Edwards finds that repairs to natural gas distribution system don’t always work

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For the network of pipelines that bring natural gas to homes throughout the U.S., leaks are an ongoing challenge. Repairing those leaks can lead to safety and climate benefits by reducing the amount of methane (a potent greenhouse gas) released into the atmosphere. But a new study led by La Follette School Assistant Professor Morgan Edwards found these repairs are not always successful, leaving some of the potential benefits of leak repair on the table.

Tapping innovative balance of power, microreactors could enhance energy resilience

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“The main finding of our study is that if microreactor vendors can reach their goals for total costs, and if they rely on low-interest government financing rather than private financing, then microreactors could be economically competitive against natural gas and increase the energy resilience of certain government facilities,” says Paul Wilson, the Grainger Professor of Nuclear Engineering at UW-Madison who led the study.

Roald to use NSF CAREER Award to optimize risk mitigation in electric distribution grids

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Roald will use the five-year, $500,000 grant to develop risk assessment methods to quantify short-term operational risk to electric distribution grids.

EAP Exchange: How do Microreactors Change the Conversation about Nuclear Energy?

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The last 5 years have seen a rapid growth in the interest of private companies in developing micro-scale nuclear reactors. With power levels in the 1–10 MW range, these reactors target completely different markets from traditional large centralized nuclear reactors and come with a very different business model. While the technical details of these reactors …

EAP Awards Early 2021 Student Scholarships

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Congratulations to Samantha Jurvich, Maitreyee Marathe, and Zachary Thomas, who were selected as early awardees of the 2021 EAP Student Scholarships. We look forward to their involvement in the Energy Analysis & Policy program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison throughout the coming years! The 2021 round of EAP scholarships is made possible by the generosity …

Meet EAP Student Emma Heins

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Emma Heins is a graduate student in EAP and the La Follette School of Public Affairs, where she is studying environmental policy with a focus in public health outcomes in low income communities. Emma serves as the At-Large Graduate Student Representative on UW–Madison's Sustainability Advisory Council, helping to shape the future of campus's advancements on sustainability.

Professor Tracey Holloway Bridges Science, Policy, Public Health

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For atmospheric scientist Tracey Holloway, it’s all about connection. Connections between research and policy, connections between air quality and health, and interpersonal connections have driven Holloway, a professor in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, throughout her career.

EAP Exchange: What Went Wrong in Texas? Wisconsin Experts Discuss the Recent Devastating Failure of the Energy System

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On Friday, February 26, 2021, the Energy Analysis and Policy program hosted the first EAP Exchange webinar: “What Went Wrong in Texas? Wisconsin Experts Discuss the Recent Devastating Failure of the Energy System.” Sharing their insights on this topic were: We encourage attendees to consider donating to support people who are affected by the Texas power …

EAP Alum Rachel Slaybaugh (’11) Chosen to Lead Berkeley Lab’s Cyclotron Road

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The Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has named Rachel Slaybaugh, associate professor of nuclear engineering at UC Berkeley, to lead Berkeley Lab’s Cyclotron Road Division. The announcement follows an international search.

Article from The Hill on EV Charging Stations Quotes EAP Alum Susan Mudd (’83)

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“There is still a cost differential [between] electric vehicles and gas vehicles. And unfortunately, the market presumption is to mostly go to wealthier majority-white neighborhoods and communities. We need to address both the charging and the vehicles in terms of more equity,” Susan Mudd, a senior policy advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center, told Energy News.