The staff of the Washington DC office of NARUC includes a Grants & Research Department that obtains federal and charitable funding to engage in research programs in conjunction with NARUC's Committees on Electricity, Energy Resources and the Environment, Gas, Water, and Critical Infrastructure. These programs have historically been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as private charities like the Joyce Foundation and the Energy Foundation.
The Grants staff creates, funds, and runs projects using research, writing, and facilitated in-person, teleconference and online dialogues that provide answers to questions Commissioners face in their decision-making. These projects currently address policy questions surrounding electric transmission, natural gas supply, LNG, energy efficiency, wind, solar, and coal-fired generation, and infrastructure and cybersecurity issues for the energy, water, and telecommunications sectors
American Reinvestment and Recovery (ARRA) NARUC has received funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support training and consulting support to Commissions on issues such as energy efficiency, aggregated net metering, and smart grid.
Carbon Capture and Storage Through this effort, the Grants & Research Department is helping State and Federal officials to understand regulatory and technology opportunities and challenges that will affect the implementation of clean coal resources.
Critical Infrastructure NARUC has entered in to a second contract with the US Department of Homeland Security to identify appropriate roles for regulatory commissions with respect to the security of the nation's critical utility infrastructures.
Eastern Interconnection States Planning Council (EISPC) NARUC is acting as an umbrella organization for a funding application to DOE to support State coordination, involvement and direction-setting for the Eastern Interconnection planning efforts.
Energy Assurance and Emergency Preparedness This project focuses on education and training of commissioners on critical infrastructure, analysis and implementation of energy assurance recommendations, and building partnerships between State and Federal agencies.
ERE Support This project supported by a grant from the EPA addresses five areas targeting greenhouse gas emissions reductions through market-based energy efficiency and clean energy measures through staff and commissioner training and education.
Liquefied Natural Gas Enviromental and Safety Issues NARUC is working with State and Federal officials to examine issues associated with the accelerated development of liquefied natural gas facilities, and fire suppression technologies.
National Council on Electricity Policy NARUC coordinates this collaboration between State-based organizations - NCSL, NGA, NASEO, NACAA and NARUC to assist policymakers with the challenges posed by the 21st century electric system.
Solar Energy Through a grant from the Department of Energy, NARUC engages commissioners and staff to explore rate designs, incentive structures, RPS, and other issues that relate to the deployment of solar energy in the United States.
