2.04 On Gaps in Data Access & Balancing Complexity with Nancy LaPlaca

Power Flow

Nancy LaPlaca, J.D., is a regulatory policy consultant who has worked at the cutting edge of regulatory policies that affect clean energy. In 2006, Nancy challenged the permit for a so-called “clean” coal plant with carbon capture and sequestration. Nancy and colleagues helped to stop that boondoggle, as well as other “clean” coal boondoggles around the U.S. Nancy served as Policy Advisor to an AZ Public Utilities Commissioner for 4 years, helped to promote policies that increase solar, energy efficiency and other clean energy solutions. Nancy has worked on natural gas supply and reserve issues, natural gas pipelines, methane leakage, GHG accounting, rate design, renewable portfolio standards, transmission and distribution, power plant permits, Integrated Resource Planning and ethics issues.
Nancy offers a webinar series on the regulatory system for energy and how it affects the clean energy transition at Clean Aire NC.

Nancy has worked extensively with Leslie Glustrom of Clean Energy Action, featured on episode 1.05 of Power Flow ("On Citizen Power for the Climate Crisis.") Leslie's episode inspired Power Flow listener Kelly to create 15minutesaweek.com - to support regular folks getting involved in energy policymaking with a commitment of just 15 minutes per week. Check it out! And get inspired by what the Power Flow community can do!
Quotables:
“They [utility companies] get away with it because so few people know how to access critical but extremely understandable information.” - Nancy LaPlaca

“The reason why I think the utilities are getting away with – literally with murder when you consider how we are murdering the future and killing the planet – is because we need this data. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a due process violation to not make this information available.” - Nancy LaPlaca

“Knowledge is power and data is knowledge.” – Amy Simpkins

“I still remember Leslie [Glustrom] getting escorted out of the room for saying the words ‘climate change.’” - Nancy LaPlaca

“It’s the regulators’ role to be watch dogs, not lap dogs.” - Nancy LaPlaca
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