Mike Henchen works to decarbonize U.S. buildings through electrification of heating and other end uses. He led two key reports – The Impact of Fossil Fuels in Buildings, providing a crash course in direct building emissions, and The Economics of Electrifying Buildings, emphasizing the opportunity to decarbonize buildings by transitioning away from fossil fuel consumption on site. He has also worked with RMI’s Puerto Rico team to support a resilient, affordable, clean electricity system there. His other work has focused on innovative customer programs at utilities and the changing utility business model.
Background
Before joining RMI, Mike was an engagement manager for McKinsey and Company in San Francisco. He worked primarily in the electric power sector serving major utilities on operations and strategy projects. Before this, Mike served as an officer in the US Army, deploying to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division in 2008-2009. Mike holds an MBA from Stanford University and a BS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.
Education
MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business
B.Sc., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Location
Boulder, CO
Why I Love Working At RMI
“I am inspired to work toward solutions that build a sustainable energy future while also supporting a dynamic energy system that helps customers, businesses, and communities meet their goals.”
Authored Works
Blog
US Can’t Meet Climate Goals While Spending Billions on Gas Infrastructure
Continued growth in gas infrastructure spending—especially the local distribution systems that bring gas to homes and businesses—are counterproductive to a safe and sustainable climate future.
Blog
Building Electrification: A Key to a Safe Climate Future
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is clear: in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, the world must dramatically reduce its carbon emissions and prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5°C. To achieve this, we must halve carbon emissions by 2030 and aim to fully decarbonize…
Blog
Colorado Won’t Meet Climate Goals without Swift Action on Buildings
Colorado officials recently released their long-awaited draft Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap, laying out a path toward achieving the state’s goals of a 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and 90 percent by 2050. The roadmap takes stock of Colorado’s emissions across sectors, such as transportation, electricity,…
Blog
After Pipeline Rejection, New York Must Chart a New Energy Path
In May, the State of New York put an end to the $1.4 billion Northeast Supply Enhancement gas pipeline into New York City by denying a crucial water permit. Now state leaders have an opportunity to pursue the efficiency and electrification solutions that can both ensure reliable energy supply and…
insight
Regulatory Solutions for Building Decarbonization
The old model of utility regulation is not conducive to an all-electric future and the scope of change needed is broad. To help inform that evolution, this report offers a framework for the comprehensive regulatory reforms required to transition to clean energy in the US building sector, along with more than 40 specific recommendations for action.
Blog
Implementing Puerto Rico’s Energy Transformation
Just a couple of months ago, deadly earthquakes in Puerto Rico’s south coast destroyed homes and public buildings and damaged a major power plant. This, coming after the 2017 devastating hurricane season, highlights the continued challenges of the island’s current grid and difficulty of planning for the future. Fortunately, early…
Blog
New York Can Meet Its Energy Needs without a New Pipeline
A prolonged battle over a natural gas pipeline in New York is presenting state officials with a critical decision point and an opportunity to establish themselves as national leaders in climate action. In contrast to utility National Grid’s proposal to build a $1 billion gas pipeline to serve customers in…
Blog
A New Approach to America’s Rapidly Aging Gas Infrastructure
Spending on America’s Gas Systems Has Grown Dramatically in Recent Years Across the United States, the utilities that provide natural gas to homes and businesses have rapidly increased total spending, tripling from roughly $5 billion per year to $15 billion between 2009 and 2017, according to data from the American…