drive real change.” emissions per unit of GDP) could drop 93 percent “Chinese cities are where many of the policies and by 2050, compared with 2005 levels. strategies need to be implemented to peak carbon For the past three years, over 40 scientists on both • Achieve these results and realize a net savings: emissions and transition to renewable energy,” says sides of the Pacific have been developing one of the China could save $3.3 trillion by following the Li Ting, a principal with RMI and head of the Beijing most comprehensive and sophisticated models on path laid out in Reinventing Fire: China. office. “Successfully achieving China’s national China’s energy use yet, and plotting a revolutionary goals requires urgent city leadership.” yet practical pathway toward a sustainable, clean What’s more, the research has already informed energy system for China. The project shows how the bilateral agreements announced by President Indeed, China is rapidly urbanizing. Less than different stakeholders with a similar vision for Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama in Novem­ a decade ago, more than half of the population the future, each with their own strengths, can ber 2014 and March 2015; contributed to China’s was rural. By 2030, more than 70 percent of the effectively work across borders, languages, and planning process in the lead up to the Paris population will live in cities. With support from cultures to accelerate progress together. Agreement; and provided key insights to the energy the national government, the APPC is shepherding authors of China’s 13th Five-Year Plan, which guides 23 cities to peak carbon emissions early and low by In the forthcoming publication Reinventing Fire: the country’s social and economic development. providing technical support and resources. Under China, we show how China can grow its economy the leadership of China’s National Development while making an aggressive transition to a low- Our partnership with ERI, LBNL, and Energy and Reform Commission, the APPC expects its carbon society. The high-level conclusions are Foundation China will continue after we publish membership to reach 100 cities in the near future. inspiring and exciting, showing how China can: Reinventing Fire: China. All four organizations are already taking the findings beyond the pages and “RMI is excited to support the APPC in finding • Cut the use of coal: In 2050, China could use 60 helping to realize them through national, provincial, ways to peak its member cities’ carbon emissions percent less coal than it did in 2010. city-level, and pilot projects. RMI now has our sights faster and lower, and in finding ways to scale • Dramatically increase the use of nonfossil set on driving deeper and faster impact, continuing what is learned rapidly to other cities,” says Li. energy: In 2050, non-emitting electricity sources our existing partnership and forging new ones. This spring, RMI teamed with the APPC to share could generate 82 percent of China’s electricity needs. the progress that pioneering cities have already Going Global • Limit 2050 energy use to 2010 levels: By 2050, made on peaking plans and how other cities can 18 China could use approximately the same amount ON-THE-GROUND CHANGE replicate successful programs. The results of that 19 of energy it did in 2010 (but with significantly One way we’re expanding our involvement in work were published at the second U.S.–China more renewable power) and still grow its economy China beyond the Reinventing Fire project is Climate Leaders Summit held in Beijing in June. 600 percent over that timeframe, providing a through our work with the Alliance of Peaking better standard of living for its people. Pioneer Cities (APPC), which we’ve supported But understanding what cities have done is Decouple economic growth from carbon since its founding at the 2015 U.S.–China Climate not enough—cities need help developing and of Shanghai. With LBNL’s modeling expertise, RMI’s Guiyang is one • Summer 2016 emissions: Carbon emissions could peak in Leaders Summit. The APPC is a group of Chinese implementing emission peaking plans. That is focus on economics, Energy Foundation’s policy of the Alliance of 2025—far more quickly than a business-as- cities and provinces committed to peak carbon why RMI brought together more than 20 other experience, and other local expertise, the team Peaking Pioneer nonprofits, government bodies, universities, think helped identify targets and program priorities to Cities, committed tanks, and institutions to organize the best work shift Wuhan toward a cleaner energy profile. By to peak its carbon already done on this topic. RMI is now working continuing to develop progressive pilot projects emissions earlier with the APPC to draft a comprehensive emissions such as this one, and working closely with private than the national peaking handbook that any Chinese city can use. sector partners, RMI is helping to demonstrate clear goal of 2030. The handbook will be released late this fall, but the cases for how China can leverage business to tackle collaborative team is already working closely with climate change. This is just the first step in an More than 50 cities to ensure that it meets their needs. These ongoing collaboration with Wuhan and other cities. industry and efforts are all aimed at one goal: help the APPC government orchestrate activity to ensure cities curb emissions leaders from faster and more aggressively than otherwise TRANSFORMING POWER, TRUCKING China’s trucking possible. RMI will continue to work with the APPC Cities are an important catalyst for change, but and logistics sector to establish standard interventions and tools, help some problems are best tackled at the national or gathered in April for share and institutionalize successes from both sector level. One of the biggest challenges China a two-day charrette sides of the Pacific, and help cities track progress. faces is decarbonizing its power supply. In fact, RMI held to explore China’s power sector accounts for 10 percent of ways to reduce In another city-focused project, earlier this year global emissions and 25 percent of global coal carbon emissions : left, © Rocky Mountain Institute; right, iStock.com RMI teamed with LBNL and Energy Foundation consumption. Entrenched interests and old and pollution while to conduct a peaking analysis for Wuhan, an dispatch models make incorporating renewable

saving money. PHOTOS industrial city of 8.3 million people 500 miles west energy and utilizing innovative programs difficult. GOING GLOBAL

