Colorado Newsline reports on a Western Governors' Association Workshop, where United's Leah Rubin Shen spoke on the “Transmission Needs for More-of-the-Above" panel, emphasizing that the West will need to increase transmission capacity in order to meet growing energy demand, strengthen reliability, and lower energy costs for consumers.
Topics: United In The News, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO, Colorado
Stateline reports that Western states are moving closer to creating a regional electricity market following the passage of California's AB 825. The article quotes United's Leah Rubin Shen talking about the benefits of joining such a market, including sharing resources more efficiently, lowering costs, and improving grid reliability across the West.
Topics: United In The News, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO
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
Many no-regrets bills passed in the waning days of session, but major affordability and clean energy gaps remain
SACRAMENTO, CA—During a busy last week of session in which high-profile energy deals were finalized on topics ranging from cap-and-trade reauthorization to replenishing the wildfire fund, California lawmakers approved manyclean energybills and madeprogress in addressing the ongoing energy affordability crisis, but also fell short on other key solutions.
Topics: Press Releases, Leah Rubin Shen, California
Assembly Bill 825 passes the California legislature and now awaits the Governor’s signature
SACRAMENTO, CA—As the California legislative session comes to a close, lawmakers approved a bill designed to allow California to participate in an independently-governed Western electricity market. Assembly Bill (AB) 825, which is now an amended version of Senate Bill (SB) 540, has been sent to Governor Newsom for approval.
Topics: Press Releases, Leah Rubin Shen, California
Funding cuts risk driving away innovation and private investment from the state, exacerbating affordability & reliability problems
SACRAMENTO, CA—As the California legislative session comes to a close, the legislature and Governor have failed to fund the state’s flagship clean grid reliability program, the Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) program. This decision risks ending the program altogether, which would mean losing out on more than $200 million in energy cost savings for Californians and extending the state’s dependence on costly peaker plants to meet emergency power needs.
Topics: Press Releases, Leah Rubin Shen, California
Bloomberg Government reports that California lawmakers are pushing for Assembly Bill (AB) 825, which would allow the state to join a regional energy market. United's Leah Rubin Shen highlighted that the bill demonstrates California's commitment to a more affordable, reliable, and sustainable Western energy market.
Topics: United In The News, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO, California
In an opinion piece for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, United’s Leah Rubin Shen urges the California legislature to pass Senate Bill 540, which would allow California to join a West-wide regional energy market this year. She warns that failing to act could leave California isolated from the rest of the West. The benefits of joining such a market would save ratepayers $1B annually, improve grid reliability during extreme weather, and make better use of existing clean energy resources.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO, California
E&E News reports that the Bonneville Power Administration has opted to join the Southwest Power Pool's Markets+ day-ahead market instead of the California Independent System Operator's Extended Day Ahead Market, a decision with major implications for the Western power grid's future. United's Leah Rubin Shen condemned the move, cautioning that it risks creating a fragmented market structure, increasing costs, and reducing grid reliability.
Topics: United In The News, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO