If you follow the news, you know some of today’s primary topics deal with energy costs, security, financing and transition. In March, I wrote about the increased attention on energy transition plans, and in April, I detailed six steps for these plans.
Since writing those articles, the worldwide situation continues to rapidly change, as is pointed out in the Forbes article, “How Ukraine Invasion Is Changing Europe’s Energy Plans,” which states, “Up until now, climate change has been the dominant driver of this development work. Now with the security of energy supply suddenly under the microscope for the first time in decades, there is an additional driver.” The article goes on to refer to the European Union’s RePowerEU plan that was released May 18. The plan includes:
- Saving energy. “Energy savings are the quickest and cheapest way to address the current energy crisis, and reduce bills.”
- Diversifying (energy) supplies and supporting international partners, which in the case of the EU involves weaning themselves off its dependency on Russian energy supply, developing relationships with other potential suppliers and boosting the development of renewables and hydrogen.
- Accelerating the rollout of renewables. “A massive scaling-up and speeding-up of renewable energy in power generation, industry, buildings and transport will accelerate our independence, give a boost to the green transition, and reduce prices over time.”
- Reducing fossil fuel consumption in industry and transport, which will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The emphasis for change is not only occurring in other parts of the world, but where I live and work. Orange County Public Schools in central Florida just released its “Sustainability Plan 2030.” In March, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Clean Energy Taskforce issued its “Clean Energy 2030” report.
And Hanson is working with a variety of our public and private customers to develop energy and sustainability master plans, energy transition plans, an energy resiliency roadmap and primer (which is to be used nationally), energy roadmaps, net-zero energy and carbon-neutral feasibility studies and much more.
Although the world is going through difficult energy times, it is wonderful to see the amount of activity occurring locally and worldwide to resolve our ongoing energy problems. If we can assist you as you begin to look at your energy costs, security, financing and transition, please let us know.
Bill Bradford is a senior vice president and Hanson’s energy, sustainability and resiliency principal who works at the Orlando, Florida, regional office. He can be reached at bbradford@hanson-inc.com.