RMI is working on bringing new models to China, including green dispatch, to shift the energy supply. Initial estimates show that even simple A PARTNER’S reforms in how China utilizes its generating fleet can save 10 percent of emissions today, resulting in almost 1 percent reduction in global emissions. PERSPECTIVE “RMI’s work to reform China’s power dispatch is one of the best opportunities to cut carbon emissions Mr. Dai Yande globally,” says Cyril Yee, an RMI principal. “By Interviewed by Kitty Bu prioritizing its most efficient generating units and renewables, China can reduce global carbon emissions while saving billions of dollars. This olutions Journal is pleased to have does not require expensive capital investments, recently had the opportunity to just regulatory and operational reforms.” But the discuss RMI’s partnership with China’s government needs good counsel and support to SEnergy Research Institute (ERI) with its deputy Left to Right: Reinventing Fire: China team members Dai Yande (ERI), Lixuan Hong (LBNL), Lynn Price (LBNL), Jon Creyts (RMI), Nan Zhou (LBNL), realize its ambitions. RMI’s years of electricity director, Mr. Dai Yande (far left in the photo). A Clay Stranger (RMI), and Amory Lovins (RMI), along with Lin Jiang (Energy Foundation China), Jules Kortenhorst (CEO of RMI), Gao Dongshen reform experience can inform, align, and accelerate Chinese think tank that’s part of the National (China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology), and Lu Xingming (China’s National Development and Reform Commission). the actions that will capture the opportunity. Development and Reform Commission, Energy Research Institute is one of RMI’s partners in the As an independent, nonpolitical, nonprofit think China’s low-carbon development strategy is not At the sector level, RMI has been working to Reinventing Fire: China research program. tank, RMI provided advanced knowledge in only critical for China itself, but also as a guide for improve efficiency in Chinese trucking and energy efficiency and renewables. Furthermore, other developing countries. logistics. In April 2016, RMI held a two-day charrette Solutions Journal: Can you talk about how the RMI strived to understand China and how to adapt in Shenzhen, which brought together more than 50 partnership between ERI and RMI and our work on technology to the specific conditions of China. SJ: What are you most proud of having already industry and government leaders from the sector Reinventing Fire: China came about? achieved with the Reinventing Fire: China effort? Going Global to better understand and capture opportunities SJ: The government sought views from many 20 for reducing pollution and carbon emissions while Mr. Dai: RMI released its famous book Reinventing stakeholders in formulating China’s 13th Five-Year Mr. Dai: Many things. First, I’m proud of how the 21 saving money. From the solutions identified at the Fire in 2011, and the partnership between ERI and Plan. Was RMI one of the stakeholder groups? program is the joint outcome of several leading workshop, RMI is working with partners to develop RMI started from there. The four-year cooperation international organizations. Second, the findings a regional pilot freight program in Guangdong has been divided into two stages. First we Mr. Dai: The innovative ideas, methodologies, will not only assist China in tackling regional province with hopes to scale it nationally. This and jointly carried out the Reinventing Fire: China and main conclusions of the Reinventing Fire: pollution, but also contribute to economic other ideas from the charrette can help improve research, then we started more extensive research China program have been widely acknowledged development. Third, the program was based on Summer 2016 the efficiency of Chinese logistics markets and collaboration on issues like energy transition and and actively spread by the steering committee a solid theoretical foundation, utilized scientific ultimately reduce costs, reduce carbon emissions, climate change mitigation. ERI and RMI have also composed of decision makers, managers, and methodologies, and was analyzed technically Kate Chrisman is support sustainable economic growth, and improve collaborated on the U.S.–China Climate Leaders senior consulting experts. and economically to prove its benefits. Finally, a senior research public health and urban quality of life. Summit and the Alliance of Peaking Pioneer Cities. the findings can inject new energy into the associate at Rocky The program provided essential decision- prosperous development of China’s economy. Mountain Institute. “Our Shenzhen transportation charrette brought SJ: What makes the collaboration with RMI and making evidence for China in tackling climate She is the editor together some of the most influential players from your other partners (Lawrence Berkeley National change, achieving a clean energy revolution, and SJ: What would you say to other countries of Reinventing the trans­portation field in a way rarely done in Laboratory, Energy Foundation China) unique in formulating the 13th Five-Year Plan and follow- wishing to embark on a similar project with RMI? Fire: China. China,” says Wang Zhe, an RMI associate. “Having its ability to effect change? up development plans. RMI is a very important Previously she such frank conversations about what is going right technical partner in the process. Mr. Dai: RMI has a unique advantage for being not lived and worked in and wrong helps lay a foundation for building Mr. Dai: Of all the research programs executed only a world-class think tank in the energy field, Beijing, Shanghai, successful programs and strong partnerships.” by ERI, Reinventing Fire: China, with its in-depth SJ: Why should people who provide financial but also a “do tank” in the areas of energy efficiency, Singapore, and research, strategic origin, advanced methodologies, support to RMI care about the work we’re doing clean energy, and low-carbon development. RMI is Taiwan. All of these cooperative efforts between the U.S. and and global vision, was a landmark project. It not only together in China? a very sincere partner, which would devote all its China are just the beginning of the journey toward provided critical guidance for research in energy strength and resources to a partnership. rewriting the global energy story. Reinventing Fire: efficiency and renewables transition in China, but Mr. Dai: The cooperation between RMI and ERI WEB EXTRA China maps a path for one nation, yet Beijing’s work also involved innovative collaboration. RMI and deserves extensive attention from all sides. Thanks to its enormous accomplishments and For more moving forward should help blaze the path for other LBNL’s China Energy Group were technical partners influence, RMI brings not only innovative ideas, information on this developing economies, proving that clean energy for research, while the China Sustainable Energy Climate change is a global challenge faced by all but also various resources such as partners in Kitty Bu is topic visit: rmi.org/ can be a powerful instrument of economic growth. Program of Energy Foundation China played an human beings. China and the United States are different fields, successful case studies, etc. Other communications : © Rocky Mountain Institute reinventing_fire_ Together with our partners, RMI is proud to be a important role in providing financial support and major leaders in mitigating global climate change. countries or regions that cooperate with RMI director of RMI’s

