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NPR reflects on the first anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, quoting Advanced Energy United's President & CEO Heather O'Neill on how the landmark legislation and related policy reforms are driving the transition to 100% clean energy.

A year ago, Sonia Aggarwal watched from home as the votes came in on the U.S. Senate floor. Aggarwal was working as a White House aide, advising the Biden administration on climate policy. She'd been up all night, listening as senators debated legislation she and many others had spent more than a year trying to pass.

With that vote, the country's most significant climate legislation made it through the U.S. Senate, a body that had stymied previous efforts for decades. The bill went on to clear the U.S. House, and made its way to President Biden for his signature on Aug. 16, 2022.

America’s $374 billion advanced energy industry poised for accelerated growth thanks in part to the Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON, DC, August 16, 2023 – A year after its signing, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is working as intended, fueling a new era of investment in domestic advanced energy manufacturing and empowering the growth of the technologies and services America needs to secure a 100% clean energy future. 

The recently published Market Reportby Advanced Energy United found that the advanced energy industry – made up of several sectors including building efficiency, advanced transportation, electricity distribution and generation, and advanced fuel production – grew by 14% in market size from 2021 to 2022, up to $374 billion. Those figures have the potential to be dwarfed by the growth stemming from the investments fueled by the IRA. Combined with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, the IRA is expected to lead to roughly $444 billion in federal investment and $1.2 trillion in private investment, resulting in $2.8 trillion in total GDP, 23 million jobs, and $60 billion in annual consumer savings – all told, a six-fold return in investment in federal dollars in advanced energy growth. 

To celebrate the moment, Advanced Energy United President and CEO Heather O’Neill released the following statement, anticipating the next era of policies needed to reach our clean energy goals: 

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. 

National business group calls for utilities to switch to more affordable advanced energy solutions 

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 11, 2023 – Today, Advanced Energy United, the national association of businesses working to achieve 100% clean energy and electrified transportation in America, expressed support for the new emissions regulations announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding new and existing power plants.

"These new regulations constitute an important step towards building a decarbonized energy grid in the United States, alongside federal legislation and policies in states across the country,” said Heather O’Neill, President and CEO of Advanced Energy United. “Within legal constraints, the Agency has proposed the best system for reducing emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants. What the debate around this rule also makes clear is that advanced energy presents the most affordable path to decarbonizing our energy system. At every opportunity, utilities and power providers should be looking to wind, solar, geothermal, energy efficiency, demand flexibility, energy storage and other clean and cost-effective solutions for providing reliable and affordable electricity today and in the years ahead.” 

RTO Insider interviewed Advanced Energy United's President Heather O'Neill about the organization's rebranding and its plans for market-changing advocacy as it moves into its second decade. Read snippets below and the full article here. 

Advanced Energy Economy has started 2023 with a new name, Advanced Energy United, reflecting both the progress the group has made since its founding and the challenges ahead.

The group’s original name reflected its goal of creating an economy powered by advanced energy. Now, although there is broad consensus around its objective, the group says, the challenge is harmonizing the technologies needed to achieve it and breaking down the barriers in the way.

“It’s a recognition of the moment in time,” President Heather O’Neill said in an interview with NetZero Insider. With $369 billion — or more — in clean energy tax credits, incentives and new programs available under the Inflation Reduction Act, the group’s goal is “having the industry come together to accelerate the energy transition and take advantage of the massive opportunities in front of us,” she said.

CEO Nat Kreamer transitions to sustainability investing; Advanced Energy United President Heather O’Neill promoted to CEO. 

WASHINGTON, DC, February 15, 2023 – After four and a half years leading the Advanced Energy United organizations to achieve historic political wins and record financial growth, CEO Nat Kreamer is transitioning to a new role as Executive Chairman of AMP Robotics with additional leadership roles in his investments at Fairtide, HDM Renewable Finance, and Highland Electric Fleets. Kreamer will remain a member of the Advanced Energy Institute board. Current President Heather O’Neill will become CEO and President of the organizations with the full support of their boards. 

CEO Nat Kreamer says name change reflects the organization’s strength as a unifying force for the entire industry

WASHINGTON, DC, January 3, 2023 – Today, national business association Advanced Energy Economy, a leading policy voice for the advanced energy sector, rebranded as Advanced Energy United, with plans to expand its advocacy and engagement portfolio on behalf of an industry with a combined market capitalization in excess of $3 trillion.

“At Advanced Energy United we're bringing together the leaders of the clean energy sector to open doors for the technologies needed to create a more affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy future,” said Advanced Energy United CEO Nat Kreamer. “The new name is designed to better reflect our strength as a unifying force for companies that create and support a goal of 100% clean energy and electrified transportation in the U.S.”

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2022 – National business association Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) President Heather O’Neill issued the following statement today about Senate budget reconciliation negotiations: 

“Americans are facing historic levels of inflation, driven in large part by global fossil fuel prices. The tax credits in this package would deliver much needed relief, helping to cut energy prices and reduce U.S. dependence on price-volatile fossil fuels, by spurring the domestic manufacturing and deployment of clean, affordable, and reliable advanced energy technologies. Failing to use this opportunity to boost the domestic advanced energy manufacturing industry would mean American workers get less benefit from the world’s transition to clean energy, and would all but assure that our economic competitors, particularly China, reap the economic rewards instead. We call on Congress to enact them as soon as possible.