SEPA launches new initiatives, appoints Garrett Fitzgerald as new Principal

The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) has expanded its reach to include other areas of electrification — notably building electrification.

SEPA appointed Garrett Fitzgerald as the new Principal, electrification, to lead the organization’s effort. Fitzgerald spent eight years at Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), where he led the RMI electricity program in India to accelerate the integration of electric vehicles and clean energy portfolios. He also managed the Fleet Electrification program, co-led the EV-Grid initiative, and was engaged in work related to energy storage, distributed solar, and load flexibility.

Energy consumed in buildings and transportation contributes to nearly two-thirds of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, electrification will play a crucial role in meeting carbon reduction goals. Widespread electrification will profoundly impact electric distribution systems and require new technology, policies, and investments.

“Transitioning our buildings and vehicles from direct burning of fossil fuels to low- or no-carbon electricity is critical. With thoughtful planning and coordination, the electrification of our buildings and transportation systems can lower costs, increase grid reliability and resilience, and deliver major environmental benefits,” Fitzgerald said. “I am truly honored to join the SEPA team at this pivotal time to lead our efforts in electrification and chart a path to a carbon-free energy future.”

Further, SEPA announced a new partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to help industry stakeholders better understand the technology, policies, and investments needed to enable wide-spread electrification. Its Stakeholders Guide to Electrification will convene industry stakeholders to identify gaps in industry knowledge and develop educational content.

“Our goal is to cut through the hype around electrification to get to the heart of the opportunities and challenges,” Jared Leader, manager of industry strategy at SEPA, said. “By curating a resource library of educational materials and delivering digestible multimedia content accessible for all stakeholders, the Guide will allow practitioners to drill down from the big picture to in-depth technical, economic, and policy information.”