Advanced Energy Perspectives

The need for new advanced energy generation in Pennsylvania has never been more urgent. PJM’s most recent capacity auction exposed a deep imbalance between supply and demand: prices surged more than sixfold, which means skyrocketing electricity cost increases for consumers are coming in June. Meanwhile, the development of advanced energy projects has been stalled by bureaucratic hurdles and outdated alternative portfolio standards, which plateaued in 2021. 

It is clear that what Pennsylvania needs is a comprehensive plan to modernize the grid and ensure reliable, affordable power for the 21st century. Governor Shapiro’s "Lightning Plan" marks a step in the right direction. While Advanced Energy United strongly supports the full plan, we want to highlight two key bills: RESET (Renewable Energy Standards and Energy Transition Act) and PRESS (Promoting Renewable Energy, Storage, and Sustainability Act) which have the potential to open markets in Pennsylvania.

Last week was an exciting and inspiring time for Advanced Energy United as our team and member companies, including NRG, GoodLeap, Utilidata, Monarch Strategic Ventures, LS Power, DNV Energy Services, Sunrun, Pattern Energy, and CTC Global, proudly engaged at two important national convenings: the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Energy Summit in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

After a robust exchange of testimony, arguments, and briefings among stakeholders, the fate of We Energies’ (WEC) proposal to spend $1.2 billion on a new gas plant – a plant the utility plans to use just 10-20% of the time – now rests with the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin. Formal proceedings before the PSC concluded on April 11, and a decision is expected in the coming weeks.

Last summer, when temperatures soared past 100 degrees, thousands of New Mexicans worried whether their power would stay on. Thankfully, our grid held up. But extreme heat and unpredictable weather are becoming a recurring challenge, and no one should have to live in fear of losing power when they need it most. 

New Mexico is one of the first states in the nation to pass legislation requiring the use of advanced transmission technologies, thanks to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signing of House Bill (HB) 93. This forward-thinking legislation is a big step toward upgrading our grid and ensuring reliable and affordable energy for all New Mexicans.

The Maryland General Assembly’s 2025 regular session adjourned sine die at the stroke of midnight Tuesday, April 8th, closing out what many dubbed “The Energy Session.”

Advanced Energy United’s Maryland policy team was on the ground, making the case that advanced energy technologies are the fastest, most cost-effective path to meet the state’s energy needs. The result? A session that brought some incremental progress but also served as a missed opportunity to implement real solutions that would give ratepayers much needed relief and address existing grid challenges. Here are some of the highlights from the 2025 session, starting with where we saw positive movement: