Recent News

By Tag

See all

By Month

See all

Overturning Chevron Doctrine Subverts Government’s Role in America’s Energy Transition

Posted by Adam Winer on Jun 28, 2024

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court, in issuing a ruling in the case of LOPER BRIGHT ENTERPRISES v. RAIMONDO, announced it has overturned the judicial Chevron Doctrine.

In response, Heather O'Neill, President and CEO of national business association Advanced Energy United, issued the following statement:

“While the march to clean energy will continue, today’s Supreme Court decision to radically overturn forty years of judicial precedent is a blow for effective and efficient government. Technology and regulation go hand and hand in making America a prosperous, safe, and clean place in which to live. Overturning the so-called Chevron Doctrine will invite chaos, inefficiency, and added cost to everyday people.

In light of this decision, Congress must act to ensure that this decision does not undo decades of progress.”

Read More

Topics: Federal Policy, Press Releases, Heather O'Neill

Industry Should Lean Into, Instead of Litigate Against, the Energy Transition

Posted by Adam Winer on May 22, 2024

Advanced Energy United calls on industry to stop dragging its feet and embrace more cost-efficient and reliable advanced energy solutions 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a petition was filed in federal court against the recently finalized U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions regulations for existing coal-fired power plants and new gas plants. National business association Advanced Energy United expressed support for the regulations when they were announced in April, and today urged against industry litigation and instead called for the embrace of cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable solutions for powering the electric grid.

Read More

Topics: Federal Policy, EPA GHG Regs, Press Releases, Heather O'Neill

Associated Press: US Energy Panel Approves Rule to Expand Transmission of Renewable Power

Posted by Matthew Daly on May 13, 2024

Associated Press reports on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)'s approval of rules aimed at improving long-term regional planning for high-voltage interstate electric transmission lines. The article quotes United President and CEO Heather O'Neill, who voiced support for the rulemaking and emphasized the need for the buildout of more multi-state transmission lines to keep up with our growing energy needs.

Read More

Topics: Wholesale Markets, United In The News, FERC, Heather O'Neill, Transmission

New FERC Order Empowers States to Expand America’s Electricity Superhighways

Posted by Adam Winer on May 13, 2024

FERC Order No. 1920 will improve transmission planning and make it easier for states to improve their transmission grid

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted to approve new rules aimed at improving long-term regional planning for high-voltage interstate electric transmission lines. 

“Families and businesses are paying the price for utilities’ and grid operators’ failure to address our critical electricity infrastructure needs,” said Heather O’Neill, President and CEO at national business association Advanced Energy United. "Building more multi-state transmission lines unclogs the traffic jams on America’s electricity superhighways and unlocks our ability to keep up with our growing energy needs. This FERC Order sends the message that transmission planning needs to change, and recognizes that states deserve a central role in ensuring a reliable electric grid built for the future.” 

Read More

Topics: Wholesale Markets, Press Releases, Caitlin Marquis, FERC, Heather O'Neill, Transmission

Canary Media: New Clean Power Rules Force Utilities to Take Clean Energy Seriously

Posted by Jeff St. John on Apr 25, 2024

Canary Media reports on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new rules pushing utilities to retrofit fossil-fuel plants with new technologies or swap them out for clean energy alternatives, quoting United's President and CEO Heather O'Neill on the opportunity the rules present for utilities to pivot to advanced energy solutions.

On Thursday, the Biden administration issued rules to dramatically reduce carbon emissions and pollution from U.S. power plants, while top officials weighed in with an important message: Clean energy is more than ready to supplant the fossil-fueled power plants the new regulations are intended to curb.

The long-awaited rules, the result of nearly a year of work at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will require individual states to craft plans for ensuring that coal-fired plants slated to stay open past 2039 control 90 percent of their carbon pollution from 2032 onward. Newly built baseload” fossil-gas-fired power plants that operate more than 40 percent of the year must do the same.

