In efforts to maximize the efficiency of the clean electricity transition in North America, the CSSN State Politics Working Group Co-Chair Joshua A. Basseches conducted a study that focuses on analyzing the existing policy landscape across both sides of the U.S.-Canada border while showing how renewable portfolio standards (RPS) have the potential to impact cross-border transmission.

Intro:

The prescription is straightforward enough. First, green the electricity grid so that it is prepared to take on considerably more demand for electricity that will come when we take the next steps: greening transportation (i.e., electric cars, buses, trains, and their charging stations, etc.), and greening buildings and industrial sectors (i.e., replacing gas furnaces with electric heat pumps, leveraging new technology to reduce the carbon intensity of industry, etc.). In short, building and maintaining a low-carbon electricity grid capable of generating, transmitting, and distributing unprecedented volumes of clean electricity is the linchpin of both countries’ strategies upon which success in achieving GHG emissions reduction targets will ultimately depend (Government of Canada 2020; The White House 2021).