Grace BrownSenior Analyst

Portrait of Grace Brown

Grace Brown is a senior analyst with the Pembina Institute's electricity program. Her work focuses on regulatory reform and utility business model innovation to enable a reliable, affordable, and equitable electricity system. Prior to joining the Pembina Institute, Grace worked in the solar energy industry in the U.S. and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two years in Sichuan, China. She currently serves on the board of Solar Alberta.
 
Grace holds an MA in international development with a concentration in environmental policy from the University of Denver and a bachelor's degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. In her free time, she can be found exploring new hiking and camping spots with her husband, toddler, and dog, or attempting to recreate tasty recipes from her travels.


Contact Grace Brown

email: graceb@pembina.org

Grace Brown's Recent Publications

Cover of Transforming the Utility Business Model

Transforming the Utility Business Model Options to improve services and opportunities for clean energy in remote communities

Publication April 8, 2022- By Emily He, Grace Brown, Dave Lovekin
Canada’s commitment to transitioning remote communities off diesel power is hampered by the way utilities operate in those areas. While the number of clean energy projects has increased, renewables are not being implemented at the speed and scale needed to meet climate commitments, while Indigenous energy proponents lack opportunities to implement projects. Our report presents alternative business models that can be adopted by utilities to support climate action and Indigenous-led clean energy.
Cover of Supporting Workers and Communities with a photo of a Canadian small town

Supporting Workers and Communities in a Coal Phase-out Lessons learned from just transition efforts in Canada

Publication Jan. 27, 2022- By Grace Brown, Binnu Jeyakumar

Phasing out energy generated by coal is central to achieving Canada’s target of net-zero electricity sector emissions by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050. But as Canada transitions to clean energy to deliver on these commitments, coal workers and local communities will be highly vulnerable to potential job losses and economic hardship. However, our report shows that clean energy jobs will rise signficantly offsetting those losses with the right policies and support systems in place.

cover of Progress from Coal to Clean showing electricity lines at sunset

Progress from Coal to Clean Comparing Canadian electric utilities’ approaches to energy transition

Publication Dec. 2, 2021- By Grace Brown, Kaitlin Olmsted, Binnu Jeyakumar

This report charts the progress made by utilities in Canada’s four remaining coal-burning provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia) as they transition from coal to cleaner energy. It explains in detail the indicators used to evaluate utility transition approaches, provides data collection methodology, and presents a narrative of the differing approaches utilities are taking to complete this energy transition.

Cover of From Coal to Clean

From Coal to Clean Canada’s progress toward phasing out coal power

Publication Oct. 19, 2021- By Benjamin Thibault, Binnu Jeyakumar, Grace Brown, Kaitlin Olmsted

Countries, utilities and financial institutions are seeking to phase out coal as part of a commitment to a net-zero economy by 2050, which in developed countries requires a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. This report shows the policies used in Ontario and Alberta can inform the coal phase-out in the Canadian provinces still burning coal, and warns that replacing coal with unabated natural gas could undermine emissions reductions and thwart efforts toward net-zero power by 2035.

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