NEWS FROM TEPRI
March 2023
A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Margo Weisz
Friends of TEPRI,
I am a prime candidate for spring fever. Hits me hard every year! My best thinking happens amid abundant sunshine, and on a trail with a grinning dog. Spring is more than a season, it is a time of growth and creativity.
With the advent of spring, it is difficult to believe that we endured an ice storm just a few weeks ago that brought about more power outages across the state. TEPRI is currently surveying folks who contend with lower incomes to understand how this current outage may have impacted them. Please keep a look out for the results!
A flurry of activity has also begun as the federal government releases a host of RFPs aimed at fueling innovation to propel forward an equitable energy transition. TEPRI is exploring a number of technology innovations around micro-grids, building retrofits, and virtual power plants, to ensure low-income households are accessing the benefits of new technologies.
As our partners put together proposals for these consequential federal investments, we want to introduce our Community Benefits Planning services to our partners to assist with identifying the barriers and opportunities for low- and moderate-income communities. Our Community Voices Energy Survey and Reports that are coming out in June will provide unique and seminal insights into the priorities, concerns and barriers for households that contend with lower-incomes. We invite you to contact us to discuss how your projects could meet the diverse needs of different communities throughout the state.
We look forward to devising new projects, scaling innovations that work, and connecting with you to build a robust energy landscape!
Warmly,
Margo
UPDATES FROM TEPRI
Webinar: Bringing Residential Wind and Smart Roofing Innovations to Low-Income Households
The second session of our Energy Opportunities Speaker Series is on Tuesday, March 7th. We are thrilled to welcome guest speakers Ignacio Juarez, co-founder and CEO of Semtive, and Jiachen Li, PhD, co-inventor of the Temperature-Adaptive Radiative Coating (TARC) smart roof coating. They will discuss the specifications of their systems, how they can be applied in the Texas energy market, and outline the next steps for deployment amid the growing need for energy reliability and efficiency.
Join us Tuesday, March 7th at from 12 to 1 PM Central.
TEPRI Offers Community Benefits Planning
Our Community Benefits planning process is informed by the results of our comprehensive Community Voices Energy Survey, as well as a tailored community needs assessments (CNAs) for each geographic area and project. We measure key indicators and gather valuable perspectives from low-income households to better understand the ongoing challenges surrounding energy in communities across Texas. Our Community Benefits planning allows us to accurately gauge obstacles to the deployment of successful solutions for stakeholders – directly from communities most impacted.
Webinar Recap: Energy Opportunities for Community- Based Organizations
2023 has begun with major changes in the energy landscape that will impact millions of Texas households.
This webinar provided community-based organizations (CBOs) a comprehensive overview of major energy-related updates and developments that will impact how they serve low-income and hard-to-reach energy customers.
Andrew Robison, TEPRI’s Research Analyst, provided key updates in the Texas energy space, including a two-year update on the financial impacts of Winter Storm Uri, the ongoing electricity market redesign process, the Public Utility Commission’s Energy Efficiency Implementation Project (EEIP), and other key policy, program, and market updates that will impact CBOs and their mission to improve the lives of countless Texans.
Academic Advisory Network Launched
TEPRI relaunched its Academic Advisory Network (AAN) in February 2023. The AAN brings together a diverse group of energy-based subject matter experts across different academic institutions in the United States to advise and guide TEPRI’s concept development for addressing energy equity gaps in Texas.
Thank you to the professors and researchers that have committed to helping TEPRI advance reliable, affordable, and clean energy research for Texans:
- Dr. Ann Bluntzer (Texas Christian University)
- Dr. Severin Borenstein (University of California)
- Dr. Sergio Castellanos (University of Texas – Austin)
- Dr. Bradley Ewing (Texas Tech University)
- Dr. Diana Hernandez (Columbia University)
- Dr. Erick C. Jones Jr. (University of Texas at Arlington)
- Dr. Carey W. King (The University of Texas at Austin)
- Dr. Irfan Khan (Texas A&M Galveston)
- Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti (University of Houston)
- Dr. Kenneth B. Medlock III (Rice University)
- Dr. Javad Mohammadi (The University of Texas at Austin)
If you are interested in participating in the AAN, please reach out to Bobuchi Ken-Opurum at bobuchi@tepri.org.
