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New IRP not a “good faith decarbonization plan,” says national business group Advanced Energy United

[editor's note: this press release originally stated this was Dominion's first IRP since the VCEA was signed into law. It is Dominion's first IRP since the law went into effect.]

RICHMOND, VA, May 2, 2023 – This week, Dominion Energy Virginia filed its first Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) since the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), Virginia’s landmark energy law, went into effect in July of 2020. Today, Advanced Energy United, the business association that supported passage of the VCEA, criticized Dominion’s new approach for meeting the law’s requirements.

“We have seen this play from Dominion before. Its latest resource plan is yet another example of this utility picking a forecast that suits its business interests,” said Kim Jemaine, director at Advanced Energy United (formerly AEE). “Dominion chooses a questionable energy load forecast as justification for cherry-picking preferred technologies, preserving existing fossil-fuel facilities, and calling for new investment in gas fired resources. In our view, Dominion has not developed a good faith decarbonization plan that fully aligns with the Virginia Clean Economy Act, Virginia’s landmark energy law.”

United also calls for accelerated state investment in charging infrastructure and electric grid upgrades needed for a fully electrified transportation system

SACRAMENTO, CA, April 28, 2023 – National business group Advanced Energy United celebrated today the adoption of the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule via unanimous vote by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The rule encourages commercial vehicle fleet operators to switch to zero-emission vehicles over the coming years, with a full phase-out on the sale of gas-powered trucks by 2045. The state regulator anticipates that the switch to zero-emission vehicles, like electric trucks, will save fleet operators up to $48 billion through 2050. 

“California continues to be a leader in the effort to electrify our transportation system by passing a rule that would steer businesses towards more advanced, technologically efficient trucks over the coming decades,” said Ryan Gallentine, transportation policy director at Advanced Energy United, an association of business working to achieve 100% clean energy and electrified transportation in America. “Now that California is on the road to cleaner trucks, the state must pair this plan with forward-looking infrastructure and grid-readiness planning to ensure the pieces are in place to meet this new timeline.” 

Indiana Capitol Chronicle examines Indiana's elimination of competitive bidding in "right of first refusal" bill, quoting Trish Demeter's perspective on the importance of maintaining competitive processes for success transmission infrastructure development.

Indiana’s Senate Utilities Committee on Thursday narrowly passed a contentious bill that critics say would stifle competitive markets and add unnecessary costs to energy infrastructure projects. House Bill 1420 advanced 6-5 to the Senate, with bipartisan opposition, following hours of testimony. 

“Incumbent” Indiana utility companies already have a “right of first refusal” to build, own, and operate new transmission lines in their service area. But the bill expands that to inter-regional transmission projects. This prevents new projects from being competitively bid on by other energy companies outside of that territory that would then retain an ownership stake.

E&E News wrote about the POWER Act, quoting Nick Bibby on the legislation's crucial changes that will help push increase electric transmission and wind development in Maryland.

Maryland is poised to more than quadruple its offshore wind target after a key energy measure cleared the General Assembly on Monday and headed for the governor’s desk.

The bill would codify a goal of 8.5 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2031, up from the roughly 2 GW already approved by the state. Gov. Wes Moore (D) endorsed the centerpiece of the legislation in March and has said he wants the state to lead the nation in offshore wind. Clean energy groups expect that he'll sign the measure into law.

In an op-ed in Energy News Network, Samarth Medakkar joins Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman in writing about the ways Michigan's 2024 budget is set to expand the state's EV infrastructure and how the Gov. Whitmer administration can fully realize its EV goals with that funding.

The shift to electric vehicles is firmly under way in Michigan. Across the Whitmer administration,  the legislature, local and municipal governments and the private sector, a number of initiatives have been launched to make that transition happen. But the next year or so might be the most crucial time to determine the success of those efforts.

Through fiscal year 2026, the state of Michigan is receiving about $110 million in federal funding to realize the state’s plan to build an electric vehicle (EV) charger at least every 50 miles along several highway routes that the state has nominated for the federal government to designate as Alternative Fuel Corridors. These include some of the most well-known and well-traveled routes in the state, like Petoskey to the Mackinac Bridge and Detroit to the Blue Water Bridge. This $110 million comes from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, a U.S. Department of Transportation program created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

E&E News details new legislation in Texas that threatens to slow wind and solar development in Texas, quoting Micalah Spenrath on the the regulatory environment signaling industry investors in the state.

Texas is a sweet spot for renewable energy deployment, leading the nation in wind energy and second only to California in solar power.

But two years after the electric grid nearly collapsed during a severe winter storm, conservative lawmakers in Texas have proposed a slew of policies that could upend the Lone Star State’s status as a clean energy powerhouse and push renewable energy projects elsewhere.

Polling found that more than half of all Coloradans supported adoption of the ACT rule 

DENVER, CO, April 21, 2023 – National business association Advanced Energy United today applauded the adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule via unanimous vote by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC). Set to take effect in 2027, the ACT rule will require auto manufacturers who produce medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to steadily increase the percentage of zero-emission model sales over time – up to 40-75% by 2035, depending on vehicle type. The rule is designed to spur manufacturers to offer more vehicle options and inventory, as well as provide consumers with more choices.

“In addition to improving air quality for Colorado residents, the Advanced Clean Trucks rule will lower costs for vehicle fleet operators and unlock new, cost-effective options for Colorado businesses,” said Emilie Olson, Colorado state lead at Advanced Energy United, which represents a wide spectrum of companies involved in vehicle production, charging infrastructure, and energy management software. "Small businesses, which have been hit hard by inflation and volatile fuel and supply chain prices, will benefit significantly from this regulation because it will help them switch to vehicles that cost less to operate and maintain.”

WASHINGTON, DC, April 20, 2023 – National business association Advanced Energy United today called on members of Congress to reject efforts to undo portion of the landmark Inflation Reduction Act and instead work together on advancing legislation that will help America transition to electricity and transportation systems powered by 100% clean energy. In response to a newly proposed House of Representatives bill that would scrap portions of the Inflation Reduction Act, Harry Godfrey, Managing Director at Advanced Energy United, released the following statement:

PoliticoPro highlights the path forward for California to meet its transmissions needs, quoting Brian Turner on tightening coordination amongst agencies to address electrification and demand growth.

California will need to add more than $9 billion worth of new transmission infrastructure to avoid blackouts while also meeting clean energy goals, according to a new report from the state’s main grid operator. The draft report released last week by the California Independent System Operator identifies 46 new transmission lines needed to connect renewable energy projects to areas where people live.

In an op-ed to the RealClear Energy, Harrison Godfrey outlines a proposal to Congress to reform the permitting process and pair it with support for reuse and recycling of advanced energy tech.

Solar and wind are now the most affordable sources of electricity in the U.S., overtaking fossil fuels. Advances in battery storage are bringing electric vehicles (EVs) – already more cost-effective to charge and maintain – into price parity with their petroleum-fueled counterparts.