Decarbonization in an Urban Environment
To decarbonize the urban jungle effectively you will need a more holistic approach, just electrifying buildings is not the single solution for carbon reduction. Maintaining fossil fuel infrastructure within the urban environment and transitioning to zero carbon fuels is more balanced, diversified, and affordable path to reducing emissions for customers. A coordinated gas and electric decarbonization strategy, utilizing a diverse set of technologies and strategies, is likely to be better able to manage the costs and feasibility risks of decarbonization than scenarios that rely more heavily on single technologies or strategies. Much like how a clean electricity network through the adoption of renewable electric generation sources, such as wind and solar, is envisioned, a fossil-free gas system through the adoption of renewable natural gas, geothermal, and green hydrogen can provide service to customers providing critical needs, or are facing huge building electrification price tags, and maintain the use of billions of dollars of stranded regulatory assets. Having a diversity of assets to create our clean future provides much greater reliability to the grid and networks customers will use in the future.
Speaker Bio
Catherine Luthin is a pioneer in energy management and sustainability, with over 30 years of industry experience within corporate, nonprofit and regulatory environments. At present, she is the founder of Luthin Strategy, an energy policy lobbying firm.
A nationally recognized leader in the energy industry, Luthin has been appointed to serve on a working group that is currently advising the City of New York on the implementation of Local Law 97 of 2019 (LL97), has been appointed and is serving on a Strategic Advisory Group as part of the New York State Public Service Commission’s Energy Efficiency & Building Electrification Performance Management and Improvement Process Plan. She formerly served as the Energy Policy Chairperson for AEE’s Council on Women and Environmental Leadership.
Luthin has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. She has been named “Energy Service Professional of the Year” for the State of New York and International “Energy Service Professional of the Year” by AEE, in addition to being selected as one of 10 winners of Green Building & Design’s annual Women in Sustainability Leadership Awards.
Luthin received her MBA and bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.