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Past Issues
The Ad Hoc Gist: It’s the Great Heat Pump, Charlie Brown
Since there’s nothing new to write about the election at this point, this month’s Gist is on a more practical and less emotional topic — heat pumps.
We’re now in heating season in much of the country, which is a good time to consider replacing that old gas or oil furnace. Enter heat pumps — the worst named, but most practical way to electrify your home heating system and get off of fossil heat.
However, those who believe the market is ready for massive heat pump uptake are living in a fantasy. The tech works, but, as you’ll learn from the lived experience of the Ad Hoc team, the customer experience remains a mess. We can and must do better!
The Ad Hoc Gist: One State’s Climate Firewall
With all the focus on the presidential election, it can be easy to lose sight of how aggressively several states are advancing a climate agenda. Washington State under Governor Jay Inslee – perhaps the most climate-forward governor in the country – stands out.
In this month’s Gist, we dig into Inslee’s legacy and leadership on climate and equity with his Senior Climate Advisor (and my former Opower teammate), Anna Lising. She talks about what Washington is doing on climate and energy policy that other states should follow. I’ll also be interviewing Anna and other state leaders at NYC Climate Week.
The Ad Hoc Gist: 531 Electric Miles to Maine
Our first Gist came out four years ago this month and was about the potential slowdown in EV sales due to Covid. In 2020, U.S. drivers purchased 330,000 EVs. They purchased just as many in Q2 of this year alone. We still have a ways to go, but it’s progress.
In late July, I took a road trip with my family in our new silver Rivian RS1 from Virginia to Maine to test out the Tesla Supercharger network, newly opened to Rivian drivers. In this month’s Gist, I share the tale and what it means for the EV market.