News

E&E News reported coronavirus federal aid has not reached advanced energy companies and workers, noting recommendation to shift tax credits to direct pay, featuring AEE's COVID-19 Fact Sheet. Read excerpts below and the entire E&E News piece here (sub. req.). 

More than 80% of clean energy companies say they are delaying or stopping projects because of the novel coronavirus, and a majority are calling for a replacement of federal tax credits, according to a new report. Advanced Energy Economy, whose members range from Microsoft Corp. to Apex Clean Energy Inc., said 40% of companies in a survey released yesterday reported a 26% to 50% drop in sales compared with earlier projections. More than 60% of surveyed companies said that federal aid packages have not helped their businesses, and more than 90% said Federal Reserve loans have been of little assistance.

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2020 —  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today largely rejected the clean energy sector’s Request for Rehearing on its order to impose a Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) in the PJM capacity market. While clarifying that voluntary RECs are not considered by the Commission to be a state subsidy, FERC otherwise affirmed its December 2019 decision.

Axios covered the impact of COVID-19 job losses for clean energy sector, referencing AEE's new fact sheet. Read excerpts below and the entire Axios piece here. 

Three pieces of analysis caught my eye that suggest trouble for the growth of low-carbon energy sectors, as we continue gauging the ongoing effects from the coronavirus pandemic. Several industry groups and analysts issued a memorandum tallying the early stages of U.S. job losses in the sector at 3% already. Meanwhile, an intergovernmental agency warns that COVID-19 could hinder oil industry efforts on climate and a group of business leaders said 84% of their members have delayed projects.

Vox covered clean energy jobs loss impacts due to the COVID-19 crisis and possible policy supports in future federal stimulus packages, featuring AEE's COVID-19 fact sheet. Read excerpts below and the entire Vox piece here. 

The clean-energy industry is one of the America’s fastest growing employers, and one of the industries with the greatest long-term potential, given a global market that is fated to grow throughout the coming century. But it is being dealt a body blow by the Covid-19 crisis, and it is beginning to look like it’s not going to get any help from the federal government, at least not until next year (and then only if Democrats win big). Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are getting everything they ask for.

Changing federal tax credits to direct payment would incur no added government cost, help advanced energy companies keep projects moving forward, and preserve jobs of workers needed to drive economic growth after the crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2020 – National business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) today released a new fact sheet detailing the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on advanced energy companies across the country and calling for a shift of federal tax credits to direct payment as a no-cost solution to aid the industry. This fact sheet – a follow-up to an open letter sent to Congress and the White House on March 26 – is based on a new survey of AEE member companies that demonstrates worsening impact on the full range of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, grid services, and electric vehicle businesses that make up the broad advanced energy industry.

E&E News covered the state of electric vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic quoting AEE's Matt Stanberry and AEE members HET and EVgo. Read excerpts below and the entire E&E News piece here. 

Todd Ritter sounds confident about his charging company's ability to weather the novel coronavirus downturn. But when pressed, he begins to fret. His firm, EV Structure, repairs, installs and operates electric vehicle charging stations from Hawaii to the Carolinas. His crews have plowed ahead through the pandemic. "I'm out there turning screws and busting knuckles. I'm not thinking about it," Ritter said. But he admits those projects are the fruits of old sales...

Inside Clean Energy covered the passage of the historic Virginia Clean Economy Act noting AEE's role, quoting bill patron Sen. Jennifer McClellan. Read excerpts below and the entire Inside Clean Energy piece here. 

During the months that Virginia state Sen. Jennifer McClellan worked to pass a groundbreaking clean energy law, she liked to say that the process was like trying to land a plane that was on fire. Then, when it passed, she found a new metaphor: It was like landing on the moon. "I literally wanted to jump up and say, 'The eagle has landed,'" she said. The bill, which Gov. Ralph Northam signed on Sunday, makes Virginia the latest state to require a transition to 100 percent carbon-free or renewable energy, and the first in the South...

Daily Energy Insider covered energy industry groups' ask that FERC consider carbon pricing policies in wholesale markets, quoting AEE's Jeff Dennis. Read excerpts below and the entire Daily Energy Insider piece here. 

A coalition of energy industry groups recently urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to examine the implications of carbon pricing policies in wholesale electricity markets. The request — submitted by electric power generators, trade associations, and think tank experts — comes at a time when many states are already considering policies that reduce carbon emissions in the electric sector. 

E&E News covered COVID-19's effect on the electric vehicle and charging industry quoting AEE's Matt Stanberry and AEE members EVgo and Highland Electric. Read excerpts below and the entire E&E News piece here (sub. req.). 

Todd Ritter sounds confident about his charging company's ability to weather the novel coronavirus downturn. But when pressed, he begins to fret. His firm, EV Structure, repairs, installs and operates electric vehicle charging stations from Hawaii to the Carolinas. His crews have plowed ahead through the pandemic. "I'm out there turning screws and busting knuckles. I'm not thinking about it," Ritter said. But he admits those projects are the fruits of old sales...

E&E News reported a broad coalition of power generators, industry groups and think tanks is pushing FERC to look at impact and options for carbon pricing policies in competitive wholesale electricity markets, quoting AEE's Jeff Dennis. Read excerpts below and the entire E&E News piece here (sub. req.). RTO Insider also covered this story (sub. req.) quoting Jeff Dennis.

More than a dozen energy groups, including utilities NextEra Energy Inc. and LS Power, are calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to host a conference to consider the agency's options for using carbon pricing in competitive wholesale electricity markets. Electric transmission lines are pictured. A broad coalition of power generators, industry groups and think tanks are pushing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to look at cost-effective, market-based ways to address climate change...