What is EPIC and What Does it Do?
The Energy Policy Innovation Council (energypolicy.asu.edu) informs and educates policymakers on current, complex issues in energy policy that impact Arizona and beyond. EPIC is directed by ASU Law Professor Kris Mayes (Faculty Fellow of the Center for Law, Science & Innovation and Faculty Director, Program on Law and Sustainability) and Dr. Mike Pasqualetti, and is staffed by Maren Mahoney, Eddie Burgess and six student researchers, four of whom are law students. Housed within the Center for Law, Science and Innovation at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, EPIC ‘s projects and services include:
- Publishing policy briefs on existing energy policies currently implemented in Arizona and tracking critical potential policies that may affect Arizona. Specific examples are APS’s net-metering for solar rooftop installations (http://energypolicy.asu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/APS-Net-Metering-Brief-Sheet-Draft-_-Final_updated-Dec-2013.pdf) and Mexico’s 2012 Law on Climate Change (http://energypolicy.asu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Mexico-2012-General-Law-on-Climate-Change-brief-sheet.pdf).
- Assisting the Governor’s Office of Energy Policy (GOEP) for the state energy plan that was recently published here: http://www.azenergy.gov/doclib/EmPowerAZ.pdf and mentioned in the following press release: http://www.azgovernor.gov/dms/upload/PR_021814_MasterEnergyPlan.pdf.
- Aiding Mick Dalrymple at GIOS (now with the Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiative) to develop the Energy Efficiency Idea Guide, a booklet of energy efficiency policy and program solution suggestions and brief sheets that could be implemented throughout Arizona. The Guide is available here: http://energypolicy.asu.edu/research-reports/.
- Developing videos of basic electricity concepts such as the difference between a kilowatt and a kilowatt hour, how rates are set for electric and gas utilities, and what is in your electric bill.
- Preparing custom presentations and research reports for policymakers at the municipal, county and state level.
- Presence at and live-tweets from city council meetings, Arizona Corporation Commission open meetings, and other public hearings on energy policy. EPIC also publishes notes from public meetings that its representatives attend. Those interested are able to keep up on the latest happenings by following EPIC on Twitter @ASUEnergyPolicy.
- Spotlighting effective policy makers who are working to usher in Arizona’s clean energy future.
The mission of our bLAWg is to report on cutting edge material relating to law, science and technology. Enterprises like EPIC are well-positioned in terms of pertinent content and we will continue to post select information from EPIC as it emerges. In the meantime, we encourage our readers to visit EPIC’s website (energypolicy.asu.edu) for additional and more detailed information.