State leaders now have a responsibility to act to protect residents from rising energy costs, job cuts
"America didn’t have an energy emergency before, but this legislation goes a long way towards creating one.
As state leaders assess the damage done by Congress with this budget bill, they will have a responsibility and urgent need to protect their residents from job losses, rising energy prices, and grid instability.
Even without support from the federal government, state leaders must take steps to ensure we keep the lights on and manage costs. With the right policy direction, governors, legislators, and regulators can take the lead on removing the barriers to building a better electric grid, and lowering costs to build and operate advanced energy. To unlock new development, policymakers can make it easier and more financially enticing for consumers to switch to more resilient energy solutions at their homes and businesses, they can speed up timelines for new energy infrastructure projects by fixing antiquated siting and permitting rules, and they can put more technology solutions to work with much needed changes to energy market regulations.
Despite the setback on Capitol Hill, the advanced energy industry will endure, creating good jobs, investing in communities, and producing the affordable, abundant, and reliable power America needs now. United will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats in Congress, as well as the Trump Administration, where they seek to unlock advanced energy. At the same time, we will persist in combating efforts to undercut our technologies, jobs, and investments. Our industry is keeping the lights on today across the country and will carry on innovating and investing in America’s energy future."
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Click here to learn more about Advanced Energy United's work advocating for federal policies that allow advanced energy and electrified transportation businesses to thrive in America.