News

PUCT vote marks major step toward a more modern, reliable, and efficient grid

AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA) applauds the Public Utility Commission of Texas’ (PUCT) historic vote to build the state’s first-ever 765-kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission lines—ushering in a new era of grid modernization for the Lone Star State.  

House Bills 4027 and 4028 would take rights away from landowners, scramble an otherwise business-friendly environment, and raise electricity costs for consumers

LANSING, MI – Diverse stakeholders are joining together to encourage Michigan legislators to oppose House Bills 4027 and 4028.  

Today, Tuesday, April 22, the House Energy committee heard testimony on these bills and voted them out of the committee, sending them on the path to the full House chamber. Farmers and representatives from clean energy companies urged legislators on the committee to vote no on both bills. Opponents articulated key reasons to reject these bills as they would take rights away from individual landowners, raise electric utility costs for all consumers, hurt Michigan businesses, and prevent the state from more reliably and cost-effectively powering the energy grid to meet rising demand. 

Groups unify and urge Illinois regulators to align storage roadmap with 1,500 MW clean energy target

CHICAGO, Ill., April 14, 2025 – Illinois clean energy trade associations are unifying and calling for the Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) consultant to make critical revisions to its upcoming report on clean energy storage procurement. 

The report, currently in draft form and prepared by an ICC-appointed consultant, is intended to guide the state’s path toward deploying 1,500 megawatts (MW) of energy storage as part of Illinois’ ultimate clean energy and grid reliability goals, a benchmark set by recent legislation. However, the early draft indicates a recommendation of approximately half that amount, prompting a unified response from Illinois’ clean energy industry urging course correction. 

Advanced Energy United applauds the Illinois House for passing House Bill 3650 to help homeowners, renters, and building owners lower their energy bills and make improvements to their properties. 

Illinoisans will benefit greatly from the bill, which would create a State Navigator Program to link them with already-available programs that could lower the cost of their utility bills or reduce the price of making energy efficiency improvements to their properties.  

Senate Bill 2455 would address the need for a more reliable, efficient electric grid

AUSTIN, TX – Texas is at a critical turning point, facing the challenge of balancing rising energy demand with the need for a more reliable and efficient electric grid. Although the state leads the nation in energy generation, we are encountering growing challenges in maintaining grid reliability amid unprecedented load growth. 

LANSING, MI – Diverse stakeholders today announced the filing of a brief from industry organizations and multiple amicus curiae brief petitions in support of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s actions to implement Public Act 233 (PA 233), which was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Whitmer as The Clean Energy and Jobs Act. The law, and the Commission’s actions, establish a careful balance to allow farmers to use their land for wind, solar, and storage projects while ensuring a thorough review of the projects.

The briefs – filed by a broad set of business groups, renewable energy advocates, labor organizations, legislators, and local landowners  – advocate for the full implementation of the permitting process under PA 233, emphasizing its crucial role in advancing Michigan’s clean energy future, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. 

Increased advanced power generation could deliver millions in tax revenue to local communities, bolster Hoosiers' energy independence, and keep costs down for consumers 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A surge in economic development in Indiana is driving a growing need for electricity, and a new report shows solar power produced in-state would help meet this demand – but only if proposed projects are actually built. Indiana is a Midwest leader in attracting advanced manufacturing and technology-driven economic growth, and the report makes clear that advanced power resources such as solar could power the state’s bright future.  

The new report, from Baker Tilly, “Forecasting the Economic Impact Potential of Solar in Indiana,” shows expanding solar power generation in Indiana would drive millions in additional tax revenue to local communities to help pay for community and emergency services, all while creating new jobs, helping to lower energy costs and enabling the state to maintain its economic development momentum by meeting growing electricity demand.  

HB3758/SB2497 solidifies Illinois’ leadership as national officials back away from clean energy

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., February 25, 2025 – Illinois families and businesses would see lower energy bills under HB3758/SB2497, a newly filed bill by Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) and Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago).

“With energy prices skyrocketing across the country and leaders in Washington opening the floodgates for fossil fuels, our bill makes it clear that Illinois will remain at the forefront of lowering energy costs while investing in clean energy,” Sen. Cunningham said. “HB3758/SB2497 proves to the nation that we don’t have to choose between taking care of our communities, our economy, and our planet.”