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By Christine Scanlan and Tom Hassenboehler
Maybe you’ve noticed, the internet revolution isn’t just about the internet anymore. Today, data, software, and digital communications technologies are permeating every sector of our economy—from agriculture and manufacturing to transportation and energy. For the first time, energy consumers can access their energy data and take a more active role in driving demand for increased transparency, sustainability, competition, and choice.
Government has always played a fundamental role in energy. But today, trends like decentralization, ubiquitous connectivity, and embedded automation are reshaping the energy system. In response, policymakers must rethink the role of government in achieving energy and environmental goals.
The Energy Consumer-Market Alignment Project (EC-MAP) is a new venue to build policy maps for an energy future where digital technologies drive greater transparency, fair competition, and consumer choice—and where policy enables innovation instead of creating market barriers. EC-MAP is operating in collaboration with the Keystone Policy Center, which was founded with a mission to independently facilitate the resolution of national policy conflicts. Now more than ever, we need those skills to navigate the future of energy policy.
Together, we have a shared vision for a process to harness new ideas and creative minds to identify the technology pathways and public policies needed to accelerate and capture the benefits of this new era. Here’s what that means.
First, it means getting smarter about crosscutting digital tools and platforms that analyze, optimize, and monetize data in new ways. That’s why we are building a group of digital and policy advisors that represent experts not just in electricity markets and transportation fuels but also in blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things. To design policy for a digital energy future, we need input from across sectors.
Second, it means creating a comprehensive and detailed inventory of the policy and regulatory barriers to change. Much of today’s energy policy was designed for an analog world. Further, not all regulators have the resources necessary to determine how digital tools could make regulatory compliance and enforcement more effective. Our foundational white papers on transportation, electricity, and industrial supply chains set a framework for these discussions.
Third, it means engaging with a diversity of stakeholders—old, new, right, and left—to ask some tough but necessary questions. Questions like: Is it time to rethink policies under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and Federal Power Act? What are viable alternatives to the typical mandates, subsidies, and taxes? Can consumer choice lead to greater emissions reductions than regulation alone? How can digital tools empower consumers to make energy choices that are best for them? How do we translate consumer preferences into market signals that can unlock new business models and new capital?
Do we have all the answers? Of course not, no one does. But we are excited to embark on a journey to find them, and hopefully have some fun along the way.
We believe the era of energy digitalization is inevitable. The critical question is, will government accelerate or impede its benefits? If we can set aside longstanding rivalries and outdated thinking of the past, we can harness the power of innovation to benefit consumers, the environment, and our digital energy future.
Christine Scanlan is President and CEO of the Keystone Policy Center. Tom Hassenboehler is Founder and Executive Director of EC-MAP.
Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, became the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack is focusing on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
Shelby Coffey III is a distinguished journalist, media executive, and thought leader whose career has helped shape the landscape of American news and public discourse. Over several decades, Coffey has held some of the most influential roles in journalism, including serving as editor of the Los Angeles Times, executive vice president of ABC News, and deputy managing editor of The Washington Post. His editorial leadership extended to key roles as president of CNN Financial News, editor of the Dallas Times Herald, and U.S. News & World Report.
Jerry Steiner has spent 40 years involved in agriculture following growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm. He began his career with Monsanto, in multiple business leadership roles. From 2003-2013 he served as a member of the Executive team, as the company’s Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs. He led the company’s global Government, Public and Industry Affairs teams across the 70 countries where Monsanto conducts business. This experience got Jerry connected to the Keystones centers work in agriculture. Key among his responsibilities were shaping the company’s public policy and building partnerships aimed at helping farmers around the world produce more food, while conserving valuable resources like water and energy. Two unique partnership that developed under his leadership were drought tolerant corn with 5 African countries, CIMMYT and the Gates foundation, and a building a sustainable business model in Brazil with the value chain leading to significant multi-company investment and soybean varieties that can protected themselves.
Jennifer Morris is the Chief Executive Officer of The Nature Conservancy, leading a team of nearly 6,000 staff working in more than 80 countries and territories tackling the dual crises of the 
Congressman Joe Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to his first term in November 2018, becoming the first Black Member of Congress in Colorado history. In December 2022, Rep. Neguse was elected by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), becoming the first Coloradan to serve in a senior elected leadership role in the House in over 85 years. He serves on the Natural Resources and Judiciary Committees, and was also appointed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to serve as one of four Democrats on the prestigious Rules Committee. Rep. Neguse serves as Ranking Member on the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, which he previously Chaired in the 117th Congress.
Llewellyn King was born in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. He went into journalism as soon as he turned 16, stringing for Time magazine and United Press in Africa.
Steven Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America, overseeing a more than $48 billion business that spans PepsiCo’s Foods and Beverage operating units. His leadership encompasses more than 125,000 associates and over 900 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Steven joined PepsiCo in 2001 as part of PepsiCo’s acquisition of the Quaker Oats Company, which he joined in 1997, and has held leadership positions of increased responsibility since.