News

Amid rising energy demands, The New York Times reports that America's biggest oil-producing state, Texas, is increasingly turning to solar power and battery storage to see it through extreme weather over the years. The article quotes Matthew Boms of Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (United's state affiliate), who speaks to Texas' renewable energy potential.

The Nevada Independent reports on the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada's (PUCN) unanimous vote that denies NV Energy to raise the basic service charge for its Northern Nevada customers by 175 percent, instead awarding the utility just a fraction of its requested amount. The article quotes United's Emilie Olson, who praised the PUCN's decision to implement a modest rate increase, highlighting its commitment to consumer affordability and protection for Northern Nevadan ratepayers. 

RTO Insider reports on United's webinar "Expanding Virtual Power Plants Across the U.S.," which explored how virtual power plants (VPPs) can help regulators, utilities, and other grid stakeholders manage key challenges facing the grid, and the importance of scaling VPPs to meet the country's energy, affordability, and reliability needs. The article quotes United's Chloe Holden, who moderated the discussion, and expert panelists featured on the webinar, who shared their insights on the future of VPPs.

Nevada Current reports on the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada's (PUCN) vote to reject NV Energy's proposal to triple the basic service charge from $16.50 to $44.50. The article quotes United's Emilie Olson, who touts this as a victory for consumer protection and for green energy,

Tech Brew discusses how electric vehicles (EVs) could enhance the resilience of the U.S. electric grid. In the article, United's Ryan Gallentine underlines that, with proper management, EVs could potentially be an additive resource for the grid, providing valuable support during peak periods or outages.

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. 

United's Kat Burnham authored an opinion piece for CT Mirror, discussing the looming crisis of heat affordability in Connecticut and the need to reduce spending on the gas pipeline system, urging lawmakers to adopt the same aggressive approach they’ve taken with the electricity sector.

Public News Service reports that Virginia's clean energy initiatives are being stunted due to wide-spread misinformation. United's Jim Purekal debunks false claims made against solar and offers alternative, reliable clean energy methods that can provide power to consumers throughout the state.

Canary Media reports on California’s energy affordability challenges, how they relate to expanding the state's power grid, and the potential role of distributed energy resources (DERs). The article quotes United's Edson Perez, who says that leveraging DERs could provide significant cost savings and improve grid resilience if given proper policy support.

The Bakersfield Californian reports on two grid-enhancing technology bills, Senate Bill 1006 and Assembly Bill 2779, which have passed the California legislature. The article quotes United's Edson Perez, who highlights that these technologies will increase transmission capacity and improve efficiency, safety, and reliability.