News

Houston Chronicle covered the decline of the oil market along with challenges, opportunities for renewable energy companies during and after the COVID-19 crisis, quoting AEE's Nat Kreamer. Read excerpts below and the entire Houston Chronicle piece here (sub. req.). 

As a sudden drop in demand decimates the oil industry, international efforts are underway to ride the lull in fossil fuel consumption to expedite the clean up of the world’s energy sector. Even as the coronavirus pandemic keeps countries under lock down, world leaders view the sudden shock to the global economy as an opportunity to reduce reliance on the crude flowing from Texas and other regions and combat climate change.

Utility Dive covered FERC Chair Neil Chatterjee thoughts on how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted power generation sources and its impact moving forward, quoting AEE's Jeff Dennis. Read excerpts below and the entire UD piece here. 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Neil Chatterjee is focused on how the current pandemic might impact current generation sources, and how the power sector will emerge from this crisis, he told Atlantic Council's Energy Advisory Group Chair David Goldwyn during a Zoom-based interview on Tuesday. A top concern is whether reliability will be threatened if some facilities close and can't reopen after the current crisis subsides and power demand rises.

Greentech Media published an opinion piece by AEE's CEO Nat Kreamer on ways to provide relief to advanced energy companies during the COVID-19 crisis. Read excerpts below and the entire GTM piece here. 

The public health crisis of COVID-19 has brought much of the U.S. economy to a halt. While the most visible impacts have been in hotels and restaurants, the advanced energy industry has been hit hard as well. Specific relief that’s needed now can sustain the industry through the crisis and ensure that it is ready to drive economic recovery when the crisis has passed. Best of all, this relief will cost U.S. taxpayers nothing today — and if done right, it will boost U.S. manufacturing tomorrow. What is this simple, no-cost solution? 

Greentech Media covered how the Utility industry, often thought to be immune to economic declines, is facing challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis, quoting AEE's Lisa Frantzis. Read excerpts below and the entire Greentech Media piece here. 

The coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on the U.S. economy, and while electric utilities may be relatively sheltered from the storm that’s overtaking other economic sectors, they are not immune. In the past month, crashing oil prices have roiled international energy markets and pushed some U.S. oil and natural-gas producers to file for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, electricity demand has taken a dive as businesses and factories have closed down under state orders or economic duress, leading the U.S. Energy Information Administration to predict a 3 percent drop in electricity generation over the course of 2020...

MiBiz covered COVID-19's effect on Michigan's clean energy jobs and companies attempt noting AEE's policy recommendation. Read excerpts below and the entire MiBiz piece here. 

The coronavirus has wiped out recent statewide clean energy job gains as Michigan companies take a patchwork approach to continuing work during the pandemic. According to a study released by business and environmental groups this month, the U.S. lost 106,000 clean energy jobs since the outbreak started in March, including 5,446 in Michigan, or 4.1 percent of the state’s clean energy job sector. The report estimates national clean energy job losses could top 500,000, or 15 percent, as new unemployment data become available for the month of April. 

E&E News covered Maryland Public Service Commissioner Jason Stanek's comments on considering exiting Md. from PJM Interconnection's capacity market in response to FERC's MOPR order, quoting AEE's Jeff Dennis. Read excerpts below and the entire E&E News piece here (sub. req.).  

Maryland's top utility regulator said his state is considering exiting PJM Interconnection's capacity market — the nation's largest — in response to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order last year changing the grid operator's pricing mechanisms. "It's hard to say whether [exiting is] a net benefit," Jason Stanek, chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission, said Wednesday on a webinar hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures. "It is not an easy calculus to make, and we're in the midst of that right now..."

Virginia Mercury covered Va. utility regulator conditions for Dominion Energy's proposed renewable energy offering, quoting Virginia AEE's Harry Godfrey. Read excerpts below and the entire Virginia Mercury piece here. 

A utility regulator is recommending that the State Corporation Commission approve a proposal by Dominion Energy to offer a renewable energy package opposed by a host of environmental and business groups — but only if Dominion can sign up at least 15,000 customers in six months. The report released Tuesday is only a recommendation by Hearing Examiner Mary Beth Adams, but it provides an indication of how the commission, which has decision-making power, may approach the case’s key points.

A commentary in Energy News Network covered the impact of COVID-19 on veteran employment in the advanced energy industry referencing AEE's survey findings. Read excerpts below and the entire Energy News Network piece here. 

At the beginning of the year, wind and solar energy were poised to have record breaking growth in 2020 with an additional 32 GW of capacity from the declining levelized cost of electricity, sunsetting government tax incentives, and increased investments from private industry to combat climate change. This growth represents a nearly 20% increase in existing capacity, creating an increasing number of clean energy jobs. However, the global spread of the novel coronavirus is challenging these projections. The research and consultancy group Wood MacKenzie suggests that clean energy investment is likely to take a hit: “all discretionary spend will be under review — that includes additional budget allocated for carbon mitigation. And companies that haven’t yet engaged in carbon reduction strategies are likely to put the issue on the back burner...”

