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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

The Nevada Independent: Nevada is taking steps toward a Western electric grid. What will it look like?

Posted by Daniel Rothberg on Jan 20, 2022

The Nevada Independent detailed steps toward a Western electric grid, quoting AEE's Sarah Steinberg on the benefits of a regional market. Read snippets below and the full article here

The end goal is clear: A more efficient and organized regional electric grid.

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

Utility Dive: Colorado utilities could cut costs 5% by joining an RTO, PUC finds, as Western market momentum builds

Posted by Ethan Howland on Dec 3, 2021

Utility Dive detailed the Colorado Public Utility Commission's report encouraging state's utilities to join some form of organized wholesale market, quoting AEE's Emilie Olson on the benefits of a regional transmission organization. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Participating in a regional transmission organization (RTO) could save Colorado's utilities up to $230 million a year, or 5% of their costs, while helping meet the state's clean energy goals, according to a study released Wednesday by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission...

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Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Western RTO

RTO Insider: Western Utilities to Explore Market Options

Posted by Hudson Sangree on Oct 5, 2021

RTO Insider detailed Western utilities effort to build a Western RTO, quoting AEE's Amisha Rai. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Major Western utilities plan to discuss coordinated market services and the possible formation of an organized market in an exploratory group.

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Topics: United In The News, Western RTO

AEE calls for utilities to focus on development of a Western RTO

Posted by Adam Winer on Oct 5, 2021

A utility-only exploration of options risks falling short of the urgency of the moment and failing to provide all the benefits that would come with a full-blown regional electricity market 

SAN FRANCISCO, Wednesday, October 6—National business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is calling on electric utilities in the West to support the development of a regional transmission organization (RTO) for Western states. Several energy companies recently announced plans to explore market options in response to state momentum for a regional solution to energy resilience challenges, a process AEE says should be done expeditiously and lead to the creation of a western RTO. 

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Topics: Press Releases, Western RTO