News

Houston Public Media reports on a recent virtual Reliable Grid Project media briefing, where industry experts emphasized the importance of renewables to meet growing electricity demand across Texas. Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance Executive Director Matthew Boms spoke to the benefits of wind, solar, and battery storage in bolstering Texas' grid.

Canary Media reports that Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a series of virtual power plant bills, AB 44, AB 740, and SB 541, despite strong bipartisan support in the California legislature. The article quotes United's Edson Perez, who said this was a huge missed opportunity to tap the value of rooftop solar, batteries, and EVs that could cut costs and boost grid reliability.

POLITICO reports on Governor Gavin Newsom vetoing AB 44, a bill that would have streamlined how utilities use distributed energy resources (DERs) and take advantage of existing VPP programs. The article quotes United's Edson Perez, who said that this was a huge missed opportunity to advance common-sense policy that would have lowered costs, strengthened the grid, and unlocked the full potential of advanced energy.

In an opinion piece for Utility Dive, United’s Brian Turner explains what comes next after the passage of California's AB 825, a bill allowing the state’s utilities to join electricity markets governed by a new, independent West-wide organization. The new organization will let states opt into services a la carte, with more to come. This uniquely Western model will lower costs, improve reliability, and respect each state's policy goals. 

Canary Media reports that Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill (HB 4120) that would establish a basic virtual power plant (VPP) program and require the state's two largest utilities to propose their own VPP programs by 2027. United's Samarth Medakkar spoke to the benefits of VPPs in lowering electricity costs and reducing strain on the grid during times of peak demand.

Canary Media reports on the passage of AB 825, the Pathways bill, which was signed into law as part of a major climate-and-energy legislative package. AB 825 will allow California to join with the West in creating a regional day-ahead energy market. The article quotes United's Brian Turner, who called the bill a "starting gun" for a Western energy market that will lower costs, strengthen the grid, and protect California's authority. 

Utility Dive reports on Governor Newsom signing a sweeping energy package into law. Among those was AB 825, the Pathways bill, which paves the way for an independent body to oversee a regional Western energy market. The article quotes United's Leah Rubin Shen, who said that this was a culmination of nearly a decade of work that will deliver a more reliable grid and a more flexible and affordable energy future for the West.

Inside Climate News reports on a first-of-its-kind PJM Multistate Technical Conference, during which several governors in PJM states called for major reforms to the grid operator, citing high electricity prices and slow interconnection. United's Jon Gordon spoke as an industry expert and defended competitive markets, encouraging states to press PJM to make improvements that ensure lower costs for consumers.