Advanced Energy Perspectives

While the nation’s eyes may be turned to Washington, D.C., this week for the inauguration, there is action just 109 miles south on I-95 in Richmond. The Virginia General Assembly gaveled into session last Wednesday, and there is a full slate of the bills that could impact the advanced energy industry. Last year, we noted that the sign on the door of a state that prides itself on being “open for business” could have read “gone fishing” when it comes to the advanced energy industry. But the slogan this year could be “under construction.” Here are three questions that will determine which message Richmond will be sending to the advanced energy industry in 2017:

Who said Congress wasn’t trying to legislate? After months of discussions, Congress took action on several fronts before taking off for the August recess. The Senate Finance Committee approved a tax extenders bill, the House Energy and Commerce Committee swiftly unveiled and passed energy legislation through subcommittee, and Sens. Murkowski and Cantwell released and passed their comprehensive energy bill through committee. Progress!

After a long lull, the nation’s capital has engaged with energy issues in a big way over the past few weeks. In April, the Department of Energy released its first installment of the Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) on transmission, storage, and distribution. The report identifies challenges associated with our aging infrastructure – everything from severe weather events to cyber terrorist attacks. But it also notes investment opportunities in renewable energy and distributed energy technologies. Energy Secretary Moniz took the show on the road, discussing the importance of both public and private investment in energy from the halls of Congress to The Daily Show. What happens next, who knows?