Cazier Initiative News and Commentary

More Than Green: Leveraging Green Bonds to Invest in Greater Climate Resilience

The significance of green bonds may depend not only on having a lot of them, write Karishma Patel (cohort '17) and Prof. Michelle Miro, but also on carefully developing, investing, and tracking projects against the larger goal of climate resilience.

Karishma V. Patel, Michelle E. Miro

The Growing Green Bond Market Could Plateau. How Can It Grow Further?

If green bonds are a viable tool to reduce emissions and adapt infrastructure to the effects of climate change, David Catt (cohort '16) and Nihar Chhatiawala ('20) ask, how can governments encourage the issuance, sales, and growth in the share of green bonds in the total bond market?

David Catt, Nihar Chhatiawala, et al.

Green Bonds Can Leave Issuers in the Red

To achieve the Biden administration's blueprint for solar energy and focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation, green bonds may be worth considering. But Brian Wong (cohort '20) suggests that, like any other financing instrument, they may be best considered through a cost-benefit lens.

Brian Wong, Ismael Arciniegas Rueda

Students Recommend an 'Olympian Feat': Green Infrastructure in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has an opportunity to reinvent itself by harnessing the collective spirit of Olympics development, climate activism, and Measure W funding. Students Noah Johnson (cohort '18), Karishma Patel ('17), and Jarrett Catlin ('18) write that no single project can address all LA's environmental needs, but many diverse projects could provide an opportunity for synergies and to create a new “city feel,” the way palm trees, traffic, and movie-touting billboards do now.

Noah Johnson, Karishma V. Patel, et al.

Los Angeles River Revitalization: Students Encourage Taking Inspiration from Near and Far

Currently a predominantly concrete channel running through the city, the Los Angeles River has great potential to revitalize Los Angeles's water resources, landscape, and identity. Students Keren Zhu (cohort '17), J. Luke Irwin ('16), and Stephanie Tanverakul ('18), along with Prof. Timothy Gulden, explain that creating a new vision for the river presents a complex challenge for policymakers, engineers, and urban planners.

Keren Zhu, J. Luke Irwin, et al.

More Than Stormwater: Students Explore Multiple Benefits of Green Infrastructure for Los Angeles Communities

California faces shortages in water supply amidst droughts, wildfires, and other natural disasters worsened by climate change. Students Joan Chang (cohort '18), Pau Alonso Garcia ('18), and Jonathan Lamb ('17) argue that taking a systems thinking approach, in particular applying a systems framework, is essential to addressing complex problems for the sustainability of water resources that affect individuals, communities, and broader populations.

Joan Chang, Kristin Warren, et al.

Students, Faculty Participate in IPCC Working Conference in Nepal

With Cazier Initiative support, students David Catt (cohort '16) and Karishma Patel ('17) traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal, this summer with professors Robert Lempert and Ben Preston to attend the Second Lead Author Meeting for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II.

How to Ensure Quality Drinking Water Service for All? One Option Is Fewer Utilities.

California's Human Right to Water Bill declares that “every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water.” Student David Catt and professors Miriam Marlier and Michelle Miro say one clear barrier to reaching this target is the sheer number of small water utilities that pose service sustainability and public health risks to their customers.

David Catt, Michelle E. Miro, et al.

Lessening Leakages: How Water Systems Can Learn From Smart Electric Grids

As drought and population growth place increasing pressure on water supply, the need to save and efficiently manage Southern California's water resources becomes increasingly critical. Student Jalal Awan (cohort 17) and professors Miriam Marlier and Michelle Miro suggest that a single information and communication technology platform could go a long way toward moving water utilities from reactive to proactive maintenance practices.

Jalal Awan, Michelle E. Miro, et al.

Increasing Groundwater Reliance in L.A. County Means Dealing with Extensive Contamination

Advances in the information available on groundwater quality and contamination could help community water systems avoid health hazards and better ensure a safe drinking water supply, write Alexandra Huttinger (cohort '17) and professors Michelle Miro and Miriam Marlier.

Alexandra Huttinger, Michelle E. Miro, et al.

Can Hyperlocal Air Quality Data Improve Policy?