china leader in the pursuit of this future reality. coordinating and promoting new ideas. PHOTO As the largest developing country in the world, would definitely benefit significantly. China Program. 22 FOR ALL CLEAN ELECTRICITY AFFORDABLE, By Allyn Harvey Allyn By Caribbean improvespeople’s well-being Rocky MountainInstitute’s workinsub-SaharanAfrica andthe GOING GLOBAL need to direct spending toward projects that enhance enhance that projects toward spending direct to need they information the get makers decision key means program SEED the with collaborating stakeholders, other and government the For electricity. to access no or have underserved currently are that population ofthe segments large for access electricity improve partners, utilities, and companies to rapidly development Rwanda, in officials government top sub In and economicwell-being development.” can have an enormous on human effect “Access to even alittle bit of electricity resources. ofrenewable use the in gains significant make and costs, reduce access, improve to how about sector private the and partners, development utilities, governments, to advice and analysis unbiased ofpragmatic, value the demonstrating are programs both And more. and initiatives, engagement community proposals, for on and planning strategic providing implementation, and design on both takes ofRMI, unit business (CWR) Room War Carbon the by led Program, Energy Islands The them. implement to needed mechanisms and relationships the establish and plans energy clean develop to stakeholders and governments on sub focuses (SEED) program Development Economic for Energy Sustainable new RMI’s approaches. different somewhat with albeit regions, both in issues energy on working been has Institute Mountain Rocky emissions. carbon in increase amajor avoiding while need they electricity reliable affordable, the gain to regions these for world’s, important is it the and sake, their For fuels. fossil from energy on getting depend largely both also They poverty. energy in living be to considered are of them many that fact, in portion, alarge such spend They plants. power diesel islands’ their fuels that energy imported on the income oftheir portion large a spend but electricity, to access have residents island Caribbean most hand, other the On best. at access unreliable have access have do who many and electricity, to access without live of people millions Africa, In situation. energy their improve S - Saharan Africa, RMI experts are working with with working are experts RMI Africa, Saharan are united by the need to significantly significantly to need the by united are but ocean, amighty by separated are u b - Saharan Africa and the Caribbean - Saharan Africa, collaborating with with collaborating Africa, Saharan - the - ground support with requests requests with support ground can study after dark. after study can because children rates and grades improved literacy accrue, including additional benefits are electrified, When communities 23 Summer 2016 Going Global GOING GLOBAL

