Nathan E. Hultman

Jun 18, 2024 | nature.com | Kathleen Kennedy |Morgan Edwards |Claudia Doblinger |Zachary Thomas |Nathan E. Hultman |Kavita Surana | +2 more

Investment in climate and energy (climate-tech) startups is growing in the US and worldwide, with public grants backing high-risk sectors and publicly funded startups exiting at higher rates with corporate investment. Public policies to incentivize corporate investment in these startups can therefore be an important, yet sometimes underestimated, part of meeting net-zero goals.

Jun 14, 2024 | nature.com | Jiehong Lou |Xingchi Shen |Deb Niemeier |Nathan E. Hultman

Publicly available electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure is pivotal for the United States EV transition by 2030. Existing infrastructure lacks equitably distribution to low-income and underrepresented communities, impeding mass adoption. Our study, utilizing 2021 micro-level data from 121 million United States households, comprehensively examines income and racial disparities in EV infrastructure accessibility. Our analysis of national averages indicates that lower-income groups face less accessibility to public EV infrastructure in both urban and rural geographies. Black households experience less rural accessibility, but greater urban accessibility compared to White households conditioning on income. However, our localized analysis uncovers significant variations in accessibility gaps among counties, rural and urban settings, and dwelling types. While Black households experience greater urban accessibility nationally, a closer look at the county level reveals diminishing advantages. This study identifies areas with pronounced inequality and urgent needs for enhanced accessibility, emphasizing the necessity for tailored solutions by local governments to enhance equitable access to EV infrastructure. This paper finds that on average lower-income groups encounter reduced accessibility to public EV infrastructure in urban and rural areas. Black households have less rural accessibility, but greater urban accessibility compared to White households.

Feb 2, 2024 | thehill.com | Nathan E. Hultman

Ten years ago, more than a year before the Paris Agreement became a reality, two Americans were critical in helping the U.S. pave the way for a historic global climate deal. John Podesta, then-White House Counselor, recognized that a commitment from the US to cut its emissions by 2025 could spark global action.