A Tech and Narrative Lab project funded by the Cazier Initiative has brought together a team of Pardee RAND students, faculty, and RAND staff to explore whether having access to easily intelligible localized air quality data promotes better policy and personal decisions.

Can Innovative Financing by the Public and Private Sectors Build on Momentum in Energy Efficiency Improvements for Affordable Multifamily Housing?

Nearly one in three American households in 2015 reported difficulty paying their energy bills or sustaining adequate home heating and cooling. Student Lisa Jonsson (cohort '14) and Prof. Aimee Curtright find that emerging models of energy services and financing show promise and could identify creative ways to increase access to funding that could preserve and improve home affordability for millions of Americans.

Lisa Jonsson, Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright

How Federal Policy Could Help Water and Wastewater Utilities

The federal government could address the root causes of infrastructure problems more effectively than just spending money with the hope that it might do some good, write student David Catt (cohort '16) and Prof. Debra Knopman. A better approach might be to devote scarce resources to fixing what actually isn't working well in the nation's approach to managing, funding and financing infrastructure.

Debra Knopman, David Catt

Environmental Impact Bonds May Not Bear Fruit for Green Investors

Investors may be willing to accept a lower return for socially responsible investments. But analysis supported by the Cazier Initiative suggests environmental impact bonds may not be the best way to leverage these investment possibilities.

Aaron Strong @resourceecon, Benjamin Lee Preston @bl_preston

Getting (Solar) Electricity Pricing Right

For many U.S. homeowners, an investment in rooftop solar is becoming a cost-competitive alternative to purchasing grid electricity. But student Benjamin Smith (cohort '15) and professors Nick Burger and Aimee Curtright note that, as demand soars, states are struggling to adapt a 20th-century electrical grid to 21st-century supply and demand, leading to confusion and cost uncertainty.

Nicholas E. Burger, Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright, et al.

Pittsburgh's Options to Address Lead in Its Water

Pittsburgh is struggling to improve its aging water system. Student Michele Abbott (cohort '14) and alum/professor Jordan Fischbach (cohort '04) review the history and recent developments related to the use of lead pipes and the policy options for lead remediation currently being weighed by local decisionmakers.

Linnea Warren May @LinneaKWMay, Jordan R. Fischbach, et al.

Getting the Lead Out of Pittsburgh's Water

Without an aggressive long-term strategy for replacing service lines, and collaboration among the water authority, public officials, and residents, lead in Pittsburgh's water will persist, writes Prof. Jordan Fischbach (alum, cohort '04).

Jordan R. Fischbach, Linnea Warren May @LinneaKWMay

Uncertainty and Complexity: Biomass Can Help on the Path to Deep Decarbonization

While biomass will almost certainly never become the dominant fuel for the electricity sector in the United States, it is still worth including as part of a menu of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, write student Sara Turner (cohort '15) and prof. Aimee Curtright.

Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright, Sara Turner

Investing in Infrastructure? Don't Forget the Electric Grid

To maximize the potential benefits of a multibillion-dollar smart grid investment, student Kathleen Loa (cohort '12) and professor Aimee Curtright say a closer examination of technology and policy is needed. First, weigh the preferences and constraints of the various stakeholders and how technology can or cannot meet their objectives.

Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright, Kathleen Loa

Policy Options for Better Service Outcomes from the Future Electric Grid

At a Cazier Initiative symposium, participants scoped important policy questions related to the electric power system. The meeting brought together multiple stakeholder perspectives on the challenges, solutions, and implementation barriers associated with building a more robust, resilient, affordable, and clean grid.

Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright, Christopher Guo, et al.

Pardee RAND Hosts Inaugural Cazier Practitioner in Residence

Power grid expert Paul De Martini visited Pardee RAND as the inaugural Cazier Practitioner in Residence. An ICF fellow, and CalTech professor, De Martini presented a seminar on "The Evolving Distribution Grid" and met with Pardee RAND faculty and students during his weeklong stay.

Symposium Examines Future Electric Grid

To explore questions confronting the current and future electric power system, Pardee RAND's Cazier Initiative brought together leaders from industry, government, and consumer organizations for an invitation-only symposium.