Arizona Capitol Times reports that the clean energy industry may face new challenges as republicans will fill all five seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2025. However, many clean energy advocates, including United's Michael Barrio, are looking forward to new opportunities to engage with the commission on the benefits of clean energy.
Topics: United In The News, Arizona, Michael Barrio
Due to significant federal funding for advanced energy initiatives, Arizona stands to be one of the biggest beneficiaries in the country. United's Michael Barrio authored an opinion piece for the Daily Independent, praising the economic gains advanced energy has produced in Arizona and highlights the importance of continued growth in the advanced energy industry.
Topics: Federal Policy, United In The News, Arizona, Michael Barrio
Santa Fe Reporter covers New Mexico's $43 million Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) program, which offers up to $14,000 in rebates for home energy upgrades. The article quotes United's Michael Barrio, who highlights how the program will stimulate local economies through job creation and support the clean energy transition.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, New Mexico, Michael Barrio
KUNM reports on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Solar For All program, which distributed $156M in grants set to unlock affordable, resilient, clean solar power to households across New Mexico. The article quotes United's Michael Barrio on the program's potential in the state.
Topics: United In The News, New Mexico, Michael Barrio
The Albuquerque Journal reports on advancements in geothermal. The article quotes United's Michael Barrio on what a successful energy transition looks like and how the passage of geothermal legislation will help the state in its renewable energy transition.
About 75 years ago in Animas, irrigators were drilling wells when they stumbled upon extremely hot water naturally bubbling up out of the ground. Little did they know, they had tapped into geothermal energy resources. The spot would later become the location of the Lightning Dock geothermal power plant — New Mexico’s first utility-scale geothermal power plant.
Topics: United In The News, New Mexico, Michael Barrio
Without warning, ACC staff proposed a new charge only for solar customers.
PHOENIX, AZ—The national business association Advanced Energy United is urging the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to vote against the new solar surcharge proposed in the Recommended Opinion and Order (ROO) in Arizona Public Service (APS)’s rate case.
The surcharge imposes a fee that exclusively and unfairly targets solar customers. This fee would increase solar ratepayers’ monthly bills 15%, adding $3-4 more per month compared to non-solar customers.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, Arizona, Michael Barrio
SANTA FE, NM— As New Mexico’s 2024 legislative session closed yesterday, the advanced energy industry made strides despite a busy session with competing priorities.
With bills advancing clean transportation, enabling building electrification, incentivizing clean energy solutions, and enhancing electric vehicle infrastructure, the session resulted in the passage of key legislation affirming New Mexico’s dedication to achieving a clean energy economy.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, New Mexico, Michael Barrio
Arizona Corporation Commission voted 4-1 to begin the process of repealing the state’s energy efficiency and renewable standards.
PHOENIX, AZ. – The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), in a majority 4-1 vote, voted to begin dismantling the Renewable Energy Standard & Tariff (REST) and the Energy Efficiency (EE) Standards, which have been in place since 2006 and 2010. Reversing these rules would curtail job creation, negatively impact grid resilience, and create regulatory uncertainty for businesses looking to invest in the state. Additionally, reversing long-standing policy signals to businesses that Arizona doesn’t want their jobs and investments, negatively impacting the state’s economy.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, Arizona, Michael Barrio
In an opinion piece for the Arizona Daily Star, former director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health Bob England and Advanced Energy United's Arizona state lead Michael Barrio highlight the importance of creating a regional transmission organization in the Western U.S. to strengthen and broaden the grid to better withstand extreme weather and avoid large-scale blackouts.
A study published in late May projected that if Arizona’s electric grid fails during a summer heat wave (like the one we are in right now), it could lead to more than 12,000 deaths and send nearly 800,000 Phoenix residents to the hospital for heat-related illness. And that’s just within the City of Phoenix, not counting the rest of the state. Those are astronomical numbers, and especially unsettling given that the past eight years have been the hottest on record and the next eight will likely be even hotter.
Topics: United In The News, Arizona, Michael Barrio
National business association thanks policymakers for bipartisanship and for embracing economic benefits of advanced energy.
PHOENIX, AZ, May 12, 2023 — National business group Advanced Energy United commends Governor Hobbs and the Arizona Legislature for their bipartisan efforts in passing a state budget that works to prioritize the immediate needs of Arizonans while continuing to invest in the state's advanced energy infrastructure.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, Arizona, Michael Barrio