News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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,

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.