AEE Calls on Trump Transition Team to Modernize Electric Power System

AEE Calls on Trump Transition Team to Modernize the Electric Power System as Part of Rebuilding Infrastructure, Accelerate Utility Business Model Transformation, and Allow Advanced Energy Technologies to Compete
Wherever They Can Meet Objectives 

Business group offers broad themes and specific recommendations for the new administration to consider as ways to promote secure, clean, affordable energy; new choices for customers; and robust investment and job growth

[Washington, D.C., November 9, 2016] —Today Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national business association, sent a memo to the Transition Team for President-Elect Trump outlining ways to usher in a new era of secure, clean, affordable energy. As the new Administration prepares to take office, AEE provided recommendations to spur private investment, support job creation, improve grid reliability, and drive down costs for consumers. 

“Our energy system is going through a transformational change in response to new technologies, new consumer preferences, and new challenges,” said Graham Richard, CEO of AEE. “Advanced energy can deliver greater reliability, savings in energy costs, and a cleaner energy system for the 21st century. The advanced energy industry can contribute to the many urgent needs facing our country, and we look forward to working with President Trump to deliver an advanced energy future for the nation.”

In its memo, AEE presented three key themes for the Transition Team to consider:

• Modernize the electric power system as part of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure. While spending on transmission and distribution is increasing, grid reliability is declining, just as new capabilities are needed. The Administration should target energy infrastructure investment to increase reliability at lowest cost to consumers. Investment opportunities include, but are not limited to: strategic transmission assets that bring advanced energy generated in remote locations to population centers that need it; non-transmission alternatives that solve electricity delivery problems at lower cost; infrastructure that supports vehicle electrification, which will reduce our dependence on oil; smart meters and advanced grid software that collect and share data to enhance reliability and resilience.

• Transform utility business models to speed up power system progress. For investor-owned utilities and public power authorities to become full partners in creating an advanced energy future, rather than reluctant implementers of policies that conflict with their financial interests, the utility business model – and the regulatory structure that governs it – needs to change. The Administration should take action to help make that happen, at both federal and state levels.

• Allow all technologies to compete in order to achieve objectives. Advanced energy technologies and services solve many problems. They reduce air pollution, increase grid resiliency and reliability, improve the efficiency and reduce the emissions of transportation, and more. But regulations need to be modernized to allow new technologies and services to compete, to allow all technologies to qualify as solutions where they are effective, and to allow companies the option of purchasing advanced energy where and when they want it.

AEE also submitted specific policy recommendations for nine federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The full memo to the Transition Committee is available here.

About Advanced Energy Economy
Advanced Energy Economy is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. Advanced energy encompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best available technologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE’s mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. AEE and its State and Regional Partner organizations are active in 26 states across the country, representing more than 1,000 companies and organizations in the advanced energy industry. Learn more at www.aee.net and @AEEnet.

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