Read More

Topics: Federal Policy, United In The News, Heather O'Neill

In Light of New U.S. EPA Power Plant Rules, Utilities Should Pivot to Advanced Energy Solutions

Posted by Adam Winer on Apr 25, 2024

Advanced Energy United calls on utilities to switch to more affordable and reliable tools for powering the U.S. electric grid

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced newly finalized emissions regulations for existing coal-fired power plants and new gas plants. Advanced Energy United, the national association of businesses united in their mission to achieve 100% clean energy and electrified transportation in America, expressed support for the regulations and called on utilities to do right by ratepayers by embracing cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable solutions for powering the electric grid.

Read More

Topics: Federal Policy, EPA GHG Regs, Press Releases, Heather O'Neill

The New York Times: A New Surge in Power Use Is Threatening U.S. Climate Goals

Posted by Brad Plumer and Nadja Popovich on Mar 14, 2024

The New York Times reports on a recent boom in electricity demand in the U.S. that is putting pressure on conventional gas power plants, quoting United's CEO and President Heather O'Neill on the variety of options available for utilities to meet rising demand.

Critics say that regulated utilities often default to building gas plants because it’s a familiar technology and because, in many states, they earn a guaranteed profit from capital projects. They don’t always have the same incentive to adopt energy-efficiency programs that reduce sales or to plan transmission lines that can import cheaper wind power from elsewhere.

Read More

Topics: United In The News, Energy Efficiency, New York, Heather O'Neill

NJ Spotlight News: Op-Ed: The steps needed to get offshore wind back on track in 2024

Posted by Heather O'Neill on Mar 13, 2024

In an opinion piece featured in NJ Spotlight News, United's President and CEO Heather O'Neill writes about the storm of challenges the offshore wind industry faced in the last few post-pandemic year and highlights four key steps to getting the industry back to full power.

After a turbulent 2023, the new year brought some welcome news for the offshore wind industry. Power started to flow from New York’s South Fork Wind and Massachusetts’ Vineyard Wind soon followed suit, meaning that America’s first large-scale projects are now sending clean electricity to its shores for the first time. Meanwhile in New Jersey, the state granted two offshore wind solicitation awards in January, totaling 3,742 megawatts of capacity, enough to power 1.8 million homes when fully operational. 

Read More

Topics: United In The News, New York, Heather O'Neill, Offshore Wind, Massachusetts, New Jersey

Global clean energy business leader at Enel named Chair of the Board of Advanced Energy United

Posted by Adam Winer on Oct 23, 2023

Megan Beauregard of Enel North America replaces Prasanna Venkatesan, who is stepping down from his role on United’s Board.

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 23, 2023 – National business group Advanced Energy United (United) announced that Megan Beauregard, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Enel North America, was elected Chair of United’sBoard of Directors. A longtime Leader-level member of United, Enel North America is committed to tackling climate change by electrifying the economy and making a net-zero carbon future possible in the United States and Canada.As Chairof the Board of Directors, Beauregard will support United’s mission of expanding the advanced energy industry in the U.S., which grew to nearly $375 billion in 2022, and accelerating America’s transition to a 100% clean energy future. 

Read More

Topics: Press Releases, Heather O'Neill, United Updates

The Hill: One year on, Inflation Reduction Act is bolstering renewables. But Biden’s climate goals remain elusive

Posted by Rachel Frazin on Aug 17, 2023

The Hill provides a comprehensive analysis of the successes and shortcomings of the Inflation Reduction Act one year after the legislation passed, quoting Advanced Energy United's President & CEO Heather O'Neill on the Congressional steps needed to maximize the full potential of the policy.

One year after its adoption, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has resulted in significant strides in the adoption of renewable energy — but the U.S. still has work to do in order to reach President Biden’s climate goals. 

New analyses demonstrate significant growth in the renewables sector as a result of the law, the most significant climate legislation in the country’s history. They also say, however, that the U.S. is not quite on track to meet its climate objectives.

Read More

Topics: United In The News, Heather O'Neill