In an opinion piece for The CT Mirror, United's Kat Burnham highlights Connecticut's escalating home heating affordability crisis, pointing to the natural gas sector's aging infrastructure and declining demand. She advocates for proactive measures to align gas utility spending with the state's energy goals, such as implementing clean heat plans, exploring non-pipeline alternatives, and adopting regulatory reforms.
Topics: United In The News, Energy Efficiency, Kat Burnham
President Trump's proposed bill aims to dismantle key tax incentives, which have been instrumental in driving billions in private investment and creating more than 11,000 jobs in Virginia. United's Harry Godfrey spoke with Inside Climate News, stating that the rollback of these incentives would threaten to stall Virginia's progress in renewable energy development, economic growth, and job creation, undermining efforts to create a more reliable and affordable energy future.
Topics: State Policy, Virginia, United In The News, Harrison Godfrey, Offshore Wind, Solar, Federal Priorities
E&E News reports that Southwest Power Pool (SPP)—the Arkansas-based U.S. regional grid operator—has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve its Expedited Resource Adequacy Study, a process to fast-track connection agreements for power plants to meet growing energy demand. United's Lisa Barrett criticized the plan, arguing that the priority should remain on the ongoing efforts to resolve the existing interconnection backlog.
Topics: United In The News, Lisa Barrett, Interconnection
AB 44, a bill designed to streamline utility use of distributed energy resources, passed the California Assembly with bipartisan support
SACRAMENTO, CA— California homes and businesses are one step closer to achieving lower energy bills as the State Assembly passed Assembly Bill (AB) 44 with bipartisan support. AB 44, authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz, is designed to lower energy costs and improve grid reliability by streamlining processes for utilities to use demand-side technologies like virtual power plants (VPPs) to reduce electricity use during peak demand.
Topics: Press Releases, California
The Colorado Sun reports that Colorado's largest utility, Xcel Energy, is facing criticism over its proposed plan to join SPP's Markets+ day-ahead market. United's Brian Turner urges Xcel to look West to CAISO's EDAM, where studies show greater savings and stronger alignment with Colorado's clean energy and affordability goals.
Topics: United In The News, Western RTO, Brian Turner, Colorado
Xcel Energy has proposed joining a smaller market with less clean energy, whichmeans higher costs for ratepayers
DENVER, CO — A new report from Aurora Energy Research assesses the potential for Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy) to join a regional electricity market in the West.
The report evaluates the economic benefits of different day-ahead market participation scenarios and found that Xcel Energy’s proposal to join the relatively small and disjointed Markets+, run by the Arkansas-based Southwest Power Pool (SPP), would increase both costs and greenhouse gas emissions compared with other options. Compared to Markets+, participating in the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) would yield between $4.2 and $13.2 million per year greater savings through 2060.
Topics: Press Releases, Western RTO, Brian Turner, Colorado
Arizona has long been known as a business-friendly state, but inconsistent energy policies and regulatory uncertainty are putting that reputation at risk. United's Michael Barrio authored an opinion piece forthe Arizona Capitol Times, urging decisionmakers to restore investor confidence and secure long-term economic growth by advancing policies that support clean energy investment and keep Arizona competitive.
Topics: United In The News, Arizona, Michael Barrio
Legislation will establish the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee
AUSTIN, TX – Today, HB 5323 passed the Texas Legislature. This forward-thinking legislation establishes the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee, composed of leaders from key state agencies, including the Public Utility Commission, ERCOT, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, to coordinate efforts aimed at reducing energy waste, improving efficiency, and enhancing grid reliability.
Topics: Press Releases, Texas, Energy Efficiency
CT Mirror reports that New England's electric grid is facing significant uncertainty as the region attempts to modernize its energy infrastructure. Most notably, plans to enhance interregional transmission are being threatened by potential policy changes and proposed budget cuts. United's Kat Burnham emphasized the need for more transmission infrastructure, urging regional coordination between the states amidst federal uncertainty.
Topics: United In The News, Transmission
Utility Dive reports on the U.S. House of Representatives' narrow passage of a budget bill that guts federal support for wind, solar, storage and other advanced energy industries. The article cites experts from clean energy advocates, including Heather O'Neill, United President and CEO, who speaks to the repercussions of the bill for America's economy if enacted.
Topics: United In The News, Heather O'Neill, Federal Priorities