and expand the existing grid, and toward off-grid utilities direct money to projects that make the systems that complement the grid and improve the most sense and do the most to achieve their goals,” daily life and businesses of Rwandans. says Stephen Doig, the RMI managing director in charge of the work in both regions. For RMI, the In the Caribbean, RMI is working with the Clinton goal is to create a model that can be duplicated as Climate Initiative to facilitate the switchover from developing economies generate more demand for diesel-generated electricity to renewable generation electricity—one that avoids greater impact on the systems. For the eleven nations working with the climate and lowers costs, increases access, lowers Islands Energy Program, RMI’s analysis and guidance risks, and increases security of supply. offer a chance to stabilize the unpredictability that comes with fluctuations in oil prices and to replace diesel systems—many of which have been in place SUSTAINABLY POWERING THE since World War II and are past their design life— POPULATION IN RWANDA with reliable, renewable energy generation. Efforts to electrify the African continent have been slow. The current trajectory suggests that a similar “The theory of change in both cases is that if we percentage of people will lack adequate access to provide solid strategic advice and project analysis, electricity in 2040 as today. RMI conceived the we will be able to help funders, governments, and SEED program in sub-Saharan Africa to address this challenge. The aim is to accelerate access to electricity by promoting energy efficiency, ELECTRIFICATION IMPROVES WELL-BEING cost-competitive renewables, and thoughtful Access to clean, affordable, reliable, high-quality energy can development of distributed energy resources. developing world are constantly being contacted with One important first step is to take advantage of Workers learning to dramatically improve standards of living. Studies show that proposals. “There is so much information coming near-term opportunities, which can save money install solar panels when communities are electrified additional benefits accrue: In Rwanda, the first country in Africa to engage in in, and it’s often presented in inconsistent ways that and buy time for the work to proceed. In Rwanda, at health clinics in the SEED program, only 24 percent of the population make it very difficult for decision makers,” Wanless there is an opportunity to save $20 million per year Rwanda, where Going Global OVERALL HEALTH IMPROVES has access to electricity. The government’s goal is says. “Working collaboratively with local partners to by switching out compact florescent lighting (CFLs) only 24 percent of 24 The 780 million women and children who breathe to raise that number to 70 percent by 2018 with a identify no-regrets solutions like investing in energy with LED lighting. The RMI team also provided a the population has 25 kerosene fumes inhale smoke equivalent to combination of on-grid and off-grid technologies. efficiency can buy time for countries to take a step critical eye on the development of minigrids, which access to electricity. smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. back and evaluate the options on the table.” provide sustainable energy in smaller communities. “Having access to and using even a little bit of They have captured the attention of funders but CHILDHOOD SAFETY IMPROVES electricity can have an enormous effect on human Funded by Virgin Unite, work started late last year present real challenges in transforming from donor- Kerosene lanterns cause half the burns that are well-being and economic development,” says Eric in Rwanda with a robust technical and economic funded efforts to lasting business models. Summer 2016 the number two cause of childhood injury or death Wanless, a principal at RMI working on the SEED diagnostic that involved extensive in-country in southern India. program. With electricity, children can study at interviews with local experts and stakeholders, The diagnostic also provided a set of policy night. Businesses can remain open after dark, government officials, the private sector, and recommendations that need to be implemented LITERACY RATES AND GRADES IMPROVE increasing economic opportunities for business development partners like the World Bank and the quickly in order to create the conditions necessary When a village in Sudan received solar power, the owners and allowing people who work throughout U.K.’s Department for International Development. for future success. The RMI team remains in Rwanda number of students passing exams doubled. the day to have time to buy their daily staples. And The diagnostic was delivered this spring with to help policymakers fit those recommendations industries such as grain milling to make flour succinct and actionable recommendations that into the nation’s legal framework. FEMALE EMPLOYMENT IMPROVES can provide far more service at greater speed and allow the RMI team to work with stakeholders Rural electrification in South Africa more than lower cost when powered by electricity. to capture near-term opportunities and hand off The goal in Rwanda is to supply around 50 percent of doubled female employment (by 9.5 percentage ongoing responsibility for implementation. the population with power from distributed resources points over a baseline employment of 7 percent). The energy challenges in Rwanda are significant. via the grid, and over 20 percent of the population Electricity can be expensive to generate, especially The fact that RMI began work in late 2015 and is with power from off-grid systems by 2018. During ENTREPRENEURSHIP INCREASES when diesel is used, and, depending on the now helping Rwanda take action is one thing that the diagnostic, RMI worked with private sector When nonelectrified communities in Ghana location, significant energy can be lost in the makes the SEED project unique. Most studies of the companies to make off-grid development affordable received electricity, the number of microenterprises transmission and distribution of electricity. What’s scope delivered in Rwanda take years and millions and compatible with the grid, and to build a robust more than doubled. more, the emergence of off-grid electrification of dollars to complete. “In Rwanda, we’ve been market that can be scaled up rapidly. The government solutions and minigrids makes coordinated moving much more quickly with the government is now looking at a combination of regulatory INCOME GOES UP planning across the public sector, private sector, to identify the most important things the country changes and a public information campaign to help In Vietnam, rural electrification increased income 46 and development community even more difficult. can do to advance the goal of providing electricity achieve its ambitious goal. percent. School enrollment increased 31 percent for that is both affordable and efficient,” says Wanless. : previous page, courtesy Off-Grid:Electric; page, USAID Ratterman, previous courtesy Walt : above, boys and 66 percent for girls. Another challenge is too much information. Key “Rapid work and deployment of solutions are really For several months, RMI will continue to help the

