Business group supports proposal to speed permitting for clean energy infrastructure, urges simultaneous focus on regional collaboration
SACRAMENTO, CA, May 19, 2023 – National business group Advanced Energy United reacted to Governor Newsom’s announcement of proposed legislation to simplify the evaluation process for prioritized electricity transmission and clean energy projects. State agencies resoundingly agree that California needs to expand clean energy at a record-breaking pace over the next couple decades, including upgrading and building the transmission lines necessary to electrify buildings and electric vehicles and deliver affordable energy over larger distances.
“We are excited by this leadership from the Governor’s Office, paralleling existing discussions in the Legislature, that California is committed to doubling down on tackling the structural challenges that have long impeded timely development of new clean energy,” said Leah Rubin Shen, Managing Director at Advanced Energy United, the national business association of companies working to achieve 100% clean energy and electrified transportation in America. “Keeping our grid affordable and achieving our climate ambitions requires practical reforms to how clean energy and transmission infrastructure are evaluated and approved, as well as a stronger commitment to collaborating with other Western states on shared reliability challenges.”
Advanced Energy United is calling on state leaders to remove roadblocks to new in-state clean energy infrastructure and speed up interconnection. Doing so will pave the way for substantial new jobs and private investment while also maximizing California’s ability to put federal funding to work. Removing redundancy in the review process should make it easier to build the clean energy projects we need while also protecting the state’s strong environmental standards.
“This is the moment for policymakers to act, given the reality that our current clean energy and transmission siting processes are incapable of meeting the scale and ambition we need to keep the lights on,” added Rubin Shen. “In addition to dramatically increasing our in-state build, state leaders need to take steps now to productively engage with our neighbors in helping shape a West-wide regional transmission organization. Moving simultaneously on both tracks will help reduce the impact on household energy bills and limit blackout events when families are left in the dark.”
Advanced Energy United looks forward to engaging with the legislature and the Governor’s Office on the details over the coming weeks.
Click here to learn more about Advanced Energy United's work in California advocating for 100% clean energy and electrified transportation.