Juan-Pablo Velez

Juan-Pablo Velez

@jpv.switch.box

Executive director of think tank @switch.box. Climate policy and data science. Mostly here to ask questions!

313 followers257 following364 posts

#energysky #greensky #heatpumps

Switchbox@switch.box

Forthcoming report! Heat pumps are systematically overpaying for the electricity they use. A new “heat pump-friendly” rate under consideration in MA would fix that imbalance, helping heat pumps beat natural gas on operating costs for most households. Report drops next Tue the 22nd, RSVP for webinar!

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

The "spark gap" - the price difference between electricity and natural gas - is one of the biggest challenges in heat pump adoption. While heat pumps use 3-4 times less energy than gas furnaces, higher electricity rates can sometimes offset these efficiency gains. (1/3)

Speaking of failings of blue state governance: just helped a struggling mom get her stroller down subway stairs, she was dangerously close to losing control. Elevator was out. Upon leaving the station, ran into protest outside of @mta.info's HQ. Their chant: "what do we want? elevator maintenance!"

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

Another year or three and renewables will meet 100% of additional power demand. And then they will keep going from there. The trope that new energy technologies are only ever additive will take some time to die, but die it will - as all pseudo-scientific cargo cults eventually do.

The vast majority of global electricity demand growth in 2024 – over 80% – was covered by low-emissions sources This was supported by a huge expansion in renewable power capacity of about 700 GW, setting a new annual record for the 22nd year in a row ➡️ iea.li/4c0jI8t

What if instead of spending billions to replace old natgas pipes (that we need to start shutting down), we just gave the affected customers heat pumps? Our latest @switch.box report got an excellent write-up by @colinreports.bsky.social

nysfocus.comUtilities Spend Billions Replacing Gas Pipes. Is There a Better Way?In many cases, electrifying homes is cheaper, according to one new study.
Switchbox@switch.box

Our latest report asks a simple question: What if, instead of spending billions replacing aging gas pipes, utilities helped nearby homes switch to electric heating? The data shows this would often cost less, lower utility bills, AND cut pollution.Full report: switch.box/lpp Let's break it down: 1/6

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

BREAKING: Four climate justice groups sue NY over delays in implementing its climate law. Groups claim the state is “stonewalling necessary climate action in outright violation” of its legal obligations nysfocus.com/2025/03/31/n...

nysfocus.comClimate Groups Sue Hochul Administration Over Climate Law BacktrackingEnvironmentalists have long charged that New York is falling short of its climate mandates. Now, they’re taking the state to court.

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

Sitting in a meeting today with three former energy secretaries and three former FERC commissioners and this paper just keeps coming up. Tyler and his coauthors are doing great work and it is being noticed.

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Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

If you want to know more about the past, present and future of #BuildingDecarb in #Maryland, or how their experience can help you decarbonize buildings in your state, register for the BDC National Policy Call: Maryland today! #Heatpump #Cleanheat #EnergySky

📢 Register now for our BDC National Policy Call: Maryland at 1 pm on Tues, 2/25! Baltimore Gas & Electric’s Lauren Urbane, MD DOE's Mark Stewart, & @rockymtninst.bsky.social's Ashita Gona will explore MD’s efforts to decarbonize its buildings: bit.ly/4k0cRj8 #BuildingDecarb #Maryland #EnergySky

#greensky

Switchbox@switch.box

Preview! Dandelion Energy CEO Kathy Hannun will talk at this Thursday's Speaker Series event about what state's are getting right and wrong when supporting deployment of ground source heat pumps. Don't miss it! RSVP here: lnkd.in/g4XF8A9s

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

Disappointing to see @govkathyhochul.bsky.social backtrack on #NYHEAT in her budget, but we're going to win this with or without her. All attention now moves to the Assembly. We can and will win it this year to lower bills and slash pollution. Let's go! www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2025/01/21/g...