decision makers in Rwanda and throughout the PHOTOS important to deliver meaningful change.” Rwandan government, the utility, and development 26 GOING GLOBAL of adapting alternative energy systems alternative adapting systems of energy “Island nations are at the forefront forefront nations are at the “Island impose fuel poverty. impose fuel to considered is that threshold 10 percent the above on electricity, income or her ofhis percent 12 spends resident island average The imports. GDP on oil their of 20 percent about spend typically Grenada and Aruba, Lucia, Saint as such nations Island resources. limited with economies developing are nations these sub in As fuels. fossil off transition the accelerate to Caribbean, the in mostly partners, utility and government island 11 with working is Program Energy Islands Today the leadership. CWR and founder, CWR Branson, Richard Sir UNFCCC, the then Figueres, Christiana by endorsement and attendance with Summit Rio+20 the at 2012 in launched was Program Energy Islands The ADOPTION IN THE CARIBBEAN DRIVEREFORMS RENEWABLE says. Colorado,” Doig in office an from recommendations providing and situation the diagnostic. the from recommendations implement partners the transition to a system that employs the abundance abundance the employs that asystem to transition the making that seem would it observer, outside the For Locke. says adoption,” this support to framework regulatory the place in put and of renewables levels high adopt to economies, large potentially and economies, isolated ofother transition the inform to position aunique in are nations “These grids. energy national into systems energy alternative adapt to underway of work forefront the at them puts change ofclimate effects the to vulnerable most the among are and world the in prices electricity highest ofthe some pay nations island that fact The Locke, Justin says electricity,” renewable for potential high is there where locations have you do else “Nowhere environment. the and health public affecting dirty, and antiquated are systems generation diesel neutral, carbon being from Far States. United $0.10 the about in with $0.52/kWh—compared as high as countries some in $0.35/kWh—and high: is electricity ofproducing cost average The such a high cost of electricity coupled with such such with coupled ofelectricity cost ahigh such into national energy grids.” energy national into director of the Islands Energy Program. Program. Energy Islands ofthe director “It’s important that we aren’t analyzing analyzing aren’t we that “It’s important - executive secretary of of secretary executive - Saharan Africa, Africa, Saharan

team was recently able to help the government of of government the help to able recently was team RMI the But unsuccessful. been have investment foreign through systems energy alternative Se space. energy renewable the in working executives and engineers utility among shared are learned lessons the that ensure to CARILEC) as (known association utility Caribbean the with working is RMI work, this Underpinning possible. cost lowest the at them execute to prepared are they ensuring and projects implementing with involved risks reducing in governments and utilities supports team the Finally, investments. mostthe cost identifying includes which vision, that achieve pragmatically to ofhow analysis a detailed conducts then and vision, ashared around stakeholders aligning by begins team RMI The a three pursuing is Program Energy Islands the challenge, this address to order In time.” first the right get must they one that challenge—and adifficult is electricity for paid are and provide utilities which in way the Changing solvent. be must utilities electricity, affordable reliable, provide to order in “But explains. of diesel quo status the challenging are governments “Island eye. the meets than complex more is transition markets. oil ofworld whim the at not is a lower and cleaner environment ano be would Caribbean the in exists that sunshine and of wind veral attempts by island governments to introduce introduce to governments island by attempts veral - based utilities that are monopolies,” Locke Locke monopolies,” are that utilities based - brainer. Renewable energy promises promises energy Renewable brainer. effective renewable -effective energy cost power that -cost power that - prong strategy. strategy. prong But the But the

