In an episode of the Volts Podcast, United's Brian Turner and Western Freedom's Kathleen Staks discuss the newly authorized Regional Organization for Western Energy (ROWE), a unique “à la carte” regional transmission organization designed to unify the western U.S. grid without trampling on state independence.
Topics: Transmission, Western RTO, California, Brian Turner
In an episode of NewsData's People in Power Podcast, United's Brian Turner discusses the recent passage of California Assembly Bill (AB) 825, and the path forward for an independently governed energy market in the West.
Topics: United In The News, Western RTO, California, Brian Turner
Following the passage of California's AB 825, KUNR reports that the West is getting closer to creating a unified regional electricity market among the Western states to replace the current fragmented system of utility contracts. United's Brian Turner highlighted the benefits of broader regional collaboration in lowering electricity costs and strengthening grid reliability.
Topics: United In The News, Western RTO, California, Brian Turner
The Los Angeles Times reports on the close of the California 2025 legislative session and Governor Gavin Newsom's veto of AB 740, a bill that would have directed the state’s energy agencies to create an implementation plan for virtual power plants. The article quotes United's Edson Perez, who called the veto a huge missed opportunity that would have lowered costs.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, California
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.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, California, Virtual Power Plants
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.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, California
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.
Topics: United In The News, Western RTO, California, Brian Turner
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.
Topics: United In The News, Western RTO, California, Brian Turner
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.
Topics: United In The News, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO, California
Governor Newsom signs Assembly Bill 825 into law, a monumental step for greater Western regional collaboration
SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, California Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 825, the Pathways bill, into law, marking a significant milestone for Western collaboration by allowing California to take part in an independently managed regional electricity market.
Topics: Press Releases, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO, California