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Letter also lauds two-year bridge for solar imports, calls for swift end to Auxin investigation 

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2022 – Today, national business association Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) sent a letter to the Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, the White House, and leaders on Capitol Hill strongly defending President Biden’s use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to expand domestic production of “five critical clean energy technologies,” including solar, heat pumps, power grid infrastructure, building insulation, and equipment for making and using clean electricity-generated fuels.  

As the letter details, this action is vital to address the immediate issues of rising energy prices, U.S. and European exposure to Russian oil and gas, and America’s security interests. AEE called upon the Administration and Congress to significantly increase resources in the DPA Fund to meet this moment. In addition, Congress should harness reconciliation to pass a robust package of energy and manufacturing incentives, akin to those in Build Back Better, to build on the progress the DPA should initiate. AEE Managing Director Harrison Godfrey provided the following statement about the letter and its message to the Administration:

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2022 – Today, national business association Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) joined with public utilities and privately owned power generators in filing a motion to intervene in the U.S. Court of Appeals case Ohio v. EPA with the intent of defending the Biden Administration’s reinstatement of California’s long-standing Clean Air Act waiver. That waiver allows the state to set vehicle emissions standards that are more protective of public health than federal standards, and to implement zero-emissions standards for light-duty vehicles, both of which other states are allowed to adopt as well.

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2022 – Today national business association Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) celebrated the announcement from the Biden Administration that it will expand use of the Defense Production Act to include solar panels and component parts, as well as building insulation, heat pumps, electrolyzers, platinum group metals, fuel cells, and transformers. The White House also announced a pause on solar trade tariffs to allow clean energy projects across the country to be built while the country scales up domestic manufacturing of supply chain components. 

“This is a needed stay in a more than decade-long tariff war that has been a loser for all parties,” said AEE CEO Nat Kreamer. “Tariffs only raise costs for consumers and don’t create domestic demand for clean energy. These announcements today provide much-needed stability to the solar industry and the clean energy transition at large, and send the message to Congress that now is the time to act urgently to build the clean energy domestic manufacturing industry this country needs to protect consumers and become energy independent.

The Washington Post reported on federal clean energy tax credit negotiations, citing AEE-led meetings with Senator Joe Manchin and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to discuss the policy. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Clean energy executives on Thursday met separately with Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to discuss the clean energy tax credits in President Biden's stalled budget reconciliation bill.

Political Climate spoke with Leah Rubin Shen about the IIJA rollout, Biden's climate goals, and clean energy tax credits. Listen to the episode here.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — a historic $1.2 trillion investment package passed by Congress on a bipartisan basis — has received little fanfare since President Biden signed it into law last November. The bill contains more than $80 billion to advance the clean energy transition and respond to climate change. But where exactly will those dollars go?

Utility Dive outlined Congress' reconciliation window, citing AEE's Leah Rubin Shen on a the importance of passing clean energy tax credits. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Clean energy stakeholders see a window in the next few months for Congress to pass broad clean energy tax breaks amid high energy prices and an ever-narrowing legislative calendar.

The Hill outlined Biden's use of the Defense Production Act, quoting Harry Godfrey and Nat Kreamer expanding its use to encompass battery storage, heat pumps, and more. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Industry figures and environmental groups are urging President Biden to go beyond his initial use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) and seize the opportunity to build out supply chains and infrastructure to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.  

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 1, 2022 – Today, ahead of the State of the Union address, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) urged President Joe Biden to look toward advanced energy for the sake of national security and to better protect Americans from future spikes in the prices of fossil fuels. 

AEE CEO Nat Kreamer, who is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan where he served in the Special Forces and was awarded the Bronze Star, released the following statement:  

“I returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2006 determined to help the United States free itself from fossil fuels. Now, with Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we have even more reason to accelerate our country’s transition to clean energy.  

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 14, 2022 — Today, the American Clean Power Association, Advanced Energy Economy, and the Solar Energy Industries Association filed supplemental comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to emphasize the need and opportunity for near-term interconnection improvements.

AEE joins other clean energy groups in appealing the FERC decision to reject a rehearing of its approval of the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM) proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 8, 2022 — Today, Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) joined a coalition of clean energy, environmental, and community groups from across the Southeast in filing a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit seeking review of the approval of the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM) proposal before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).