PHOTO: iStock.com because RMI provides analysis of infrastructure of infrastructure analysis provides RMI because part, large in achieved, been have results Early • • • • • • include: months recent in outcomes positive Lucia, Saint in made progress the to addition In nations. island other to insight provide can it and Lucia, ofSaint future the for step important an is This less. uppaying end consumers and managed better are loads energy Likewise, panels. solar as such assets, of the ownership retains utility the when energy renewable adopt to efficient more is it that demonstrated that adiagnostic completed RMI after came success This costs. consumer reducing for structure ownership optimal the develop to importantly more and targets, energy renewable their meet to aplan out lay utility its and Lucia Saint 10 percent of the island’s peak demand peak island’s ofthe 10 percent upto supplying Caribbean, Eastern the in date to projects renewable largest one ofthe be will which Aruba in project PV solar a7MW for RFP An practices good and expertise exchange to regulators, and operators, policymakers, systems management, utility including members, enables that CAREC) (called forum ofaregional Creation project (PV) photovoltaic solar a1MW for RFP an and plan, resource integrated recent on its Vincent Saint in Grenadines the and Belize in Providencia and Andres San islands, on two strategy transition energy an out carry to Colombia with A contract An RFP for a 3 MW PV project in Saint Lucia, Lucia, Saint in project PV a 3MW for RFP An utility Caicos Turks and the to support Advisory islands on select underway projects microgrid Solar Lottery to scale its impact over the next three years. three next the over impact its scale to Lottery Postcode Dutch the and ofColombia, Government the Facility, Environment Global the from funding secured has Program Energy Islands The years. two over countries six to four another to reach its expand to Foundation Rockefeller The and Unite Virgin from funding received program SEED The support. and attention, garnering is work The solutions. sustainable more toward it direct and distribution electricity of development rapid support to atemplate creating is RMI Program, Energy Islands the and SEED With decades. several next the over emissions gas greenhouse in ofgrowth sources primary of the one be to projected are which economies, of developing impact carbon the reduce to how demonstrates nations island with and Africa in work RMI’s development, and access energy for amodel providing to addition In THECHANGING TRAJECTORY completed.” is project the when costs of our some happen, recovering them to make expertise de to order in costs those “We subsidize explains. $400,000,” Locke $300,000 or us don’t pay to have government and utility the projects, develop we “When cost. areduced at recommendations policy and century solutions to those most in need.” in most those to solutions century 30 on building “We Doig. are says manner,” efficient acost in electricity sustainable to access improve to countries developing in a need is “There - plus years of work and experience to bring 21st bring to experience and of work years plus - risk these projects and provide provide and projects these risk

- - the last 25 years. 25 years. last the overpublications of anumber for issues energy environment and on the written has He Colorado. in Carbondale, consultant based and public relations writer freelance a is Harvey Allyn island_economies rmi.org/ this information on For more lower-cost power. environment and promises a cleaner solar photovoltaic energy such as Renewable

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27 Summer 2016 Going Global 28 IMPACT 33 YEARSOF Interviewed by Interviewed Laurie Guevara-Stone His influencecarrieson Michael Kinsleyretires. Longtime staffer WALK THE WALK What accomplishments are you most proud of? proud most you are accomplishments What campuses. college and corporations, communities, with working years, the over RMI with initiatives SJ: lot of other communities get on a sustainable path. on asustainable get communities ofother lot a help Icould RMI at that Irealized unsustainable. clearly was it rates; growth high and transportation, public no housing, We affordable no had path. sustainable on amore county the take to attempting 1975, I was in commissioner a county Ibecame When RMI. at doing Iwas work the with perfectly aligned commissioner a county as doing I was work The communities. on sustainable focused Program Renewal Economic their create help to me hired they and together work to began we so shale, oil of implications the about together putting I was apamphlet for alternatives energy about write me helped actually They talking. began we and lectures, oftheir some Iattended component. a community wanted They RMI. forming were Lovins Hunter and Amory time the at issues on sustainability working commissioner county Kinsley: Michael RMI? join to choose you did 1982. Why in founding its since much Journal Solutions RMI. at years his about Journal Solutions mountains. ofnearby paintings one ofhis by lobby the in greeted are 30), visitors page (see where facility Center Innovation new RMI’s plan helping in instrumental also He was path. on asustainable Aspen, includes which county, Colorado the put helped he 10 years, for commissioner County aPitkin As sustain develop to efforts their in U.S. cities several helped he workshops, and guidance strategic Through countries. foreign several U.S. and the across 43 to states him took and communities, many in decision collaborative and development economic local sustainable 20 years—fostered for led he practice—which communities the in work longest of RMI’s one as summer this He retired world. the around and States United the across communities improve W You have been involved in many different different many in involved You been have blt plans. ­ability foresee how his contributions would would contributions his how foresee 1983, didn’t he in Institute Mountain he - sat down with Michael to ask him him ask to Michael with down sat tenured team members. Michael’s Michael’s members. team tenured : n Michael Kinsley joined Rocky Rocky joined Kinsley n Michael You have been with RMI pretty pretty RMI with You been have

