What electric forklifts teach us about creative policy [partner content]
Wes Whited and Angie Ziech-Malek, consultants at DNV, discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is accelerating the electrification of industrial equipment, using electric forklifts as a primary case study for utility program design. They explain how utilities can leverage federal rebates and change cost-effectiveness frameworks to overcome customer barriers like first cost, while also highlighting the emerging potential of heat pump water heaters and industrial heat pumps. The conversation covers the critical role of states in shifting from energy savings to greenhouse gas impact metrics and the necessity of public-private partnerships to meet decarbonization goals.