Oklahoma Energy Today reported on a New England group's filing on net metering with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that could impact renewable energy, quoting AEE's Jeff Dennis. Read excerpts below and the entire Oklahoma Energy Today piece here. Utility Dive also covered the story, quoting Dennis.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is being asked to make a decision on “net metering” and it could possibly affect how Oklahoma utilities handle rates for solar and wind powered electricity. Under Oklahoma law, utilities are not allowed to impose extra charges for customers signed up for net metering up to 100kw in size or 25,000 khw/year, which ever is less. Nor can the utilities require new liability insurance as a condition for interconnection. But a recent filing has some legal experts suggesting that if okayed by FERC, it will “end net metering as we know it,” according to a report by Utility Dive.

Microgrid Knowledge reported on policy proposals for economic stimulation for microgrid growth after COVID-19, including AEE's perspective. Read excerpts below and the entire Microgrid Knowledge piece here.

Clean energy advocates are floating a range of ideas to stimulate post COVID-19 microgrid growth — from tax credits to relief funds to support for electrification of rural hospitals. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) are among the organizations calling for the measures. Their proposals come at a time when more than 100,000 US advanced energy workers are out of work,  a loss that wiped out last year’s growth in the industry, according to AEE. 

E&E News reported coronavirus federal aid has not reached advanced energy companies and workers, noting recommendation to shift tax credits to direct pay, featuring AEE's COVID-19 Fact Sheet. Read excerpts below and the entire E&E News piece here (sub. req.). 

More than 80% of clean energy companies say they are delaying or stopping projects because of the novel coronavirus, and a majority are calling for a replacement of federal tax credits, according to a new report. Advanced Energy Economy, whose members range from Microsoft Corp. to Apex Clean Energy Inc., said 40% of companies in a survey released yesterday reported a 26% to 50% drop in sales compared with earlier projections. More than 60% of surveyed companies said that federal aid packages have not helped their businesses, and more than 90% said Federal Reserve loans have been of little assistance.

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2020 —  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today largely rejected the clean energy sector’s Request for Rehearing on its order to impose a Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) in the PJM capacity market. While clarifying that voluntary RECs are not considered by the Commission to be a state subsidy, FERC otherwise affirmed its December 2019 decision.

Axios covered the impact of COVID-19 job losses for clean energy sector, referencing AEE's new fact sheet. Read excerpts below and the entire Axios piece here. 

Three pieces of analysis caught my eye that suggest trouble for the growth of low-carbon energy sectors, as we continue gauging the ongoing effects from the coronavirus pandemic. Several industry groups and analysts issued a memorandum tallying the early stages of U.S. job losses in the sector at 3% already. Meanwhile, an intergovernmental agency warns that COVID-19 could hinder oil industry efforts on climate and a group of business leaders said 84% of their members have delayed projects.

Vox covered clean energy jobs loss impacts due to the COVID-19 crisis and possible policy supports in future federal stimulus packages, featuring AEE's COVID-19 fact sheet. Read excerpts below and the entire Vox piece here. 

The clean-energy industry is one of the America’s fastest growing employers, and one of the industries with the greatest long-term potential, given a global market that is fated to grow throughout the coming century. But it is being dealt a body blow by the Covid-19 crisis, and it is beginning to look like it’s not going to get any help from the federal government, at least not until next year (and then only if Democrats win big). Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are getting everything they ask for.

Changing federal tax credits to direct payment would incur no added government cost, help advanced energy companies keep projects moving forward, and preserve jobs of workers needed to drive economic growth after the crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2020 – National business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) today released a new fact sheet detailing the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on advanced energy companies across the country and calling for a shift of federal tax credits to direct payment as a no-cost solution to aid the industry. This fact sheet – a follow-up to an open letter sent to Congress and the White House on March 26 – is based on a new survey of AEE member companies that demonstrates worsening impact on the full range of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, grid services, and electric vehicle businesses that make up the broad advanced energy industry.

E&E News covered the state of electric vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic quoting AEE's Matt Stanberry and AEE members HET and EVgo. Read excerpts below and the entire E&E News piece here. 

Todd Ritter sounds confident about his charging company's ability to weather the novel coronavirus downturn. But when pressed, he begins to fret. His firm, EV Structure, repairs, installs and operates electric vehicle charging stations from Hawaii to the Carolinas. His crews have plowed ahead through the pandemic. "I'm out there turning screws and busting knuckles. I'm not thinking about it," Ritter said. But he admits those projects are the fruits of old sales...

