Rick Laezman

Los Angeles

Freelance Writer at Electrical Contractor

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Director, local governmental relations, California Association of REALTORS

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Articles

Northeast States Planning for Increased Transmission

1 week ago | ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Rick Laezman

Grid operators are striving to address increased demand and other challenges across the country. In the Northeast, officials have come together to coordinate their efforts. In July 2024, several states signed a memorandum of understanding to form the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission (Collaborative). The purpose of the agreement was to coordinate enhanced interregional transmission planning and development.
Clean Energy Adds Capacity, Challenges Just in Time for Summer

2 weeks ago | ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Rick Laezman

States across the country have dramatically increased their generating capacity from renewable sources, which will help them face the coming demands from summer heat. This clean power will also add a new layer of challenges during periods when the weather is extreme. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is the regulatory authority that oversees the continent’s electric grid, ensuring reliability and efficiency in the areas it regulates.
More Data Centers Coming to Midwest and East Coast States

3 weeks ago | ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Rick Laezman

As the use of artificial intelligence expands its reach in society, the demand for data centers and the energy they consume is increasing rapidly across the country. Chicago-based Exelon is one of the nation’s largest utility companies. It serves nearly 11 million customers with six different transmission and distribution utilities covering five states and the District of Columbia.
Electrification Lowers Costs of Building Decarbonization

1 month ago | ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Rick Laezman

Reducing emissions from buildings has attracted increased attention in the effort to stop climate change. Finding the best strategy remains a challenge. A new study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) concludes that electrification may be the most cost-effective approach. “The Potential for Alternative Fuels in Building Decarbonization” was published on April 30.
Community Solar Contributes Low-Cost Power Plus Jobs

1 month ago | ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Rick Laezman

Community solar projects are providing clean, affordable electricity in states around the country. According to a recent study, they are contributing other benefits, too.
Wind and Solar Outpace Coal

1 month ago | ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Rick Laezman

Since renewable energy sources first became commercially viable, they have been chasing fossil fuels. Last year marked a milestone—for the first time in their history, wind and solar exceeded coal in the total mix of U.S. electricity production. The global energy think-tank, Ember, released its U.S. Electricity 2025 – Special Report in March. One insight from the report focuses on the total generation from wind and solar compared to coal.
Setting Sail to Clean Shipping

1 month ago | theearthandi.org | Rick Laezman

As the fight against global warming intensifies, more industries are joining the fray. In the shipping industry, this means adopting any number of innovations, including wind-aided technologies. This does not mean modern seafaring vessels will return to the massive sails and giant masts of centuries past. Instead, it involves a hybrid approach using modern technological advances that harness the power of the wind to complement and improve the efficiency of combustion engines.
Homeowners Want to Reduce Their Carbon Footprint But Don’t Know How

1 month ago | ecmag.com | Rick Laezman

The world recognizes the need to cut energy consumption and the emissions it produces. Homeowners are no exception. However, they aren’t getting it done. Electrical equipment manufacturer Schneider Electric, Boston, Mass., recently released the results of a global study it conducted on the subject. The results show homeowners value reducing emissions by cutting their energy consumption, but at the same time, they are not using all the tools at their disposal to make that happen.
New England States Ready for Low-Cost Connection to Offshore Wind

2 months ago | ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Rick Laezman

While offshore wind faces uncertainty in the current political climate, existing infrastructure and clean power demand continue to buoy its potential growth. The “2050 Transmission Study: Offshore Wind Analysis” report from the Independent System Operator (ISO) New England Inc. released on March 21 showed some positive findings for offshore wind.
State Investment in Energy Efficiency Breaks New Ground

2 months ago | ecmag.com | Rick Laezman

Energy efficiency has become one of the pillars of the effort to combat climate change. While it promises great savings in the long run, the technology requires significant upfront investment to launch. According to the 2025 Energy Efficiency Scorecard, announced on March 18, 2025, from the American Council on an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), many states are investing heavily in energy efficiency. In fact, their investments have reached a record high.