Advanced Energy Perspectives

Why be part of a multi-technology industry association? 

One might think about joining because of the need for a shared voice in helping to shape policy. Another, because they are seeking to build partnerships across technologies. While yet another may seek market expansion, or benefit from the shared knowledge that only comes from a community of stakeholders. 

These answers resonated with the attendees of Advanced Energy United’s annual Leadership Forum last month. The retreat-style gathering at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia was exclusively for business and policy leaders from across our membership. The event served as an opportunity to step away from our day-to-day work and come together to think creatively and collaboratively about the strategies needed to drive the energy transition. 

The 2024 NV Energy Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) proceeding is coming to a close, with a decision expected from the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) by December 20, 2024.

In Nevada, an IRP proceeding is conducted every three years with the goal of ensuring that NV Energy has the resources it needs to reliably and affordably serve Nevada’s electric customers and meet state policy goals. However, NV Energy’s proposed IRP, similar to those preceding it, exemplifies how the IRP process encourages investment in new gas resources, despite the availability of cheaper clean energy resources, such as Nevada’s abundant solar, geothermal, and distributed energy resources increasingly found on Nevadans’ rooftops and driveways. 

As we near the end of 2024, I’m pleased to share some good tidings and a bit of hope. While uncertainty hangs heavy on the horizon, Massachusetts offers a bright example of how states can shine when they choose to step up.

Governor Maura Healey recently signed a landmark clean energy package that will accelerate clean energy deployment in Massachusetts, and, in turn, will increase local jobs and lower energy costs. The act includes critical reforms to streamline siting and permitting processes, as well as provisions to expand grid-enhancing technologies, energy storage, and other advanced energy technologies.  

In 2025, the advanced energy sector faces uncertainty as changes in political leadership in Washington, D.C. raise concerns about shifting priorities in the federal agencies, and the potential for rollbacks of key policies within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other recent legislation. 

To address how the advanced energy industry can sustain its momentum amidst these challenges, Advanced Energy United recently hosted a webinar entitled “Beyond the Ballot: Mapping State Clean Energy Strategies Post-Election.” Moderated by Jeff St. John, Director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, the discussion featured insights from panelists Amisha Rai, Vice President of Advocacy at United; Harry Godfrey, Managing Director of Federal Investment and Manufacturing at United; and Kim Jemaine, Managing Director of the clean energy advocacy organization Counterspark. 

The process of integrating new electricity sources to the power grid—known as “generator interconnection”—must be reformed to realize the full potential of widely available and affordable energy resources like wind, solar, and energy storage technologies. Especially at a time of rising electricity demand, the results of a reformed interconnection process are paramount to energy deployment across regions, impacting affordability and reliability for customers of all classes. 

Today, United published a new report authored by Power Advisory entitled How Interconnection Reform Can Accelerate Clean Energy Deployment, which quantifies the advanced energy deployment gains states could see from implementing interconnection process improvements. The key message of the report? Improving interconnection processes can significantly boost energy deployment, delivering much needed electricity generation and economic benefits.