News

SB 5995 aims to modernize the grid and lower costs for consumers  

ALBANY, NY – Today, New York Senator Leroy Comrie introduced legislation, Senate Bill 5995, to integrate New York’s gas and electric energy planning process and save consumers money – ensuring our utilities are making only the investments that are most cost-effective, forward-thinking, and aligned with the state’s clean energy goals. Under the bill, Public Service Commission (PSC) must establish an integrated energy system planning protocol that considers both gas and electric system investments together to preventwasteful and unnecessary spending, protect against over-or under-building, maximize efficiency, and ensure grid reliability at the lowest possible cost to ratepayers. 

LANSING, MI – Diverse stakeholders today announced the filing of a brief from industry organizations and multiple amicus curiae brief petitions in support of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s actions to implement Public Act 233 (PA 233), which was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Whitmer as The Clean Energy and Jobs Act. The law, and the Commission’s actions, establish a careful balance to allow farmers to use their land for wind, solar, and storage projects while ensuring a thorough review of the projects.

The briefs – filed by a broad set of business groups, renewable energy advocates, labor organizations, legislators, and local landowners  – advocate for the full implementation of the permitting process under PA 233, emphasizing its crucial role in advancing Michigan’s clean energy future, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. 

Increased advanced power generation could deliver millions in tax revenue to local communities, bolster Hoosiers' energy independence, and keep costs down for consumers 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A surge in economic development in Indiana is driving a growing need for electricity, and a new report shows solar power produced in-state would help meet this demand – but only if proposed projects are actually built. Indiana is a Midwest leader in attracting advanced manufacturing and technology-driven economic growth, and the report makes clear that advanced power resources such as solar could power the state’s bright future.  

The new report, from Baker Tilly, “Forecasting the Economic Impact Potential of Solar in Indiana,” shows expanding solar power generation in Indiana would drive millions in additional tax revenue to local communities to help pay for community and emergency services, all while creating new jobs, helping to lower energy costs and enabling the state to maintain its economic development momentum by meeting growing electricity demand.  

The Utility’s Proposal Falls Short on Clean Energy Goals, Puts Ratepayers At Risk 

RICHMOND, VA – Today, Advanced Energy United filed the testimony of our expert witness in Dominion Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan highlighting the utility’s failure to properly include all advanced energy options in its electricity supply portfolio for the next 15 years. 

“The technology exists today to serve all of Dominion’s forecasted load with clean energy resources and Dominion’s plan as filed not only misses the goals of the Virginia General Assembly’s landmark Virginia Clean Economy Act, the utility proposal is a failure for the ratepayers of Virginia who will be locked into fossil fuel plants subject to volatile natural gas prices for years to come,” said Shawn Kelly, United’s Director of Regulatory Policy for the Eastern States. 

HB3758/SB2497 solidifies Illinois’ leadership as national officials back away from clean energy

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., February 25, 2025 – Illinois families and businesses would see lower energy bills under HB3758/SB2497, a newly filed bill by Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) and Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago).

“With energy prices skyrocketing across the country and leaders in Washington opening the floodgates for fossil fuels, our bill makes it clear that Illinois will remain at the forefront of lowering energy costs while investing in clean energy,” Sen. Cunningham said. “HB3758/SB2497 proves to the nation that we don’t have to choose between taking care of our communities, our economy, and our planet.”

PJM’s inability to quickly connect new large-scale energy sources to the grid cost consumers $7 billion in latest capacity auction, found new Grid Strategies analysis 

WASHINGTON, DC – Electricity prices across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest are set to soar, but a new analysis finds that consumer electricity costs could have been reduced by as much as $7 billion dollars in PJM Interconnection’s latest capacity auction had the grid operator’s interconnection process been working more efficiently to bring needed supply online to match demand. 

The finding comes from a new analysis from the consulting firm Grid Strategies, “Penny-wise and pound foolish:PJM’s Capacity Auction Demonstrates the Cost Imperative of Simplified and Speedy Interconnection.” The report was prepared for national business association Advanced Energy United, and explores PJM as a specific case study of a broader national trend. 

SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Senate Chair of Energy, Utilities and Communication Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) and Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) introduced SB 540, legislation aimed at optimizing California’s energy markets, increasing grid reliability, reducing costs for ratepayers, and accelerating the transition to a clean energy future.

Businesses and community advocates are championing AB 740 to support long-term electricity affordability solutions through virtual power plants.

SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, California Assemblymember John Harabedian introduced a new bill that will allow Californians to leverage proven low-cost energy solutions to help prevent dangerous blackouts and strengthen our power grid amidst growing electricity demand.

A pair of bipartisan energy bills are on their way to the Governor’s desk for signature 

RICHMOND, VA – Today the Virginia General Assembly passed two critical energy bills—S.B. 1040 and S.B. 1100—marking a major step forward in expanding clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for the Commonwealth.

• S.B. 1040, which passed the House unanimously (97-0), expands access to distributed generation (DG), ensuring more Virginians can benefit from local, customer-owned clean energy resources like rooftop solar. The bill also removes the size requirement for solar and wind projects to qualify for third-party power purchase agreements, making the technology more affordable to more people.
• S.B. 1100 concerns virtual power plants (VPPs) and it requires Dominion Energy to propose a pilot program to test technologies that help manage electricity demand. The program will study how VPPs can support the power grid, especially during times of high energy use, and whether they can reduce the need for additional grid capacity.  

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