ACCELERATING OUR ENERGY FUTURE In support of the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Boston University
FROM THE DIRECTOR Across the globe, the calls to address climate change are clear, urgent, and mounting. Increasing numbers of thoughtful government and business leaders are heeding stakeholders’ demands for actions to mitigate climate disruption. In response, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs are at work on an expanding array of sustainable energy options. A half-decade ago, we launched the Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) to bridge the gaps between calls for action, sustainable energy research, and readiness for change. Since then, we have focused on facilitating the transition to a sustainable, climate-safe energy system. We pursue our mission through interdisciplinary research, policy analysis, and collaborative engagement with external stakeholders at every level. We are a think and do tank. We support collaborations among scholars across BU who are doing pathbreaking research in science, engineering, economics, business, and other fields that intersect with sustainable energy. But we also go a step further— actively helping business leaders, utilities, and policymakers use ISE research to develop and implement equitable and effective decarbonization strategies around the world. Supported by core funding from the University and grants from generous, forwardthinking institutional donors, we teach courses, lead seminars, sponsor conferences, write books, and evaluate policies from the local to the international level, all aimed at improving the world’s energy system. Now we want to do more, and we need your help. For example: To attract and retain the best scholars, we need flexible funding to supplement our income from grants. To give ISE long-term leadership stability, we seek to endow a permanent director’s position. Predictable funding for conferences and seminars will expand our ability to reach, engage, and inspire. And support for communications will help us disseminate our research more broadly. To those who have already stepped forward as ISE donors, we are deeply grateful. Now we invite others to join us in confronting one of the most crucial challenges of our time: accelerating our energy future. Peter Fox-Penner Director, Institute for Sustainable Energy Professor of Practice, Questrom School of Business
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ISE’S FACULTY LEADERS ISE is led by distinguished researchers with proven skills in connecting scholarship with practice. They include: Peter Fox-Penner, ISE Director Professor of Practice, Questrom School of Business bu.edu/ise/profile/peter-fox-penner
Jacqueline Ashmore, ISE Executive Director Research Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering bu.edu/ise/profile/jacqueline-ashmore
Cutler Cleveland, ISE Associate Director Professor of Earth & Environment bu.edu/ise/profile/cutler-cleveland
David Jermain, ISE Associate Director Research Fellow bu.edu/ise/profile/david-o-jermain
Emily Ryan, ISE Associate Director Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering bu.edu/ise/profile/emily-m-ryan
AIMING FOR REAL-WORLD IMPACT Climate disruption is one of the most critical social, economic, and political challenges of the 21st century. Melting polar ice caps, rising and warming seas, and unprecedented damage from weather extremes—all linked to record-breaking levels of greenhouse gas pollution from the use of fossil fuels—are extraordinary red flags. They can’t be ignored. Across the globe, a wide range of players—political leaders, businesses, activists, and average citizens—are acknowledging the urgent need to hasten the transition from carbonbased fuels to sustainable energy sources. Yet despite their shared and growing resolve to develop and implement strategies that mitigate global warming, progress on incorporating cutting-edge energy research into effective and equitable green energy policies has been frustratingly slow. Boston University’s Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) was founded with the aim of developing energy systems that will provide abundant, universally accessible, sustainable energy sources for emerging and advanced economies. Our approach comprises interdisciplinary research, policy analysis, and collaborative engagement with external stakeholders at every level—from individual energy providers to cities, states, and countries. Traditional “think tanks” measure their progress by the quantity of papers written or conferences sponsored. Of course, these are important. But ISE also takes the next, critical step: working with real-world partners to translate our findings into key policy changes. We focus our research and resources on four key areas in which we believe we can have the greatest impact:
SUSTAINABLE CITIES: As the world’s population continues to grow and urbanize, ISE is leading research to create vibrant, sustainable, and equitable urban environments with a high quality of life. This calls for new methods of urban planning and policymaking, clean energy to power the electric grid, new mobility options, and greater energy efficiency in our buildings and infrastructure.
THE UTILITY OF THE FUTURE: Energy production is the largest global source of greenhouse gas emissions, making transformation of the power grid—the backbone of our clean-energy future—a research priority for ISE. Now that the transition to more distributed carbon-free networks is underway, ISE is delving into the full potential of, and existing barriers to, these networks. This includes micro-grid development, demand management to support increased electrification, and investments in clean energy resources. 3
NEW MOBILITY: Advances in transportation have incredible potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions through automation, electrification, and ridesharing. ISE’s research anticipates and prepares for these massive changes in mobility, working to advance further implementation of electric vehicle infrastructure and autonomous vehicle electrification.
SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT: As water and energy utilities have evolved, their challenges and requirements have become increasingly similar. ISE identifies opportunities for utilities to integrate One Water strategies into water management, including new approaches to supply and demand management, strategies to ensure good water quality, and water ratemaking and financing.
