This summer, Rhode Island passed the 2024 Energy Storage Systems Act and joined the many Northeast states making storage a key part of their energy transition strategy. Solar Power World spoke with United's Kat Burnham about the legislation and the growing momentum behind New England's energy storage advocacy.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Kat Burnham,
Rhode Island
Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes into law SB 1374
SACRAMENTO, CA – California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill (SB) 1374, which was designed to accelerate local solar adoption. SB 1374 would have expanded solar benefits by reversing a prior CPUC decision that prevents schools and apartment buildings from being able to use the solar energy they generate on their properties. This misguided veto will result in unnecessary energy costs for schools and apartment buildings.
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Topics:
State Policy,
Press Releases,
California,
Solar
San Antonio Express-News reports on the growing Texas battery energy storage boom, but some Hill County residents are worried that new battery storage sites will be noisy, increase the risk of fire, and cause environmental damage. The article quotes Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance's (United's state affiliate) Matthew Boms, who spoke to the importance of battery storage sites in the state.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance,
Texas,
Matthew Boms,
Battery Storage
NewsData reports on the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative (WWGPI) draft Step 2 proposal. The draft Step 2 proposal includes several components: regional organization (RO) scope and function, formation of the RO, governance of the RO, public-interest protections, and the stakeholder process. The article quotes United's Brian Turner, a member of the WWGPI Launch Committee, saying that this proposal represents a significant step toward improving electricity markets in the West and addressing long-standing barriers.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Western RTO,
California,
Brian Turner
Renewable Energy World reports that California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 1006 into law, requiring utilities to evaluate grid enhancing technologies (GETs) as often as every two years in transmission planning. The article quotes United's Edson Perez,who stated that the bill incentivizes the state to find the best ways to deploy these technologies across California’s utilities.
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Topics:
United In The News,
California,
Edson Perez
Western Regional Electricity Market Progress Continues to be Made
Today, the Launch Committee for the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative released Step 2 of its Straw Proposal, which proposes to establish a new, independent Regional Organization (RO) to govern existing regional energy markets (EIM and EDAM), as well as potentially provide additional market services in the future. Clean energy industry representatives from Advanced Energy United, Renew Home, Enel North America, and Leap provided the following statements on the proposal, which will also help advance efforts to build a regional transmission organization (RTO) in the West.
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Topics:
Wholesale Markets,
Press Releases,
Leah Rubin Shen,
Western RTO,
California
Governor Gavin Newsom signs into law Senate Bills 1221 and 1006
SACRAMENTO, CA—Governor Gavin Newsom signed two landmark clean energy bills into law yesterday. Senate Bill (SB) 1221 paves the way for projects that will affordably transition neighborhoods to clean buildings—making it the first legislation of its kind in the nation, while SB 1006 will accelerate the deployment of grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and advanced reconductoring technologies.
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Topics:
State Policy,
Press Releases,
California,
Edson Perez
Utility Dive covers United's September 2024 webinar about expanding VPPs in the U.S., which was moderated by United’s Chloe Holden and featured panelists from member companies Ford, PowerFlex, and EnergyHub. The article showcases United's advocacy work to overcome barriers to scaling VPPs across the country.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Webinar,
Virtual Power Plants
Amid rising energy demands, The New York Times reports that America's biggest oil-producing state, Texas, is increasingly turning to solar power and battery storage to see it through extreme weather over the years. The article quotes Matthew Boms of Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (United's state affiliate), who speaks to Texas' renewable energy potential.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance,
Texas,
Matthew Boms,
Solar,
Battery Storage
The Nevada Independent reports on the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada's (PUCN) unanimous vote that denies NV Energy to raise the basic service charge for its Northern Nevada customers by 175 percent, instead awarding the utility just a fraction of its requested amount. The article quotes United's Emilie Olson, who praised the PUCN's decision to implement a modest rate increase, highlighting its commitment to consumer affordability and protection for Northern Nevadan ratepayers.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Emilie Olson,
Nevada
RTO Insider reports on United's webinar "Expanding Virtual Power Plants Across the U.S.," which explored how virtual power plants (VPPs) can help regulators, utilities, and other grid stakeholders manage key challenges facing the grid, and the importance of scaling VPPs to meet the country's energy, affordability, and reliability needs. The article quotes United's Chloe Holden, who moderated the discussion, and expert panelists featured on the webinar, who shared their insights on the future of VPPs.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Chloe Holden,
Virtual Power Plants
Nevada Current reports on the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada's (PUCN) vote to reject NV Energy's proposal to triple the basic service charge from $16.50 to $44.50. The article quotes United's Emilie Olson, who touts this as a victory for consumer protection and for green energy,
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Topics:
United In The News,
Emilie Olson,
Nevada
Orange County Board of Supervisors Block Solar Development and Progress on VCEA Goals
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Today, Advanced Energy United and Virginia State Senator and Chair of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Creigh Deeds responded to Orange County’s board of supervisors' decision blocking solar project development, including a 1,000-acre Sunfish Solar installation. The decision threatens Virginia’s ability to meet its clean energy goals established by the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA).
