Kleinman Center for Energy Policy

Policy Design Issues for Border Carbon Adjustments Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

POLICY DIGEST: Border carbon adjustments (BCAs) are an increasingly popular climate policy tool, with the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism set to take full effect in 2026. Our latest digest explores the complex policy design issues entailed in BCAs, and how to make them work.

The Dark Side of Shipping: Why Oil Prices Aren’t Rising Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

BLOG: A growing “dark fleet” of tankers is quietly rerouting sanctioned oil across global markets—softening price shocks and reshaping supply chains.

Explore how this hidden trade is keeping prices surprisingly stable in this blog from Jesús Fernández-Villaverde.

Tech firms pledge to pay for AI data centre power costs. But will they? The agreement at the White House comes as rising electricity prices becomes a political problem.

I spoke with BBC about today's PR stunt.

@kleinmanenergy.bsky.social

bbc.com/news/article...

The Endangerment Finding and the Future of EPA’s Authority Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

PODCAST: The EPA has rescinded the endangerment finding, the legal foundation of federal climate regulation. @penncareylaw.bsky.social professors @cary-coglianese.bsky.social & @shelley-w.bsky.social examine the legal strategy behind EPA's rescission and the court challenges ahead.

Gas prices are set to increase amid Iran war. Here's what we know. What to know about increasing gas prices amid the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and what it means for your wallet.

Spoke to @inquirer.com about energy price impacts of the (illegal, unconstitutional) war in Iran.

@kleinmanenergy.bsky.social

www.inquirer.com/news/nation-...

The Endangerment Finding and the Future of EPA’s Authority Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

In the latest podcast from @kleinmanenergy.bsky.social, my esteemed colleague, Shelley Welton, and I dig into the legal issues underlying EPA’s recent recission of its endangerment finding—and what it means for the future of US climate regulation. kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/commentary/p...

The Future of Power: Cross-Border Grid Interconnection - Kleinman Center for Energy Policy Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

BLOG: As electricity demand rises, interconnected grids are emerging as a model for future sustainable, cost-efficient energy sharing between regions.

Read more from Undergraduate Seminar Fellow Daylia Lian:

Underdog Democrats lean into data center concerns Democrats in particular have seized on the prospect of rising energy costs in the fight for control of Washington and state capitals.

I'm quoted in this @politico.com piece.

@kleinmanenergy.bsky.social

Underdog Democrats lean into data center concerns politi.co/4tTnJEb

Mobilizing Private Capital for the Net-Zero Energy Transition: Lessons from Penn’s Endowment Investment Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

BLOG: As anti-ESG backlash intensifies, can sustainable investing still deliver? Penn’s endowment offers a compelling answer.

Read more from Undergraduate Seminar Fellow Cady Wang:

Join @kleinmanenergy.bsky.social & @vagelosenergy.bsky.social for Energy Week at Penn, now through Friday, 2/27, for a variety of energy-focused events including an e-waste drive, poster session, seminars & more!⚡ energyweek.upenn.edu

It's Energy Week! ⚡🎉

Due to yesterday’s snow day, events are kicking off today. We’re excited to launch a week of events exploring energy research, bold policy conversations, and innovative sustainable solutions.

Check out the schedule and join us! https://energyweek.upenn.edu

Midterm underdogs rally around data center politics Democrats in particular have seized on the prospect of rising energy costs in the fight for control of Washington and state capitals.

Spoke to @eenews.bsky.social/@politico.com about the political implications of data centers.
@kleinmanenergy.bsky.social

www.eenews.net/articles/mid...

❄️ SNOW UPDATE: Due to snow, events on Monday, February 23rd, have been canceled. Please refer to the Energy Week website for the latest information about rescheduled dates.

We hope to see you at an event later this week!

A Petro-Fragile State in a Decarbonizing World: The Case of Venezuela Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

What happens when a petrostate can no longer rely on oil to sustain itself? Venezuela’s crisis exposes the limits of oil-funded governance in a decarbonizing world. Fiscal discipline may stabilize the state, but without stronger non-oil revenues, fragility will persist.

Venezuela’s Oil Revenues and the Challenge of Transitional Governance Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

After Maduro’s removal, Venezuelan oil is flowing—but under U.S. control. As proceeds from sales are deposited in Treasury-controlled accounts Washington must strike a balance: stabilizing a fragile state and preventing humanitarian collapse without entrenching corruption or undermining sovereignty.

