Climate Action Opportunities
The transition to a lower carbon economy is bringing change to all markets TRC serves. Economic and environmental interests are shifting domestic fuel supplies toward natural gas and renewables. This shift, along with energy efficiency and new technologies, is driving capital spending and offers cleaner energy opportunities. At the same time, severe weather events and other climate impacts, including droughts and deluges, are expected to increase over time. Helping our clients navigate these changes brings opportunity in some of the areas we are strongest:
> > Renewable Energy: Support for renewable energy projects( particularly solar and wind) including siting and permitting, geotechnical characterization and engineering, civil design and engineering, power system studies and interconnection, construction monitoring, and compliance services is expected to continue to grow, due to tax credit extensions, demand from state renewable portfolio standards, and rapidly declining costs.
> > New Technologies: Growth in the deployment of more distributed generation resources, along with the development of new technologies such as microgrids and energy storage, is expected in order to more efficiently match supply and demand.
> > Energy Efficiency: Greenhouse gas reduction goals drive TRC’ s energy efficiency services, including developing and managing state supported energy efficiency programs, as well as portfolio energy efficiency programs for a spectrum of end users such as commercial office buildings, hospitality chains, educational facilities, residential complexes, industrial buildings and military installations.
> > Natural Gas: Decommissioning of coal-fired power plants and all aspects of the natural gas marketplace, particularly pipelines, continues to grow as energy sources transition from coal to natural gas.
> > Security: Many power sector clients have begun to invest in improved physical and cybersecurity programs intended to assure better system performance during extreme weather or other catastrophic events.
> > Transport: Increased fuel efficiency and electrification of vehicles, along with the continued reduction of fuel tax revenue, are driving shifts in transportation infrastructure capital spending and presenting specific infrastructure planning and design opportunities – particularly in design activities related to“ complete streets” and roundabouts.
> > Infrastructure Design: Changing weather patterns and temperature extremes may drive change in bridge design codes over time and generate a need for bridge rehabilitation design and inspection support. More frequent or severe flooding can raise the 100-year stream flow, necessitating additional scour countermeasures or, in some cases, raising of bridges to create sufficient freeboard.
> > Emergency Response: Severe weather events generate a greater need for TRC storm damage assessment teams who provide distribution and engineering support to our utility clients. These teams mobilize to assess damage along the distribution circuit and provide support for restoration efforts.
> > Adaptation and Resiliency: Investment strategies in response to severe weather events, the threat of rising sea levels, and ongoing drought conditions, are driving needs for sustainable infrastructure, asset hardening, contingency planning and related services.
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