News

Utility Dive reports on the passing of a bill that may undermine Nevada's transition to more affordable and accessible clean energies, quoting Sarah Steinberg on how the legislation could jeopardize the state’s regional clean energy leadership.

Clean energy advocates and conservation groups say AB 524 makes significant improvements to the state’s IRP process — and if NV Energy can build new resources at the lowest cost, then so be it.

“If that makes sense for Nevadans, sure. But it needs to go through the IRP process,” said Christi Cabrera-Georgeson, deputy director of the Nevada Conservation League.

NV Energy last year proposed a 400 MW gas peaker plant through an IRP amendment. It was approved in March, but opponents say the process did not allow for sufficient public input or review. 

Advanced Energy United and Interwest Energy Alliance call on Nevada to establish regular, predictable competitive solicitations for energy resources to catch up with other western peers and ensure least-cost, most reliable energy for ratepayers

CARSON CITY, NV, JUNE 21, 2023 – Late last week, Governor Joe Lombardo signed Assembly Bill 524, a bill making changes to the state’s integrated resource planning (“IRP”) process for electricity. The IRP is a chance for NV Energy, the state’s only investor-owned electric utility, to determine what generation and other resources it needs over the long-term to serve Nevadans with reliable and affordable electricity.

Advanced Energy United applauds Senator Rochelle Nguyen, the Nevada legislature, and Governor Lombardo for coming together to modernize the state’s gas utility regulations to prepare for a rapidly changing energy system.

Advanced energy technologies and services proved resilient in tough economic times, and landmark federal legislation will provide a historic opportunity for growth

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 15, 2023 — Today, Advanced Energy United, the national association of businesses working to achieve 100% clean energy and electrified transportation in America, announced that the total revenue for advanced energy worldwide reached $2.1 trillion in 2022, and reached $374 billion in the U.S. alone, with both markets growing by about 14% over 2021. 

These findings, along with details by market segment, are found in the Advanced Energy Now 2023 Market Reportproduced by Guidehouse Insights for Advanced Energy United (formerly Advanced Energy Economy / AEE). The 2023 edition covers global and U.S. revenue for 2021 and 2022 – two years impacted in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recovery. 

State takes important next step in identifying critical EV charging infrastructure to fast-track 

ALBANY, NY, June 12, 2023 -- Today, Advanced Energy United thanked the New York Legislature for passing S4830/A5052, a bill that directs state agencies to assess where in the state the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is likely to require strengthening or expanding the state’s electricity grid. Such analyses—and subsequent grid improvements—will ensure the grid is ready for the uptick in electricity demand that EVs will bring, and save money in the long run compared to the status quo of reactive and piecemeal grid upgrades. 

“New York’s transition to EVs is a critical undertaking, but that transition will be slower and more expensive without proactive strengthening of the electricity grid,” said Karlito Almeda, New York state lead for Advanced Energy United, the national association of businesses working to achieve a 100% clean energy and electrified transportation future. “Charging infrastructure projects can take nine months to two years to complete. That’s why studying and recommending grid improvements is an important first step, but we stand ready to work with state agencies, along with the legislature next year to put the resulting study into action as soon as possible.” 

Program will offer incentives for the purchase of zero-emission medium-and-heavy-duty vehicles 

CARSON CITY, NV, June 12, 2023 – Today, Advanced Energy United, the national association of businesses working to achieve 100% clean energy and electrified transportation, commended Governor Lombardo for signing into law AB 184, which established a Nevada Clean Trucks and Buses Incentive Program. 

“This legislation will drive Nevadan businesses and fleets forward into a modern, high-performing, lower-cost, clean transportation future,” said Gabriela Olmedo, policy associate at Advanced Energy United. “We thank Assemblyman Watts for championing this important bill, and Governor Lombardo for recognizing the economic opportunity that the growing electric vehicle market offers the state.”

Indianapolis Business Journal publishes an article on the future of Indiana's electricity grid written by United's Trish Demeter and Ed Burgess from Strategen.

Much has changed since Indiana’s electric utilities last issued their plans to power Hoosier homes and businesses—fossil fuel prices, supply chains, federal policies, geopolitics and technologies, to name just a few.

These changes have opened new opportunities to offer customers lower energy prices and cleaner air. But if Indiana utilities move ahead with their current proposals that ignore these rapidly evolving market conditions, they will waste their customers’ money on 20th century strategies and technologies. Don’t Hoosiers deserve better options for an affordable, reliable and modern grid?

Four of the state’s largest electric utilities—CenterPoint, Duke Energy Indiana, Indiana Michigan Power and Northern Indiana Public Service Co.—have proposed replacing coal-fi red powerplants with natural-gas-fueled plants. It’s like upgrading from a1995 Toyota Corolla to a 2005 Toyota Corolla when, for the same price or less, you could have a Ford Mustang Mach-e. It would be irresponsible for these utilities to not reconsider their plans before breaking ground on new projects when changing market conditions make potentially cost-saving and innovative solutions available.

RICHMOND, VA, June 7, 2023 – Today, Advanced Energy United, the national association of businesses working to achieve 100% clean energy and electrified transportation, expressed its disappointment in the Air Pollution Control Board’s decision to approve a regulatory repeal of Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (“RGGI”).

“This Initiative is working to reduce energy costs for Virginians, and withdrawing from it undermines the Commonwealth’s economy," said Kim Jemaine, Director at Advanced Energy United. “In the first two years of participation, RGGI generated $252 million for weatherization and energy efficiency projects, chiefly for low-income Virginians. RGGI has been particularly impactful for the over 200,000 low-income residents who pay a disproportionate amount of their income toward the cost of energy.”

Suedeen Kelly, Partner at Jenner & Block and former FERC commissioner, joined Institute’s Board in 2020

WASHINGTON, DC, June 6, 2023 – Today, national nonprofit organization Advanced Energy Institute announced that Suedeen Kelly, Partner at Jenner & Block, is the new Chair of the Institute’s board, where she has served as a board member since 2020. In this role, Ms. Kelly will elevate the Institute’s role and impact promoting understanding of the benefits of the transition to 100% clean energy and electrified transportation in America.

“At this critical juncture for our nation’s energy system, we are honored to have Suedeen’s expertise and leadership guiding our efforts to shine a light on the benefits of advanced energy for America,” said Heather O’Neill, President and CEO of Advanced Energy United, the sister business association of the Institute. “Suedeen is a proven public leader and a sought-out expert across the industry, giving her unique insights into the needs and opportunities to educate policymakers across the country.”

Canary Media reports on the outcome of the recently concluded Texas legislative session, quoting Matthew Boms on how the legislature avoided passing bills that would have derailed the state's clean energy industry's efforts.

The best thing that Doug Lewin, president of Texas-based energy consultancy Stoic Energy, can say about the just-concluded Texas legislative session is that it could have been much, much worse. 

Lawmakers failed to pass bills that would have helped stabilize and clean up the Texas grid, but at least they also, at the last minute, avoided passing bills that would have crushed the state’s clean energy industry.