When Oil Sanctions Meet Dark Shipping Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

PODCAST: Oil sanctions were meant to restrict exports. Instead, they helped give rise to dark shipping. In this episode of Energy Policy Now, economist Jesús Fernández-Villaverde explains how that adaptation reshaped global energy markets.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get podcasts:

Heat Stress and Urban Resilience: Alternative Cooling Strategies to Combat Extreme Heat in the Urban Environment - Kleinman Center for Energy Policy Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

DIGEST: As heat intensifies in cities, this digest argues that solar-powered open-air cooling shelters can play a critical role in a layered urban cooling strategy—providing resilient, low-energy relief that complements cooling centers and remains operational during power outages.

Read more here:

Amid rising concerns over data centers, Penn’s supercomputer aims for sustainability Located approximately 30 miles from Penn’s campus, Betty was designed to handle artificial intelligence programs that can interpret large datasets and produce increasingly refined results. 

I spoke with The Daily Pennsylvanian about @upenn.edu's supercomputer and data centers.

@kleinmanenergy.bsky.social

www.thedp.com/article/2026...

Here’s how Penn faculty are finding ways to make AI more sustainable In interviews and statements to The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn faculty and researchers discussed the significant economic and environmental impacts of these facilities.

I spoke with The Daily Pennsylvanian about data center development.

@kleinmanenergy.bsky.social

www.thedp.com/article/2026...

Investing in Clean Energy and Pennsylvania's Working Families Close out Energy Week at Penn with a discussion of labor's vision for Pennsylvania's clean energy future.

ENERGY WEEK EVENT: What does a worker-centered clean energy transition look like in PA?

Join us Feb 27 for an in-person panel on Investing in Clean Energy and Pennsylvania’s Working Families — covering good jobs, labor standards, energy communities, and what a just transition really means.

Facing $32 million in federal cuts, Austin looks to self-fund rooftop solar At a time when federal support for renewables is on a downward spiral, Austin has managed to invest in rooftop solar.

I spoke with @keatonpeters.bsky.social of @san.com about the impact of the current regime's cancelling Federal funding for clean energy.

@kleinmanenergy.bsky.social

san.com/cc/facing-32...

Why Utilities Are Trading Peaker Plants for Batteries Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

BLOG: Utilities are retiring gas peaker plants in favor of battery storage as policy reshapes peak power markets. This blog examines how the IRA’s standalone storage tax credit and state capacity reforms are driving utility investment, and what policy gaps still limit batteries’ role on the grid.

Mexico, Master of Nearshoring? New Reforms Balance Sovereignty, Reliability, and Geopolitics Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

BLOG: Mexico’s energy reforms under Pres. Sheinbaum are redefining who controls the grid—just as electricity shortages and nearshoring send demand surging. Can a state-led model deliver reliability and sovereignty without derailing decarbonization?

Read more from Undergrad Fellow Aarit Bhatnagar:

Powering Farms or Draining Aquifers? Solar Irrigation and the Hidden Costs of Clean Energy Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

BLOG: In water-scarce regions, solar-powered groundwater pumping boosts farm productivity but, by eliminating pumping costs, also accelerates groundwater depletion.

How PJM Is Grappling With Data Center Power Demand Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

PODCAST: How do you accommodate massive new sources of electricity demand without putting reliability or consumer costs at risk? That question sits at the center of PJM’s new proposal to address AI data center load. We explore on the latest episode of Energy Policy Now.

New Pennsylvania Law Aims to Protect Ratepayers from Speculative Data Center Demand Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

PA's new Load Forecast Accountability Act tackles a $9B problem: utilities making speculative bets on data-center demand that raise electricity costs. The law lets regulators validate projections before they inflate prices, shielding ratepayers from paying for infrastructure that never materializes.

The Future of Spent Nuclear Fuel in the U.S. Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

BLOG: Amid an executive order to restart commercial reprocessing and recycling of spent nuclear fuel and a federal push for economically viable transmutation, the need for a community-focused pathway to deep geologic storage remains.

Read more from Undergraduate Seminar Fellow Makenna Damhorst:

What Spain Teaches Us About Climate Change and Cultural Heritage Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

BLOG: From floods to wildfires, Spain’s World Cultural Heritage Sites are in danger. Discover how climate change threatens cultural memory—and what Spain is doing to defend it before it’s too late.

Read more from Undergraduate Seminar Fellow Irene Antón Piolanti:

The Climate Emergency Inside Hospitals Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

BLOG: Healthcare systems must decarbonize while building the energy resilience necessary to protect patients during climate disasters, a dual imperative supported by new federal "direct pay" incentives.

Read more from Undergraduate Seminar Fellow Claire Zhang:

Planning the Grid in an Age of Uncertain Demand Growth - Kleinman Center for Energy Policy Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

PODCAST: Electricity demand growth driven by AI data centers is arriving faster than many planning frameworks were designed to handle. Energy Policy Now explores how grid governance may need to evolve in response.