Advanced Energy Perspectives

Last week at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Advanced Energy United was joined by state legislators and a coalition of stakeholders advocating for electric school buses and a bill that would allow more school districts in the state to buy them. Legislators experienced the benefits of electric school buses firsthand, riding along in one provided by Steelton-Highspire School District, which procured new buses with funding from the federal government for clean transportation.  

The 2024 Maryland legislative session wrapped up on April 8th and marked another step forward for clean energy development in the state. Advanced Energy United played a key role in developing and supporting policies that reshaped how the state is approaching issues like transportation electrification, energy efficiency, and even geothermal energy.  

In recent years, Maryland has emerged as a frontrunner in clean energy leadership nationally, fueled by ambitious goals for clean energy and clean transportation. Policies like the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022, the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule, the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) Rule, and the Maryland Building Energy Transition Plan prioritize electric vehicles (EVs), clean energy, and building electrification. However, while these policies are vital and the goals in them need to be met, their full implementation is going to require an electric system that we don’t yet have—and now there is groundbreaking legislation being considered in Annapolis that would address this aspect of the clean energy transition as well. 

When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced and opened applications for a new school bus procurement funding program last fall, school districts from every corner of the country rushed to apply. Unfortunately, over 70 Pennsylvania districts from across the Commonwealth were waitlisted or deprioritized for funding from the nationwide Clean School Bus Program. There simply wasn’t enough funding set aside to meet the enthusiasm of school administrators for electric school buses in Pennsylvania.

Last Friday in Baltimore, I watched as Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act into law, a foundational step for the state as it works to build out its electric grid infrastructure, build up its offshore wind industry, and reach its ambitious renewable energy goals.

With the passage of the POWER Act, Maryland will serve as an example for state legislators across the country in showing the type of action that must be taken for states to make the transition to clean energy. Specifically, this law will greatly improve the planning processes needed to build transmission lines and get the electric grid ready for Maryland’s noteworthy 8.5 GW offshore wind power production goal, as well as for increased onshore clean energy production. Improving the grid will also boost the state’s grid efficiency and resiliency, lower utility bills for homes and businesses, and create good-paying union jobs that will connect Maryland to both wind and solar resources.