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Topics:
Virginia,
Press Releases
Tech Brew discusses how electric vehicles (EVs) could enhance the resilience of the U.S. electric grid. In the article, United's Ryan Gallentine underlines that, with proper management, EVs could potentially be an additive resource for the grid, providing valuable support during peak periods or outages.
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Topics:
Advanced Transportation,
United In The News,
Electric Vehicles,
Ryan Gallentine
Santa Fe Reporter covers New Mexico's $43 million Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) program, which offers up to $14,000 in rebates for home energy upgrades. The article quotes United's Michael Barrio, who highlights how the program will stimulate local economies through job creation and support the clean energy transition.
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Topics:
State Policy,
United In The News,
New Mexico,
Michael Barrio
United's Kat Burnham authored an opinion piece for CT Mirror, discussing the looming crisis of heat affordability in Connecticut and the need to reduce spending on the gas pipeline system, urging lawmakers to adopt the same aggressive approach they’ve taken with the electricity sector.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Kat Burnham,
Connecticut
Electricity capacity prices skyrocketed 900% in latest auction
TRENTON, NJ –Today, New Jersey Assembly Members James Kennedy, Andrea Katz, Robert Karabinchak, and David Bailey released a joint statement on the 900% price increase announced last month by New Jersey’s electric grid operator, PJM. Prices in their annual capacity auction rose over 900 percent from $28.92 per megawatt-day to $269.92. By the end of 2025, New Jersey ratepayers will likely see electricity bill increases of as much as 29 percent.
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Topics:
Press Releases,
Transmission,
New Jersey
Public News Service reports that Virginia's clean energy initiatives are being stunted due to wide-spread misinformation. United's Jim Purekal debunks false claims made against solar and offers alternative, reliable clean energy methods that can provide power to consumers throughout the state.
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Topics:
Virginia,
United In The News,
Jim Purekal
Canary Media reports on California’s energy affordability challenges, how they relate to expanding the state's power grid, and the potential role of distributed energy resources (DERs). The article quotes United's Edson Perez, who says that leveraging DERs could provide significant cost savings and improve grid resilience if given proper policy support.
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Topics:
State Policy,
United In The News,
California,
Edson Perez
The Bakersfield Californian reports on two grid-enhancing technology bills, Senate Bill 1006 and Assembly Bill 2779, which have passed the California legislature. The article quotes United's Edson Perez, who highlights that these technologies will increase transmission capacity and improve efficiency, safety, and reliability.
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Topics:
State Policy,
United In The News,
California,
Edson Perez
The Boston Globe discusses the recent developments in offshore wind farms in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, highlighting the significant investment and progress being made by both states to expand their offshore wind capacity, enhance renewable energy sources, and reduce carbon emissions. In the article, United's Kat Burnham praised the efforts made by Governor Healy administration in Massachusetts to support new wind farm projects.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Kat Burnham,
Offshore Wind,
Massachusetts,
Rhode Island
United's Trish Demeter authored an opinion piece for the Indianapolis Business Journal, arguing Indiana will need to embrace new clean energy solutions in order to meet rising electricity demands, develop high-growth jobs, and position the state as a leader in sustainable growth.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Indiana,
Trish Demeter
RTO Insider reports on United's recent webinar "Accelerating Interconnection Reforms for a Stronger More Affordable Grid," which underlined findings from a report that proposes ambitious and comprehensive reforms to the nation's current generator interconnection process. The article quotes the panelists featured on the webinar, who shared their expertise regarding the report's recommendations.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Caitlin Marquis,
FERC