Inside Clean Energy covered the passage of the historic Virginia Clean Economy Act noting AEE's role, quoting bill patron Sen. Jennifer McClellan. Read excerpts below and the entire Inside Clean Energy piece here. 

During the months that Virginia state Sen. Jennifer McClellan worked to pass a groundbreaking clean energy law, she liked to say that the process was like trying to land a plane that was on fire. Then, when it passed, she found a new metaphor: It was like landing on the moon. "I literally wanted to jump up and say, 'The eagle has landed,'" she said. The bill, which Gov. Ralph Northam signed on Sunday, makes Virginia the latest state to require a transition to 100 percent carbon-free or renewable energy, and the first in the South...

Daily Energy Insider covered energy industry groups' ask that FERC consider carbon pricing policies in wholesale markets, quoting AEE's Jeff Dennis. Read excerpts below and the entire Daily Energy Insider piece here. 

A coalition of energy industry groups recently urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to examine the implications of carbon pricing policies in wholesale electricity markets. The request — submitted by electric power generators, trade associations, and think tank experts — comes at a time when many states are already considering policies that reduce carbon emissions in the electric sector. 

E&E News covered COVID-19's effect on the electric vehicle and charging industry quoting AEE's Matt Stanberry and AEE members EVgo and Highland Electric. Read excerpts below and the entire E&E News piece here (sub. req.). 

Todd Ritter sounds confident about his charging company's ability to weather the novel coronavirus downturn. But when pressed, he begins to fret. His firm, EV Structure, repairs, installs and operates electric vehicle charging stations from Hawaii to the Carolinas. His crews have plowed ahead through the pandemic. "I'm out there turning screws and busting knuckles. I'm not thinking about it," Ritter said. But he admits those projects are the fruits of old sales...

E&E News reported a broad coalition of power generators, industry groups and think tanks is pushing FERC to look at impact and options for carbon pricing policies in competitive wholesale electricity markets, quoting AEE's Jeff Dennis. Read excerpts below and the entire E&E News piece here (sub. req.). RTO Insider also covered this story (sub. req.) quoting Jeff Dennis.

More than a dozen energy groups, including utilities NextEra Energy Inc. and LS Power, are calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to host a conference to consider the agency's options for using carbon pricing in competitive wholesale electricity markets. Electric transmission lines are pictured. A broad coalition of power generators, industry groups and think tanks are pushing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to look at cost-effective, market-based ways to address climate change...

Broad coalition jointly requests FERC technical conference or workshop to discuss carbon pricing in wholesale electricity markets 

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 14, 2020 — As U.S. policy makers look for cost-effective ways to tackle climate change, a diverse coalition of power generators, trade associations, and think tank experts this week asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to examine the policy options and implications of carbon pricing policies in competitive wholesale electricity markets. The request, submitted before FERC by a broad cross section of the electric industry and think tank voices, comes at a time when many states, utilities and electric markets are already considering policies that reduce carbon emissions in the electric sector and grappling with whether to integrate carbon pricing directly into the markets.

Sun Sentinel published an opinion piece by AEE's Dylan Reed detailing the opportunity for solar energy in Florida building on FPL's new customer option and featuring AEE's Opportunities for Meeting C&I Demand for Renewable Energy in Florida report. Read excerpts below and the entire Sun Sentinel piece here. 

New law puts Commonwealth on the path to economic recovery and healthy communities; to put tens of thousands of Virginians to work while reaching 100% Clean Energy by 2045

RICHMOND, April 13, 2020 - Gov. Ralph Northam's signature of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) makes the Commonwealth the first among Southern states to set a goal of 100 percent low-cost and efficient clean energy by 2045. The Act provides incentives for wind and solar power development, consumer ownership of rooftop solar systems, and steps to make old buildings and new construction more energy efficient. Among the goals set in the Act is a target of 5.2 gigawatts of power to come from offshore wind - enough energy to power 1.5 million Virginia homes.

Inside INdiana Business featured an updated story about a recent AEE report that shows economic benefit of renewable energy to Indiana, quoting Indiana AEE's Caryl Auslander. It appeared in a newsletter for the tech industry. Read excerpts below and the entire Inside INdiana Business piece here. 

Energy News Network covered Virginia House Bill 528 that increases state regulators authority over monopoly utilities, and the Virginia Clean Economy Act, quoting AEE's J.R. Tolbert. Read excerpts below and the entire Energy News Network piece here. 

A scantly noticed bill curated by a freshman legislator from northern Virginia elicited giant cheers from Dominion Energy watchdogs when it passed both the Senate and the House of Delegates just seven days before the General Assembly adjourned on March 12. Though overshadowed by the Virginia Clean Economy Act, supporters view the success of House Bill 528 as a momentous first effort to shift power from utility monopolies and toward regulators and ratepayers...