foodandwaterwatch.orgGov. Hochul Backtracks On Support For NY HEAT Act As Energy Bills RiseAll eyes turn to State Assembly to pass popular legislation to tackle skyrocketing energy bills, fossil fuel use

#energysky

Switchbox@switch.box

Preview! Dandelion Energy CEO Kathy Hannun will talk at this Thursday's Speaker Series event about what state's are getting right and wrong when supporting deployment of ground source heat pumps. Don't miss it! RSVP here: lnkd.in/g4XF8A9s

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

Preview! Dandelion Energy CEO Kathy Hannun will talk at this Thursday's Speaker Series event about what state's are getting right and wrong when supporting deployment of ground source heat pumps. Don't miss it! RSVP here: lnkd.in/g4XF8A9s

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

The ever-insightful Mohit Chhabra's excellent blog post addressing recent handwringing about solar curtailments in CA. Curtailments are a symptom, not the problem. We need broader smoother markets, transmission investment, and retail rates that reflect actual costs. www.nrdc.org/bio/mohit-ch...

nrdc.orgFeasting on the Glut: Putting Renewable Curtailment in ContextNegative wholesale electricity prices and renewable curtailment in California sure seem alarming. The truth, however, is that money isn’t being wasted.

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

🔌💡Yes, reconductoring & rebuilding almost 5,000 miles of AEP transmission lines in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, & West Virginia! I know you Europeans already know all about it, but we’re still catching up here in the US! More please! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 www.energy.gov/lpo/articles...

energy.govLPO Announces Conditional Commitment to AEP to Upgrade Nearly 5,000 Miles of Transmission LinesAEP will reconductor or rebuild almost 5,000 miles of transmission lines across multiple states, increasing transmission capacity.

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

In the Albany Times Union, BDC’s Lisa Dix explains how the #NYHEAT Act provides NY with a “blueprint for a cleaner, healthier and more affordable future” and urges Governor Kathy Hochul “to make this vision a reality.” #BuildingDecarb #ThermalEnergyNetwork #EnergySky bit.ly/3Co9txc

bit.lyCommentary: NY HEAT Act is the push toward cleaner energy that New York needsCommentary: The NY HEAT Act will help cut ties with fossil fuels while helping families keep costs down.

Welp, New York's cap-and-trade system has been delayed by another year by Gov. Kathy Hochul. By law, the state must cut total emissions 40% from 1990 levels by 2030. Punting on the policy puts this goal firmly out of reach & deprives New Yorkers of the benefits outlined in @switch.box's report 🔌💡

subscriber.politicopro.comPOLITICO Pro: Gov. Hochul punts on cap-and-trade style climate funding programThe governor has delayed action on a sweeping program to charge for greenhouse gas emissions.

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

Our most recent report on NY's forthcoming Cap-and-Invest program was covered by Politico, along with another excellent study by @rff.org and @nycejalliance.bsky.social that reached similar conclusions about the transformative potential of putting a price on carbon in New York State. #energysky

subscriber.politicopro.comPOLITICO Pro: Most New York households would benefit from higher cap-and-invest prices, reports sayTwo reports backed by environmental advocates found distributing money raised from a cap-and-trade program would leave households better off.

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

New York is preparing to launch a Cap-and-Invest (C&I) program that could be transformative for the state, catalyzing an economy-wide shift to clean energy, while raising billions of # a year to invest in decarbonization projects—according to a report we dropped just this morning. 1/4 🔌💡#climatesky

switch.boxReport: NENY | Switchbox

Juan-Pablo Velez reposted

I wrote about which states to watch on clean energy policy as legislatures convene. The answers included some of the usual suspects: CA, IL, MA, NY and TX. If this was a 10,000-word column, I would have talked about CO, NC and OH and others. insideclimatenews.org/news/0901202... #energysky

insideclimatenews.orgWhat to Expect from State Governments on Renewable Energy Policy in 2025 - Inside Climate NewsAs states focus on carrying out existing laws, don’t hold your breath waiting for big moves.