We chose one another. I was a a I was We one another. chose . - making making

PHOTO: © Rocky Mountain Institute is always good, even if it significantly compromises compromises significantly it if even good, always is throughput maximizing that believe unwittingly they because sprawl, as such of development, kinds ofcertain effects negative the endure often leaders Community cost. the whatever throughput, economic maximizing in belief unconscious the example, for ways— important a few in communities to akin are corporations different, quite though that, I realized companies. for workshops RMI executing and designing then corporations, for that adapting and communities in planning strategic collaborative in learned we what using was accomplishment third The on leadership. view same the Ihad and Amory beginning, the From themselves. it did they say people the done, is work their when if, best are leaders that says which Tao Te the 17 in verse Ching, for esteem mutual our was aligned Ifirst and Amory ways ofthe One us. to not community, the to success attribute to it developed we because process, our used communities other many how say to It’s hard on asustain Carbondale put helped and worked, it and experimentation that tolerated they But it. restart and method, our revise point, one at process the stop We to had project. the for pig guinea the be to community unusual an needed we We Colorado. knew Carbondale, 1986 in in approach this tested We first sustainably. develop to communities for process strategic acollaborative developing was Second “sustainable.” word the use to having without it did we And ofview. points different many supports that away in also but values, those compromising without only not happen, could development economic We that showed values. their to contrary decisions development economic make often people contrast, In terms. or “sustainable” “environmental” using without things other and fishing, good air, clean cohesiveness, community included valued they said people Things values. those with consistent decisions development economic make them Ihelped and community, their about valued they what people Iasked acommunity, into Iwent When environmentalists. as regard themselves not might who communities—people conservative very in people to attractive was that communities sustainable about amessage developing was first The mind. to come first MK:

There are many, but I’ll give you three that that three you give I’ll but many, are There able path. ­able the business case for reducing carbon.” is offers RMI What investments. energy environmentalist to agree about with RMI “You don’t have to be an that change. of part be to proud very Iam And ofprogress. signs large and encouraging of extremely range wide the seeing is RMI at working about things great one ofthe But debilitating. and frightening be can that threat ahuge is change Climate prevail. climate and energy about cares that faction the helps RMI renewables, and efficiency energy for case business the developing by effect, In nondoctrinaire. and pragmatic is RMI carbon. reducing for case business the is arguments those to offers RMI What back. holding other the reductions, carbon for pushing group factions—one between disputes internal has organization Each corporations. and campuses, communities, in work we how It’s investments. energy about RMI with agree to You environmentalist an don’t be RMI. to have about MK: sectors? so different many reaching successful been has RMI think you do Why conservative. quite be to consider might people that companies many with and communities SJ: thriving. now is and ideas ofour some adopt to on went town that and her quieted others Fortunately, speechless. left one Iwas that for but attacks, aggressive fielding at good Iwas Ithought commissioner a county ofbeing years my From organization. asatanic was RMI that proof had she saying ofpaper apiece up waving stood back the in awoman presentation, introductory the After Colorado. in a town in renewal economic of concept the introducing Iwas when is forget MK: at RMI? SJ: carbon. more profit—and less is result the if even output, increase that expenditures capital of favor in opportunities investment such reject leaders corporate many carbon, and cost reduce to ways important found having Similarly, values. their Along those lines, you have worked in many many in worked have you lines, those Along moments memorable most one ofyour What’s It’s hard to pick just one, but one that I’ll never never I’ll one that but one, just pick to It’s hard

That’s one of the things I think is so magnificent magnificent so is Ithink things one ofthe That’s

- scale scale Mountain Institute. Rocky at editor Stone is a writer/ Laurie Guevara- rmi.org/communities on this topic visit: information For more