Making progress in these four complex and critical areas is far from easy. It requires interdisciplinary research—that is, informed, innovative problem-solving across disciplines, domains, and skill sets—skilled policy analysis, and collaborative engagement. Toward those ends, our work spans multiple disciplines, departments, and colleges across Boston University. Our research is coordinated by five core faculty (see sidebar), who lead or participate in ISE-funded projects. In addition, 60-plus affiliated BU faculty regularly engage in ISE research discussions and events throughout the academic year.
Over the past four years, we have established close research relationships with: Questrom School of Business
College of Communication
Metropolitan College
School of Public Health
College of Engineering
Pardee School of Global Studies
College of Arts & Sciences
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JACQUELINE ASHMORE Executive Director, ISE Research Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering FOCUS: Integrated water management and approaches that support sustainable, affordable water supplies People sometimes are surprised that water is a major focus at ISE, but they are overlooking the intrinsic connection between energy and water. Sustainable water management is critically important. Water supplies and quality are being compromised every day by short-sighted policies and actions (or inaction). Increasingly severe droughts and floods are causing dire environmental, economic, and human problems. There is huge potential in research that helps decision-makers employ sound water management practices today and develop sustainable, integrated, and equitable strategies for the future. My ISE team is engaged in a multiyear study of ways that integrated water management practices can help water utilities in Texas address the confluence of rapidly growing urban populations, aging water infrastructure, and climate change. We’re especially excited to be working with a progressive utility that is implementing smart water meters and redesigning its rate structure to encourage water conservation. Another team, which includes students from Kilachand Honors College and the School of Public Health, is examining ways of mitigating the public health and economic impacts of sewage releases into the Merrimack River, especially for minority and low socioeconomic status populations. My daily work spans everything from supporting other researchers’ projects, to identifying new ISE senior fellows, to working with funders and stakeholders. The most exciting part of my work is seeing how much opportunity there is for the expertise of BU faculty, staff, and students to inform decision-making driven by sustainability considerations in utilities, government, and policy spheres, and to grow ISE initiatives that can meet that need today and in the future.
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“ Water supplies and quality are being compromised every day by short-sighted policies and actions —or inaction. Increasingly severe droughts and floods are causing dire environmental, economic, and human problems.”
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“ I find it fascinating how the energy industry is evolving rapidly from inefficient use of fossil fuel into a smart ecosystem of connected distributed resources. I want to help drive that shift.�
EDEM ADUKONU (QUESTROM’20)
Former ISE Research Assistant Founder & CEO, Safehands Academy FOCUS: Electric utilities in Africa; analyzing integrated resource planning strategies to scale up electrification in energy market segments I find it fascinating how the energy industry is evolving rapidly from inefficient use of fossil fuel into a smart ecosystem of connected distributed resources. I want to help drive that shift. My background is in petroleum engineering, but in my MBA studies at Questrom, my focus was on energy and environmental sustainability. In Ghana, where I grew up, as in many other places in the developing world, there is a tremendous opportunity to leapfrog the fossil-fuel lock-in found in much of the developed world. I jumped at the opportunity to work with ISE on research that will create pathways to 21st-century electric utility technologies in Africa. My research seeks to bridge the electricity access gap in sub-Saharan Africa, promoting sustainable development that relies on renewable resources. A complete product would have models and actionable recommendations on how African countries can achieve universal access for all citizens at least cost and with the smallest environmental footprint. I plan to consult in the energy and utilities sector for a couple of years before starting an energy company in Ghana to speed up the buildout of the energy sector.
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CUTLER J. CLEVELAND Associate Director, ISE Professor, Department of Earth & Environment, College of Arts & Sciences FOCUS: Connections among energy, climate change, and sustainability; energy transitions; ecological economics Since my days as an undergraduate student in ecology, I have been interested in the connections between human activity and the natural environment. Energy is an ideal lens for viewing this relationship. ISE facilitates my work in two ways. First, it connects faculty and students across BU’s schools and colleges. This reveals connections between my work and issues such as social equity, ethics, and the cultural forces that drive human behavior. Second, it enables faculty working at the nexus of energy, climate, and sustainability to apply their research to “real world” problem-solving. For example, ISE just completed the Carbon Free Boston (CFB) project, which applied state-of-the-art modeling work to help the City of Boston achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As principal investigator of CFB, I coordinated the work of a BU team with consulting firms, the City of Boston, and stakeholders from academia, business, think tanks, and NGOs. A principal finding is that action to reduce emissions in transportation and buildings must intentionally account for social equity in order to balance the costs and benefits of climate action. I’m now leading an ISE effort to coordinate and catalyze the wide range of teaching and professional education activities in energy, climate, and sustainability across BU. We’ve invited a diverse group of faculty to help us develop a “campus living laboratory” that connects faculty and student research with campus operations to help students understand what it means to live sustainably in a particular place— in this case, an urban college campus.
