In an opinion piece for The Colorado Sun, United's Emilie Olson urges Colorado to maintain its clean energy leadership by laying out smart, actionable policy opportunities for 2026, such as expanding transmission buildout, implementing coordinated gas-electric system planning, and investing in proven advanced energy technologies that ensure a reliable and affordable grid. As this was a slower legislative year for clean energy advancements, Olson calls on lawmakers to rise to the challenge next session and follow through on Colorado’s clean energy promises.
The Colorado Sun: Opinion - Who Will Carry the Torch for Colorado’s Clean Energy Future?
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Colorado, Emilie Olson
Inside Climate News: Illinois Punts on Plans for Increasing Energy Storage, Renewables
Inside Climate News reports that the Illinois state legislature failed to pass a comprehensive energy bill—aimed at advancing clean energy technologies and renewable energy projects—before adjourning their Spring legislative session. Concerns over increased load growth and rising electricity rates overshadowed the legislature's consideration of the bill. To combat these concerns, Illinois lawmakers and advanced energy experts, including United's Samarth Medakkar, engaged with stakeholders to find common ground on measures that will accelerate battery storage deployment to help relieve grid strain and reduce costs.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Illinois, Samarth Medakkar, Battery Storage
Inside Climate News: Trump’s Budget Wish Could Threaten Billions in Clean Energy Investment in Virginia
President Trump's proposed bill aims to dismantle key tax incentives, which have been instrumental in driving billions in private investment and creating more than 11,000 jobs in Virginia. United's Harry Godfrey spoke with Inside Climate News, stating that the rollback of these incentives would threaten to stall Virginia's progress in renewable energy development, economic growth, and job creation, undermining efforts to create a more reliable and affordable energy future.
Topics: State Policy, Virginia, United In The News, Harrison Godfrey, Offshore Wind, Solar, Federal Priorities
RTO Insider: Mass. Gov. Healey Introduces Energy Affordability Bill
RTO Insider reports that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey filed the Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act to help reduce energy costs for state residents and businesses. United's Kat Burnham stated that the bill is a step in the right direction towards saving ratepayers money, bringing more renewable energy to Massachusetts, and increasing accountability for utilities.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Kat Burnham, Massachusetts
Capitol Weekly: How Smart Post-Fire Energy Planning Can Save Us Billions
In an opinion column featured in Capitol Weekly, United's Callie McKenna makes the case for lower-cost, all-electric alternatives when rebuilding gas infrastructure after the Los Angeles wildfires, urging policymakers to rein in unchecked utility spending to protect ratepayers and meet California’s climate and clean energy goals.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, California
The Texan: Legislation Proposed to Reduce Electricity, Energy Waste in Texas Facilities
The Texan reports on State Senator Hancock's SB 2455, which would establish the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee to make recommendations for coordinating and improving state agency programs that reduce energy waste. Matthew Boms, Executive Director of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, highlighted the benefits of the legislation, including improved grid reliability, increased regional coordination, and meeting soaring energy demand across the state.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, Texas, Matthew Boms
Advanced Energy United Applauds Pathways Bill, Which Will Expand Energy Markets, Lower Costs, and Enhance Grid Reliability for California
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.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, Western RTO, California, Edson Perez
New CA Bill Improves Electricity Affordability by Using Virtual Power Plants
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.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, California, Edson Perez, Virtual Power Plants
Virginia General Assembly Gives Bipartisan Green Light to Distributed Generation and Virtual Power Plant Bills
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.
Topics: State Policy, Virginia, Press Releases, Jim Purekal
Gov. Shapiro Unveils Bold Clean Energy “Lightning Plan” for Pennsylvania
New initiatives aim to fast-track clean energy, create jobs, and modernize the grid.
PITTSBURGH, PA – Governor Josh Shapiro today announced a sweeping clean energy package designed to make Pennsylvania a leader in the energy transition. The plan includes, but is not limited to, the reintroduction of the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) and the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) program, alongside new energy efficiency measures, a clean energy siting board initiative, and updates to the EDGE tax credit.
As part of his announcement, Governor Shapiro called on regional grid operator PJM to open up its interconnection queue and prioritize connecting new energy projects to the grid. Addressing the backlog in PJM’s queue is critical to ensuring that Pennsylvania can take full advantage of its clean energy potential and accelerate the deployment of new projects.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, Pennsylvania, Morgan Pinnell