Union of Concerned Scientists

The Union of Concerned Scientists, a national nonprofit organization, uses rigorous, independent science to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. The union works to advance equitable and sustainable transportation electrification of both passenger and heavy-duty vehicles; improve access to low- and zero-carbon mobility options beyond electric vehicles; and promote guardrails in policies to decarbonize transportation fuels, while planning for petroleum phaseout. (Substrategy: Electrification)

The Kendall Science Fellows Program was established in 2010 to foster innovative and exploratory analysis on emerging, policy-relevant technical issues and to enhance science dialogue among NGOs by engaging a diverse group of both early-career and senior scientists from academia and other sectors. This grant is to the Union of Concerned Scientists to develop two sets of policies with regards to the California Renewable Energy Standard. First, what are the policies that will be necessary to ensure the California meets it Renewable energy goals in a low cost manner. Second, while Renewable Energy Standards have been remarkably effective in promoting renewable energy, there need to be a new set of policy frameworks that go beyond the RES. This grant seeks to develop that framework. Specifically, the grant will fund a fellowship at UCS to answer these questions.