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Advanced Energy United Applauds Introduction of California Legislation to Improve Power Transmission and Dispatch Operations

Posted by Calista Thompson on Feb 9, 2023

Assembly Bill 538 "jumpstarts" conversation around regional grid collaboration, with the potential to save hundreds of millions in energy costs

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Introduced by Assemblymember Chris Holden (AD41), Assembly Bill 538 would create a structure that would allow the California Independent System Operation (CAISO) to integrate into a broader, independent regional transmission operator (RTO). A 2022 economic development study commissioned by Advanced Energy United and conducted by Energy Strategies found that a transition like the one proposed in AB 538 could create over 138,000 jobs and save ratepayers $538 million per year in energy costs.

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Topics: State Policy, California Engagement, 21st Century Electricity System, Wholesale Markets, Press Releases, Economic Impact, Amisha Rai, Western RTO, California

What They’re Saying: Joining a Western RTO Would Power Economic Growth in CO, NM, and AZ

Posted by Cayli Baker on Dec 8, 2022

December 8, 2022 – Earlier this week, AEE released findings from three new state-specific reportsfor Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona showing how joining a Western RTO would power economic growth. Check out what more leaders from across those states are saying about the numbers: 

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Topics: 21st Century Electricity System, Press Releases, New Mexico, Western RTO

What They’re Saying: Joining a Western RTO Would Power Economic Growth in CO, NM, and AZ

Posted by Cayli Baker on Dec 8, 2022

December 8, 2022 – Earlier this week, AEE released findings from three new state-specific reportsfor Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona showing how joining a Western RTO would power economic growth. Check out what more leaders from across those states are saying about the numbers: 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis: “We are continuing to save people money, lower energy bills, and bring more good-paying jobs to Coloradans, and this new report confirms that a Western market advances our bold work achieving these goals. Colorado has committed to join a Western market by 2030, and we look forward to continuing to work with leaders across the region to lower energy costs while making progress towards our goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040."

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Topics: 21st Century Electricity System, Wholesale Markets, Press Releases, New Mexico, Colorado, Western RTO

E&E News:  Western states ponder regional grid as renewables grow

Posted by Jason Plautz on Nov 22, 2022

E&E News explored what a unified electricity market could look like in the West, citing AEE's Western RTO Economic Impact Report findings and quoting Sarah Steinberg on the win a regional transmission organization offers states. Read snippets below and the full article here.

As temperatures on the West Coast soared into the triple digits in early September, power demand threatened to reach record levels — and utilities braced for grid problems...

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Topics: Wholesale Markets, United In The News, Sarah Steinberg, Western RTO

E&E News: California to study plans for creating Western regional grid

Posted by Jason Plautz on Aug 15, 2022

E&E News covered new California legislation to explore the benefits of a Western RTO, quoting Amisha Rai on the need for a more interconnected grid. Read snippets below and the full article here.

California is exploring the proposed formation of a regional electric grid as governments and utilities across the West push for broader distribution of renewable resources...

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Topics: California Engagement, United In The News, Amisha Rai, Western RTO

RTO Insider: Study Tallies Economy-wide Benefits of Western RTO

Posted by Robert Mullin on Aug 1, 2022

RTO Insider discussed AEE's Western RTO study, detailing the economic benefits and job creation. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Released last week by Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), the Western RTO Economic Impact Study was prepared by Energy Strategies and Peterson & Associates. It draws on analysis Energy Strategies performed for a state-led study published last year to quantify the electricity system benefits of a Western RTO.

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Topics: United In The News, Economic Impact, Western RTO

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

UtilityDive: Western RTO could add up to $79.2 billion to regional economy, report finds

Posted by Kavya Balaraman on Jul 27, 2022

UtilityDive analyzed AEE's Western RTO Economic Impact Study, quoting AEE's Amisha Rai on RTO conversations with policymakers. Read snippets below and the full article here.

The creation of a West-wide regional transmission organization could generate between 159,000 and 657,000 permanent jobs through 2030, as well as up to $79.2 billion in additional gross regional product per year across the 11 Western states, according to a new report.

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Topics: 21st Century Electricity System, United In The News, 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

Governor Polis and advanced energy industry celebrate latest steps toward a resilient, interconnected western grid

Posted by Cayli Baker on Mar 3, 2022

Colorado continues to lay the foundation for a Western regional grid and significant economic development with CETA formation.
 

DENVER, March 3, 2022 – Today, Colorado Governor Jared Polis joined Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) in celebrating the formation of the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority (CETA), which is the state’s latest step toward a resilient Western regional power grid. With the Governor’s final appointments announced this week, CETA can begin working to modernize and streamline Colorado’s electric transmission planning process, remove long-standing barriers to clean energy projects, and lead to significant economic development and revenue generation for communities across the state.

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Topics: Press Releases, United In The News, Colorado, Western RTO