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Business association Virginia AEE sets record straight on Clean Economy Act and Governor's new Energy Plan

Posted by Adam Winer on Oct 3, 2022

Plan calls for U-turn away from cleaner, cheaper energy future in Virginia, says business group

RICHMOND, VA, October 3, 2022 – Today, business association Virginia Advanced Energy Economy reviewed the new Energy Plan proposed by the Governor Youngkin Administration, and Kim Jemaine, Director at Virginia AEE, released the following statement:

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Topics: State Policy, Virginia, Press Releases, Kim Jemaine

AEE, Rivian applaud New York plans to adopt new clean car regulation

Posted by Adam Winer on Sep 29, 2022

Standard will ensure 100% of new cars sold in state will be zero-emission or plug-in hybrid by 2035 

ALBANY, NY, September 29, 2022 – Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), and electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian, commended Governor Kathy Hochul for committing New York to adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule. Building upon the original 2012 ACC program, ACC II establishes a year-by-year roadmap to ensure 100% of new cars and light trucks sold in New York will be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) by 2035.

“Adopting this program sends a loud and clear message to carmakers that New Yorkers want electric vehicles,” said Leah Meredith, Principal at AEE. “With electric vehicles in high demand but currently in short supply, carmakers are prioritizing the states that speak up, and the Governor’s announcement helps ensure that New Yorkers will have the full range of electric vehicle models to choose from. And by increasing the number of new electric vehicles in New York, this program will also quicken the development of a robust market for used electric vehicles.”

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Topics: State Policy, Regulatory, Advanced Transportation, Press Releases, Electric Vehicles

Clean energy business group celebrates passage of California’s budget and climate deal

Posted by Cayli Baker on Sep 1, 2022

Multibillion-dollar budget investments set to help California deliver on new 2045 carbon-neutrality law, among other clean energy targets  

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Topics: State Policy, California Engagement, Press Releases, Emilie Olson

What They’re Saying: New Western RTO Economic Impact Study

Posted by Adam Winer on Jul 28, 2022

This week, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) released new research into the economic development potential of establishing a regional transmission organization (RTO) to operate the power grid for Western states. The report, conducted by independent consulting firm Energy Strategies, finds that establishing an RTO for Western states would create as many as 657,000 permanent, high-paying jobs in the West. If you want to learn more, watch the press briefing here

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Topics: State Policy, Advanced Energy Employment, Press Releases, Economic Impact, Amisha Rai, Western RTO

New Study Shows Integrated Western Power Market Would Create Upwards of 650,000 Permanent High-Paying Jobs in the West

Posted by Adam Winer on Jul 26, 2022

A Western RTO could save Western states $2 billion in annual energy savings

JULY 26, 2022 – A new report for national business association Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) by independent consulting firm Energy Strategies finds that establishing a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) for Western states would create as many as 657,000 permanent, high-paying jobs in the West. The analysis, "Western RTO Economic Impact Study," also found that a Western RTO would diversify state economies and save ratepayers millions of dollars per year in energy costs.

An RTO is a cooperation agreement which allows electric utilities across multiple states to share resources and leverage the cheapest, cleanest, and most efficient energy sources through an organized regional market. Currently, the West is one of the only regions in the U.S. without an RTO managing its power grid.

The analysis found that every state in the Western region (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) could expect economic benefits from a West-wide RTO, driven by lower electricity prices for households and businesses, additional clean energy development across the region, and the expansion of existing, as well as attraction of new, businesses to the West.

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Topics: State Policy, California Engagement, Advanced Energy Employment, Press Releases, Economic Impact, Amisha Rai, Western RTO

Youngkin Administration fails to ease new burdensome regulations on solar industry

Posted by Adam Winer on Jul 13, 2022

Treating solar panels like pavement creates unnecessary project costs, new industry research paper shows

RICHMOND, July 13, 2022 — Business association Virginia Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) expressed disappointment about new regulatory guidance issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) today that fails to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens on the Virginia solar industry.

The guidance updates regulatory memos issued by Virginia’s DEQ in March that changed technical parameters of solar farm construction and maintenance. The DEQ memos claimed that because solar farms look similar to roads and parking lots on satellite imagery, solar farms should be regulated as such. Guidance released today outlined means for compliance, suggesting developers install unnecessary technology workarounds.

“Solar panels are not pavement, and solar farms are not parking lots,” said Kim Jemaine, Policy Director at Advanced Energy Economy (AEE). “Research conducted by both academic institutions and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory confirms that solar installations do not cause the kind of damaging runoff that paved surfaces do. These new regulations, which are not based on science, will hamstring a growing industry in Virginia for no valid reason.”

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Topics: State Policy, Virginia, Press Releases, Kim Jemaine

California Governor, Legislature miss opportunity to significantly improve California’s power grid reliability in new budget deal

Posted by Cayli Baker on Jun 30, 2022

Budget agreement opens the door to extending the life of fossil fuel generation and misses the mark on creating a more reliable, clean and affordable grid system

SACRAMENTO, June 30, 2022 — Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) responded to the California Legislature’s passage late Wednesday of new budget trailer bills that include billions of dollars for clean energy and transportation investments while also allowing aging fossil fuel power plants to keep running longer beyond planned retirement. 

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Topics: State Policy, California Engagement, Press Releases, Emilie Olson

California's May revised budget sets the stage for much needed conversation around grid reliability

Posted by Cayli Baker on May 13, 2022

Governor Newsom’s updated budget proposal presents an opportunity to boost the state’s efforts toward a 100% clean grid, but should focus on clean energy reliability strategies to address short-term and long- term needs.

SACRAMENTO, May 13, 2022 — Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) responded to Governor Newsom’s proposed $8 billion in clean energy and $10 billion in clean transportation investments in his revised budget. 

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Topics: State Policy, Press Releases

amNY (Opinion): New York poised to lead the ‘charge’ on electric school buses

Posted by Leah Meredith on Mar 29, 2022

amNY published Leah Meredith's op-ed on the budget provisions need to accelerate electric school bus adoption in New York. Read snippets below and the full article here.

With more than 45,000 traditional school buses on the road, New York has the largest school bus fleet in the country. That makes the Empire State the perfect candidate to make the jump from diesel to emissions-free school buses. Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul committed to fully electrifying New York’s school buses by 2035. Now, with the state budget due April 1, New York is poised to become the first state in the nation to deliver the resources schools need to provide 100 percent clean rides for kids. 

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Topics: State Policy, United In The News

Phoenix Independent (Opinion): Utilities may give Arizona customers reasons to sweat

Posted by Shelby Stults on Feb 21, 2022

Phoenix Independent published Shelby Stults' op-ed explaining why two Arizona bills under consideration in the state legislature are bad energy policy. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Sweltering heat waves and unreliable energy access during wildfires are giving Arizonans a lot to worry about when it comes to their power supply. But a plan being considered by the state legislature should give Arizonans even more reason to sweat when it comes to their ability to reliably and affordably keep cool. 

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Topics: State Policy, Utility, United In The News, Arizona