A think tank producing rigorous, accessible data for advocates, policymakers, & the public.

Clarity and perspective
on state climate policy.

Data scientists

who speak advocacy.

WHO we ARE

Juan-Pablo Velez

Executive Director

former Staff ML Engineer

Max Shron

Director of Research

former Senior Director of Data

Climate progress is now up to the states.

Advocates win state climate policy.

But there's a data vacuum.

THE PROBLEM

Result: advocates flying blind, struggling against fossil fuel misinformation.

What we do

Data reports that help

advocates win ambitious 

state climate policy.

data report

advocates

state climate policy

all-electric new construction across New York State

Question: will new all-electric homes save money against fossil fuels?

Answer: $900 a year,
on average.

impact

covered by..

CASE STUDY #1

“By showing that all-electric new buildings save money,

the report gave advocates a winning narrative for the 2023 legislative

session—and reputable sources to back it up.

liz moran, EARTHJUSTICE


                            was instrumental in getting New York to become the first

state to pass an all-electric new construction mandate into law.”

 

States run by Democrats make up 43% of the US economy.

THE opportunity

By accelerating clean
energy deployment, they
can drop costs worldwide.

Our open data models

are re-usable nationwide.

how we scale

building decarb model

Foundation support keeps costs low for advocates.

      's open-source, non-profit data infrastructure supports campaigns in dozens ​of states.

Advocates keep asking for data on these policies.

       is building set of open data models in 2025, across three distinct program areas.

Many states are focused on building decarbonization.

'25 focus: buildings

  • Accelerate Electrification
     
  • Transition the Gas System
     
  • Right-size the Grid

Building decarb programs

web                  switch.box

bsky             @switch.box

mail       jpv@switch.box


  • Sticks: mandating transition
    all-electric new construction
    building performance standards
    appliance standards

1. Accelerate electrification

  • Carrots: making heat pumps affordable
    up-front incentives
    hp-friendly rates
    weatherization
  • Non-pipeline-alternatives & zonal electrification
    how many pipe replacement projects could instead fund heat pumps?
    how close would this get us to a managed transition?

2. TRANSITION THE GAS SYSTEM

  • Utility thermal energy networks
    individual vs. network vs. district geo: what works where?
  • Peak-shaving technologies
    geothermal
    thermal storage

3. right-size the grid

  • Rate reform
    can cost-reflective rates for EVs and HPs slow peak growth?
    can rates enable deployment of peak-shaving technologies?
  • Demand flexibility
    can incentives & EV batteries make demand flexible during cold snaps?

data report

advocates

state climate policy

heat pump affordability

Question: how many NY households could lower their bills by installing heat pumps?

Answer: 83%. 
But half would need
to weatherize first.

CASE STUDY #2

Our report's proposed
heat pump & weatherization incentives inspire new bill

impact