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29 Summer 2016 Walk the Walk 30 CENTER RMI’S INNOVATION 5 By Kelly Vaughn INNOVATION REV YORK NEW BEACON Reasons It’s theOfficeof aspen trees, and the Roaring Fork River, keeping staff healthier and happier on a day-to-day basis. aday-to-day on happier and healthier staff River, keeping Fork Roaring the and trees, aspen mountains, of views maximize side south the on windows giant and ceilings High spaces. through airflow healthy to maintain needed energy the minimizes which plan, office open day-lit, entirely an from benefit Staff goals. both convening center. space and world-class coincidentally, Not office pleasing achieve same design the principles also creating included but a healthy, and aesthetically not goals focusedOur on only efficiency, energy productive, and collaboration satisfaction, It1. increases productivity, staff innovative. well, so, is Center Innovation the believe we reasons five are Here future. ofour work critical most the supporting also is future of the building This occupied. and constructed, designed, high how demonstrate to lab aliving as serves Center Innovation The environment. the and occupants, owners, for net how showcase that and level, next the to work our take to RMI allows building this ofhow stories powerful, more arguably and anecdotal, more are numbers the 33).page Behind Highlights,” “Performance (see country the in goals performance building ambitious most ofthe some achieving in play occupants role the and collection, data and monitoring energy design, integrative passive delivery, project ofintegrated importance the about lessons significant learning already are we ayear through Halfway ago. years three nearly off kicked process design the when it intended Lovins Amory as departed,” when when regret and entered, delight “creating future, ofthe building office ofthe example a shining truly It is atour: or taken event an attended have who professionals industry and collaborators, neighbors, supporters, ofRMI thousands or the building, the in works who employee any Ask T Center in Basalt, Colorado. Why? Why? Colorado. Basalt, in Center Innovation new ofour opening the celebrating still is community RMI he - zero energy buildings can be better better be can buildings energy zero - - long commissioning process, process, commissioning long performance buildings are are buildings performance

theFuture coldest winter days, staff can warm up with electric floor mats that provide targeted radiant heat. radiant targeted provide that mats floor electric with up warm can staff days, winter coldest the on example, For comfort. own their to control individuals allows and approach aone-size-fits-all eschews that (e.g., comfort humidity, air etc.) individual velocity, clothing, design and andinfluence technology uses integrative that factors six the on focuses Center Innovation The feels. aperson comfortable how with to do little has and energy of alot uses which temperature, room aset to maintain HVAC alarge system use buildings office Traditional It gives2. control people over their personal comfort 31 Summer 2016 Innovation Beacon 32 movement, while other windows can be manually operated. can be while other windows movement, manually operated. air and temperature to control automatically close and open windows certain example, For controls. manual and automation of balance acareful requires lighting levels, and ventilation. To ensure the building operates as it was designed features building various temperature, maintain to that weather controls, activate predictive plus points, set and sensors uses system automation building’s building materials,The work and together systems is what’s cutting-edge. technologies and (like cooling heating chairs), how personal but technologies, Center The does featureInnovation technologies and gadgets. impressive new cutting-edge envision we future,” the of building “office think us of most When control and automation, integration, of levels unprecedented achieves It 3. INNOVATION BEACON

PHOTOS: previous page, © Tim Griffith; bottom far left, © Pat Sudmeier; top and bottom left, right, © Tim Griffith City for one year. one for City York New topower month one in saved Center’s level, enough energy would be Innovation tothe efficiency its increased U.S. the in building commercial every If PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS and heating systems 0 2015) of (as U.S. the in buildings 200 1 OF climate its in building office average 74% commercial building) U.S. average the for kbtu/sf 80 with (compared intensity use 17.2 KBTU/SF number of central cooling more efficient than the the than efficient more net-zero commercial expected energy energy expected gather to tackle our greatest energy challenges. togather our greatest tackle challenges. energy from across global the energy can landscape partners is where leaders diverse setting, and workshop-type or alecture in people 80 accommodates which Studio, Impact Steyer White the Finally, rewards. and risks shared and common across goals, disciplines, collaboration used to which guide involved design and construction, we process delivery project integrated the behind force building from vision to reality. Convening was the driving whose philanthropic brought leadership the supporters RMI of network apowerful together brought Center Innovation the of idea very The get-go. the from Center behind Innovation the was mantra the Collaboration convening of power the harnesses It 5. our energy management strategy. to adjustments thoughtful make can we so grid electricity to the sent versus battery the in stored being energy clean of amount the and consumption, energy production, PV on data live provides online available and lobby the in rate class). dashboard energy small-commercial An beneficial us in a financially (keeping kW 50 below demand energy peak building’s the keep helps system storage battery kW 30 Alithium-ion system. (PV) photovoltaic solar kW 83.08 to an part in thanks vehicles, electric six plus building the of needs energy The Center Innovation produces to enough the solar supply energy on-site staff our for is it as grid electricity the for productive as is It 4. development efforts. development efforts. workbuildings and its supports who Mountain Institute, manager at Rocky amarketing is Vaughn Kelly innovationcenter at take a tour virtual and more Learn www.rmi.org/ WEB EXTRA WEB 33 Summer 2016 Innovation Beacon M OUN KY T C A I O N

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