In an opinion piece in City & State New York, United’s Kristina Persaud supports the passage of New York’s Build to Need legislation (S.9113), which aims to expedite and improve the planning and implementation of grid infrastructure upgrades in New York to support the growing demand for electric vehicle charging.
Topics: State Policy, Advanced Transportation, United In The News, New York
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Indiana Needs Affordable, Reliable, Renewable Energy to Attract the 21st Century Gold Rush
In an opinion piece featured in Indiana Capitol Chronicle, United's Caryl Auslander writes that Indiana is at a crossroads: to power the state with forward-looking advanced energy technologies or cling to inefficient, costly coal.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Indiana
Associated Press: US Energy Panel Approves Rule to Expand Transmission of Renewable Power
Associated Press reports on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)'s approval of rules aimed at improving long-term regional planning for high-voltage interstate electric transmission lines. The article quotes United President and CEO Heather O'Neill, who voiced support for the rulemaking and emphasized the need for the buildout of more multi-state transmission lines to keep up with our growing energy needs.
Topics: Wholesale Markets, United In The News, FERC, Heather O'Neill, Transmission
New York Times: California Will Add a Fixed Charge to Electric Bills and Reduce Rates
The New York Times reports on the California Public Utilities Commission's approval of a monthly fixed fee that will be added to customers’ monthly utility bills. Quoted in the article, United's Edson Perez spoke out against the fixed charge, emphasizing that the policy will negatively impact California’s electrification efforts and discourage investments in energy efficiency and distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar and battery storage.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, California, Building Decarbonization
E&E News: Colorado’s Boost to Electric Grid Could Be National Model
E&E News reports on the passage of legislation in Colorado that, if signed into law, would help to modernize the state's electric grid and compel Xcel Energy, Colorado's largest electric utility, to make upgrades to the distribution system. In the article, United's Emilie Olson commends Colorado lawmakers for their support of the bill's holistic approach in addressing distribution system needs while aligning with the state's goals for decarbonization.
Topics: State Policy, Advanced Transportation, United In The News, Emilie Olson, Building Decarbonization, Colorado
POLITICO Pro: California imposes monthly $24 charge on electricity bills
POLITICO Pro reports on the California Public Utilities Commission imposing a monthly $24 charge on electricity bills. The article quotes United's Edson Perez, calling the decision "another blow to California’s clean energy goal."
Topics: United In The News, California
Pennsylvania news station CBS 21 discusses the increased demand that the growing number of electric vehicles is placing on the state's power grid. In a video interview, United's Nick Bibby states that proactive upgrades need to be made soon to avoid costly improvements in the future.
Topics: United In The News, Pennsylvania, Electric Vehicles
The Colorado Sun: Xcel’s Grid, Facing Growing Power Demands, to Get Help From a Bill Racing Through the Legislature
The Colorado Sun reports on new legislation, Senate Bill 24-218, introduced that would modernize the state's distribution system. The article quotes United's Emilie Olson on the state of the current distribution grid and how upgrades are crucial to powering more generation.
Topics: United In The News, Emilie Olson, Colorado
Canary Media: New Clean Power Rules Force Utilities to Take Clean Energy Seriously
Canary Media reports on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new rules pushing utilities to retrofit fossil-fuel plants with new technologies or swap them out for clean energy alternatives, quoting United's President and CEO Heather O'Neill on the opportunity the rules present for utilities to pivot to advanced energy solutions.
On Thursday, the Biden administration issued rules to dramatically reduce carbon emissions and pollution from U.S. power plants, while top officials weighed in with an important message: Clean energy is more than ready to supplant the fossil-fueled power plants the new regulations are intended to curb.
The long-awaited rules, the result of nearly a year of work at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will require individual states to craft plans for ensuring that coal-fired plants slated to stay open past 2039 control 90 percent of their carbon pollution from 2032 onward. Newly built “baseload” fossil-gas-fired power plants that operate more than 40 percent of the year must do the same.
Topics: United In The News, Heather O'Neill, Federal Priorities
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