This summer, Rhode Island passed the 2024 Energy Storage Systems Act and joined the many Northeast states making storage a key part of their energy transition strategy. Solar Power World spoke with United's Kat Burnham about the legislation and the growing momentum behind New England's energy storage advocacy.
Topics: United In The News, Kat Burnham, Rhode Island
Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes into law SB 1374
SACRAMENTO, CA – California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill (SB) 1374, which was designed to accelerate local solar adoption. SB 1374 would have expanded solar benefits by reversing a prior CPUC decision that prevents schools and apartment buildings from being able to use the solar energy they generate on their properties. This misguided veto will result in unnecessary energy costs for schools and apartment buildings.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, California, Solar
San Antonio Express-News reports on the growing Texas battery energy storage boom, but some Hill County residents are worried that new battery storage sites will be noisy, increase the risk of fire, and cause environmental damage. The article quotes Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance's (United's state affiliate) Matthew Boms, who spoke to the importance of battery storage sites in the state.
Topics: United In The News, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, Texas, Matthew Boms, Battery Storage
NewsData reports on the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative (WWGPI) draft Step 2 proposal. The draft Step 2 proposal includes several components: regional organization (RO) scope and function, formation of the RO, governance of the RO, public-interest protections, and the stakeholder process. The article quotes United's Brian Turner, a member of the WWGPI Launch Committee, saying that this proposal represents a significant step toward improving electricity markets in the West and addressing long-standing barriers.
Topics: United In The News, Western RTO, California, Brian Turner
Renewable Energy World reports that California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 1006 into law, requiring utilities to evaluate grid enhancing technologies (GETs) as often as every two years in transmission planning. The article quotes United's Edson Perez,who stated that the bill incentivizes the state to find the best ways to deploy these technologies across California’s utilities.
Topics: United In The News, California
Western Regional Electricity Market Progress Continues to be Made
Today, the Launch Committee for the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative released Step 2 of its Straw Proposal, which proposes to establish a new, independent Regional Organization (RO) to govern existing regional energy markets (EIM and EDAM), as well as potentially provide additional market services in the future. Clean energy industry representatives from Advanced Energy United, Renew Home, Enel North America, and Leap provided the following statements on the proposal, which will also help advance efforts to build a regional transmission organization (RTO) in the West.
Topics: Wholesale Markets, Press Releases, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO, California
Governor Gavin Newsom signs into law Senate Bills 1221 and 1006
SACRAMENTO, CA—Governor Gavin Newsom signed two landmark clean energy bills into law yesterday. Senate Bill (SB) 1221 paves the way for projects that will affordably transition neighborhoods to clean buildings—making it the first legislation of its kind in the nation, while SB 1006 will accelerate the deployment of grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and advanced reconductoring technologies.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, California
Utility Dive covers United's September 2024 webinar about expanding VPPs in the U.S., which was moderated by United’s Chloe Holden and featured panelists from member companies Ford, PowerFlex, and EnergyHub. The article showcases United's advocacy work to overcome barriers to scaling VPPs across the country.
Topics: United In The News, Webinar, Virtual Power Plants
Amid rising energy demands, The New York Times reports that America's biggest oil-producing state, Texas, is increasingly turning to solar power and battery storage to see it through extreme weather over the years. The article quotes Matthew Boms of Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (United's state affiliate), who speaks to Texas' renewable energy potential.
Topics: United In The News, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, Texas, Matthew Boms, Solar, Battery Storage
The Nevada Independent reports on the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada's (PUCN) unanimous vote that denies NV Energy to raise the basic service charge for its Northern Nevada customers by 175 percent, instead awarding the utility just a fraction of its requested amount. The article quotes United's Emilie Olson, who praised the PUCN's decision to implement a modest rate increase, highlighting its commitment to consumer affordability and protection for Northern Nevadan ratepayers.
Topics: United In The News, Emilie Olson, Nevada