Participating in an EEIP Working Group
The Texas Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) Energy Efficiency Implementation Project (EEIP) has established four working groups to inform future PUC rulemaking around the state’s energy efficiency goals and utility-based programs. TERPI is currently participating in the Low Income and Underserved Segments Working Group, which is focusing on the evaluation of current energy efficiency goals for low-income and hard-to-reach communities. TEPRI’s input in the working group is focused primarily on the current spending requirements for low-income and hard-to-reach customers, exploring additional pathways for income verification, modifications to the cost-effectiveness standard, and the identification of other underserved segments, among other topics.
The next EEIP meeting at the Public Utility Commission will be held on Tuesday, March 28 from 9 AM to 4 PM Central and will include an overview of utility program plans, a presentation from the Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, and progress updates on the Energy Efficiency Stakeholder Working Groups.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
RISE Coalition
March 2, 2023
TEPRI will participate in a panel discussion on Thursday, March 2, in Grapevine, Texas as part of a half-day event hosted by the City of Dallas and the Regional Integration of Sustainability Efforts (RISE) Coalition– an initiative of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). The panel discussion will focus on the importance of home weatherization and how communities can best support their residents in pursuing home weatherization measures.
RAISE Texas
March 3, 2023
TEPRI will be featured on a panel discussion at the RAISE Texas 15th Anniversary Summit on Friday, March 3, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. TEPRI’s research analyst Andrew Robison will present on a panel highlighting new federal dollars to support financial stability in low-to-moderate-income families, particularly on opportunities for energy-related funding.
RE+ Texas Conference
April 5-6, 2023
Join TEPRI on April 5-6, 2023 at the RE+ Conference! Margo Weisz and Bobuchi Ken-Opurum will speak at the “Texas to Outshine California: Residential Solar and Storage” and “Energy Insecurity and Health in Vulnerable Populations: Stories and Strategies for Change” panels at this in-person conference at the JW Marriott in Austin. Learn about the important issues like solar storage and smart energy industries in Texas.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
TEPRI 2023 Outlook
In January, TEPRI released our 2023 Outlook- an overview of the organization’s portfolio of work, including research within the low-income community, new models for an equitable energy transition, tools for improved and accelerated access, and ongoing education on energy efficiency programs and opportunities. Click the button below to see all TEPRI has to offer in the coming year.
Webinar: Deploying Energy Efficiency in Texas- Barriers, Solutions, Stakeholders
On January 25, 2023, we hosted Jennifer Amann, Senior Fellow at ACEEE’s Buildings Program, as the first guest speaker of our Energy Opportunities Coalition Speaker Series. Jennifer provided an update on policy and technological barriers to deploying energy efficiency programs in residential buildings in Texas.
TEPRI is excited to bring in more experts to discuss cutting-edge methods for advancing affordable, reliable, and clean energy in underserved communities. This virtual and in-person series will provide a space for dynamic, timely, and relevant conversations with change-makers and thought leaders on energy poverty.
FEATURED PARTNER
SPEER FOCUS GROUPS
Are you interested in voicing your thoughts on important issues like energy equity, resiliency, and sustainability in Texas?
Then apply to participate in SPEER’s focus group hosted by The State Energy Conservation Office! The goal is to produce an understanding of what cities and local government agencies and various-sized communities find essential for efficiency and energy strategies and future programs.
TEPRI IS HIRING
Seeking Part-Time Research Assistant
TEPRI is seeking a part-time Research Assistant (RA) who is a strong writer with interest in the intersection of energy and poverty. They will primarily support the team in data analysis and preparing reports of our Statewide Survey research project.
This is a unique position supporting an important TEPRI project, and a valuable opportunity for a researcher to attain meaningful experience conducting research which will have a positive impact on the power market and low-income consumers.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to tepri@tepri.org or apply on Indeed
