The Groundwire Group

The climate future is unfolding – in the markets, in boardrooms, and in our conversations with each other. Here’s what happened this week.? ? ?? The head of New England’s grid tells Congress that #offshorewind development is essential to provide New Englanders with reliable, affordable power. More from AnnMarie Hilton, Maine Morning Star: https://lnkd.in/ew9vrcMr? ? The Georgia Public Service Commission, Georgia Power Company, and consumer and #cleanenergy advocates grapple with how to meet energy demand driven by data centers over the long term. More from Stanley Dunlap, Georgia Recorder: https://lnkd.in/eHj-ZNYf? ?? A new study from PwC finds 84% of public companies are sticking to or ramping up #climate commitments. Some of the 16% who are scaling back are pivoting to more realistic and achievable plans.?More from Mark (Moshe) Segal, ESG Today: https://lnkd.in/dQwsKD6A? ?? Social bonds are attracting investors with solid returns. These bonds, which fund areas like health, housing, and education, may offer “a shelter of sorts for ESG” as climate investments face political attacks. More from Ishika Mookerjee, Bloomberg: https://lnkd.in/eARbu22q? ?? A new book by environmentalist Paul Hawken highlights the risk that using jargon to talk about #climatechange could isolate audiences and slow action. More from Kate Yoder, Grist: https://lnkd.in/eZ-XW4Vf

A data center strategy is an energy strategy. Powering a #datacenter is not as simple or as easy as just plugging into the grid. Developers should analyze local energy availability, expectations for transmission upgrades, and regulatory dynamics that dictate access to energy supply. For a deeper dive on the questions data center developers should be asking about #energysystems, read our Macro Meets Micro report here: https://lnkd.in/ereAdrvb

I might be biased, but the #stakeholderengagement track always contains my favorite IPF sessions! Look forward to discussing the need for positive and proactive messages around the ways in which #offshorewind is supporting more marine life research on the East Coast than has ever been done before. Don't miss this conversation with me, Kris Ohleth, Sarah Courbis, Stephanie Wilson and J. Christopher Haney! Will you be at #IPF25? Reach out!

Who influences which #transmission projects get built? A webinar from World Resources Institute last week showed us that #localgovernment is gaining increasing importance in these decisions. When local governments engage with the entities that manage their grids, they help ensure the projects that get built are ones that aid them in meeting their #decarbonization and #cleanenergy goals. But the lines of communication from City Hall to the RTOs and ISOs that plan and manage the grid aren’t always clear. Coalitions like the PJM Cities and Communities Coalition are helping to build those relationships, and inventive tools like workbooks and data request portals offer a method for local governments to communicate their needs. (Thanks for the insight, Meg Maloney!) Proactive collaboration between local governments and grid planners demonstrates to community members that their representatives are advocating for their needs in advance, rather than waiting to respond when a project’s being?sited. ICYMI, a recording is available here: https://lnkd.in/ev_mv9wH

Of all the work we have done at The Groundwire Group, clearly defining our values and principles is the thing I'm most proud of. We are committed to building a world where the default choice is sustainable because the sustainable choice is also the most beautiful. The choice that inspires delight. We are not driven by profit for profit's sake but by a mission to create a better future. These values have helped us navigate a thorny maze of tradeoffs and tantalizing opportunities, finding our own path to success that doesn't compromise our collective future. I feel so fortunate to share this work with my incredible colleagues, who aren't afraid to debate, to question, to challenge our own assumptions. Our place in the AI revolution is clear to us now, as much as anything can be clear in such a dynamic environment. This week's newsletter edition offers a glimpse behind the curtain of how we think through the complexities of energy, economy, climate, geopolitics, and our vision for a new kind of abundance. Raquel Pichardo Amanda McConnon

Very much looking forward to coming together with the investing, policy and climate community in DC this summer to chart new opportunities in #sustainableinvesting. If you haven't yet, put #USSIFFORUM2025 on your must-attend list of conferences this year. Maria Lettini and the US SIF team have been doing incredible work with its members navigating today's challenges while looking ahead at how to continue to make an impact. That work will continue at this event. Early bird is extended until Friday. Hope to see you there!

Waters off the eastern coast of Canada offer prime conditions for #offshorewind development. Nova Scotia needs more #cleanpower to reach emissions goals, and New England is also eyeing Canadian offshore wind energy to meet growing demand. What could the near-term future of Canadian offshore wind look like? Groundwire President Abby L. Watson shares insights in this story from Timothy Ferry, Recharge .

The climate future is unfolding – in the courts, the markets, and our communities. Here’s what happened this week.? ???Many investors have recognized #climaterisk as financial risk and act accordingly to protect portfolios. Trump Administration-directed changes at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission are now making it more difficult for investors to respond to those risks responsibly. More from Mike Scott, Reuters:?https://lnkd.in/epA3UKSs ???Workers at NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration are among the latest targets of federal job cuts. In response, insurers warned that loss of NOAA expertise could jeopardize data used to manage natural disaster risk, which could ultimately raise prices for consumers. More from Lee Harris, Financial Times:?https://lnkd.in/eAfhSyEu ???Republican and business leaders are rallying to protect #cleanenergy tax credits, making the case that renewable energy is part of an energy dominance agenda. 80% of Inflation Reduction Act investments have gone to red districts. More from David Gelles, The New York Times:?https://lnkd.in/g7acSB5n? ?? Florida has become a national leader in #solarpower, and rooftop solar helped get it there. Residents are increasingly motivated by the savings and resiliency that rooftop solar offers. More from Alexander C. Kaufman, Grist: https://lnkd.in/eEkkEi8h ? Future-proofing the grid proceeds in wildfire zones, but the process is costly and slow. Residents seek solutions. More from Stephen Scauzillo, Los Angeles Daily News: https://lnkd.in/enEjwHza

Fossil fuel interests are complementing their legal attacks on #cleanenergy and climate policies with a well-funded communications ground game. Strong coalitions between #climate and #energytransition advocates and host communities can build support for renewable energy development. For a deeper dive on how lawfare is impacting the energy transition and how strong coalitions can continue to drive progress forward, read our Macro Meets Micro report here: https://lnkd.in/ereAdrvb

My Google Alerts for various U.S. #offshorewind projects have fewer stories these days with glaringly-misleading headlines. Is my one-woman vigilante mission working, or have news cycles become so short they've gone from stills to motion pictures? This week's newsletter unpacks the incentives undermining high-quality journalism, how it impacts the way we see the world, and where this intensifying dynamic might lead.