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“ ISE just completed the Carbon Free Boston project, which applied state-of-the-art modeling work to help the City of Boston achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.” 11
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“ A growing majority of people are deeply concerned about global warming, yet the mere mention of ‘climate change’ can shut down a conversation. My research through ISE aims to improve that conversation.”
SARAH FINNIE ROBINSON ISE Senior Fellow; Adjunct Clinical Professor, College of Communication Investor, writer, and entrepreneur FOCUS: Employing effective principles of climate change communication and behavior science to accelerate broad public comprehension and engagement on solutions A growing majority of people are deeply concerned about global warming, yet the mere mention of “climate change” can shut down a conversation. My research through ISE aims to improve that conversation. With ISE support, last year I launched the “The 51 Percent Project,” a data-driven communications initiative to help scholars, journalists, policymakers, business leaders, and other stakeholders convey the complexities of climate change in motivating, actionable ways. Our goal is to mine and make accessible the wealth of published, peer-reviewed information that already exists on this topic. It’s an exciting time to be studying climate communications. Major news outlets are allocating significant resources to improve climate coverage. Audiences are becoming more informed and engaged. Boston University is a founding institutional participant in the new “Covering Climate Now” coalition—a global network of 300-plus news outlets and dozens of institutional partners dedicated to maximizing coverage of the climate crisis. At ISE, I’m fortunate to work with an expert community of colleagues who share my belief that the challenge of climate change must be met with communications approaches that leverage the very best data, talent, innovation, and media technology at hand.
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Recent examples of our products—among the many that are establishing ISE’s reputation for analyses with real and compelling real-world impact—include: CARBON-FREE BOSTON REPORTS, which use extensive real-world data to bring original knowledge and insights to the City of Boston’s Climate Action Plan update, and support its overall goal of reaching carbon neutrality in the city by 2050. These reports analyze strategies across key emissions sectors, while deepening understanding of related social-equity impacts.
MELTING THE ICE, an award-winning, jointly authored 2019 book that offers municipal leaders an innovative and workable blueprint for electric vehicle infrastructure planning. Drawing on analyses of pioneering efforts by municipal planners in Los Angeles, Shanghai, Beijing, Oslo, and Brookline, Massachusetts, Melting the Ice identifies the development of charging infrastructure as one of the most critical challenges in accelerating electric vehicle use and decarbonizing transportation.
To summarize: Over the past half-decade, we have fostered leading-edge research, convened productive gatherings of practitioners and academics, and brought to light concepts that are helping energy providers, financial markets, and public policy-makers chart a path toward a carbon-neutral future. To leverage the foundation we’ve built, and to expand upon our proven record of success, we now seek a broader base of support from among Boston University’s alumni and friends.
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OUR PURPOSE AND POTENTIAL The transition to a sustainable energy future poses a complex array of scientific, technological, financial, public policy, business, and governance challenges. At ISE, we believe those challenges are surmountable. The interdisciplinary approach we rely on at ISE, and across Boston University more generally, is not typical of most universities. Around our ISE conference table, an expert on infrastructural development for electric cars in Los Angeles sits next to a consultant to the World Bank’s clean energy financing program in Bangladesh, and across from an authority on the economic and social implications of coal plant closures in Poland. This is the essence of what we do: supporting diverse intellectual pursuits, and fostering hands-on engagement in real-world problem-solving. It is purposeful, practical work. Now we need to do more. That begins with strengthening our financial model. Grant-based funding has been enormously important in our progress to date. But additional current-use resources will make budgeting more predictable, and improve our research project management. We want young and established scholars alike to view ISE as an unrivaled incubator for innovative, consequential work. We also need to magnify our reputation globally. The quality of our work speaks for itself, but we need to make sure the right people are listening. Conversations begun at ISEsponsored conferences and seminars—as well as social media and print mentions of our activities—help connect us with scholars, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers all over the world. Increased investment in communications will multiply opportunities for collaboration, and move ISE research ever closer to practice. Finally, we need to make sure ISE will continue to have exceptional leadership. We are a young institute at the center of a diverse community of visionary researchers and experienced practitioners. To focus the efforts of these skilled contributors, we need leaders who can share their passion and harness their talents. Enhanced funding will help us recruit, empower, and retain proven leaders. Over the past few years, many members of the extended BU community have asked us how they can help ISE succeed. It is reassuring, gratifying, and inspirational to be reminded that so many people share our goal of accelerating our energy future. It’s true: The stakes involved in reducing the world’s reliance on carbon-based energy couldn’t be higher. That’s our work. Please join us as we strengthen ISE, and expand its impact in the broader world. A list of giving opportunities is available upon request. 16
bu.edu/ise
For further information, please contact: Jyothsna Buddharaju Senior Director of Special Initiatives Boston University Development & Alumni Relations jbuddha@bu.edu O 617.353.8288 C 857.225.8626 595 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 700 Boston, MA 02215 bu.edu/ise
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