News

Plan calls for U-turn away from cleaner, cheaper energy future in Virginia, says business group

RICHMOND, VA, October 3, 2022 – Today, business association Virginia Advanced Energy Economy reviewed the new Energy Plan proposed by the Governor Youngkin Administration, and Kim Jemaine, Director at Virginia AEE, released the following statement:

Standard will ensure 100% of new cars sold in state will be zero-emission or plug-in hybrid by 2035 

ALBANY, NY, September 29, 2022 – Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), and electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian, commended Governor Kathy Hochul for committing New York to adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule. Building upon the original 2012 ACC program, ACC II establishes a year-by-year roadmap to ensure 100% of new cars and light trucks sold in New York will be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) by 2035.

“Adopting this program sends a loud and clear message to carmakers that New Yorkers want electric vehicles,” said Leah Meredith, Principal at AEE. “With electric vehicles in high demand but currently in short supply, carmakers are prioritizing the states that speak up, and the Governor’s announcement helps ensure that New Yorkers will have the full range of electric vehicle models to choose from. And by increasing the number of new electric vehicles in New York, this program will also quicken the development of a robust market for used electric vehicles.”

Investments in the Inflation Reduction Act will create middle-class jobs, revitalize American manufacturing, and make our nation more energy independent   

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 7, 2022 – Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national trade association of clean energy buyers and businesses, celebrated Senate passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which includes $369 billion for clean energy, advanced energy manufacturing, and electrified transportation, and released the following statement on behalf of its CEO, Nat Kreamer:  

This week, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) released new research into the economic development potential of establishing a regional transmission organization (RTO) to operate the power grid for Western states. The report, conducted by independent consulting firm Energy Strategies, finds that establishing an RTO for Western states would create as many as 657,000 permanent, high-paying jobs in the West. If you want to learn more, watch the press briefing here. 

Clean energy investments will reduce electricity costs and create good jobs in America 

WASHINGTON, DC, July 27, 2022 – Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national trade association of clean energy buyers and businesses, celebrated the federal budget agreement announced today by Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin, and released the following statement on behalf of its CEO, Nat Kreamer:

“At a time of acute inflation, this agreement represents a truly historic step towards lowering the energy bills of Americans and creating real energy independence. It is likewise a smart investment in our domestic advanced energy industry, creating tens of thousands of good jobs. We applaud Senator Schumer, Senator Manchin, and all of those involved in bringing this agreement to fruition. We look forward to reviewing the details of the bill and urge Congress to move swiftly towards passage.”

A Western RTO could save Western states $2 billion in annual energy savings

JULY 26, 2022 – A new report for national business association Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) by independent consulting firm Energy Strategies finds that establishing a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) for Western states would create as many as 657,000 permanent, high-paying jobs in the West. The analysis, "Western RTO Economic Impact Study," also found that a Western RTO would diversify state economies and save ratepayers millions of dollars per year in energy costs.

An RTO is a cooperation agreement which allows electric utilities across multiple states to share resources and leverage the cheapest, cleanest, and most efficient energy sources through an organized regional market. Currently, the West is one of the only regions in the U.S. without an RTO managing its power grid.

The analysis found that every state in the Western region (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) could expect economic benefits from a West-wide RTO, driven by lower electricity prices for households and businesses, additional clean energy development across the region, and the expansion of existing, as well as attraction of new, businesses to the West.

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2022 – National business association Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) President Heather O’Neill issued the following statement today about Senate budget reconciliation negotiations: 

“Americans are facing historic levels of inflation, driven in large part by global fossil fuel prices. The tax credits in this package would deliver much needed relief, helping to cut energy prices and reduce U.S. dependence on price-volatile fossil fuels, by spurring the domestic manufacturing and deployment of clean, affordable, and reliable advanced energy technologies. Failing to use this opportunity to boost the domestic advanced energy manufacturing industry would mean American workers get less benefit from the world’s transition to clean energy, and would all but assure that our economic competitors, particularly China, reap the economic rewards instead. We call on Congress to enact them as soon as possible.

Treating solar panels like pavement creates unnecessary project costs, new industry research paper shows

RICHMOND, July 13, 2022 — Business association Virginia Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) expressed disappointment about new regulatory guidance issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) today that fails to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens on the Virginia solar industry.

The guidance updates regulatory memos issued by Virginia’s DEQ in March that changed technical parameters of solar farm construction and maintenance. The DEQ memos claimed that because solar farms look similar to roads and parking lots on satellite imagery, solar farms should be regulated as such. Guidance released today outlined means for compliance, suggesting developers install unnecessary technology workarounds.

“Solar panels are not pavement, and solar farms are not parking lots,” said Kim Jemaine, Policy Director at Advanced Energy Economy (AEE). “Research conducted by both academic institutions and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory confirms that solar installations do not cause the kind of damaging runoff that paved surfaces do. These new regulations, which are not based on science, will hamstring a growing industry in Virginia for no valid reason.”

Budget includes $125 million for transformative new program that pairs necessary home repairs with energy cost-saving measures

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2022 – Today, national business association Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) expressed disappointment with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency. AEE General Counsel and Managing Director Jeff Dennis released the following statement: