Advanced Energy Perspectives

In September, we published a post on the top 10 utility commission issues of 2016 so far, but action on utility regulations has continued in the months since. In this year-end post, we look at 10 key actions taken by state public utility commissions (PUCs) in 2016. These actions affected everything from rate design for distributed energy resources to data access to grid modernization. More broadly, they all point the way toward a modern electric power system for the 21st century, even if getting there is by fits and starts.

By any measure, this year has been a doozy, and advanced energy has been in the headlines throughout. From the first American offshore wind power to the economic power of advanced energy to employ millions of people, advanced energy is a major growth market that shows no signs of stopping. All year long, we have been collecting clips (and links) on the top 10 news topics of 2016. Here is Part 1 of our two-part roundup of advanced energy news of the year, covering the first five. Be sure to check back next week for Part 2!

1) Finally! American Offshore Wind No Longer a Dream 

Offshore wind power in the U.S. has been a notion since Cape Wind was a twinkle in Jim Gordon’s eye, but it was long stymied by political (and NIMBY) interests. Last year’s top news round-up had some solid good news: construction had begun on the nation’s offshore wind installation, though it was not in Nantucket Sound.

The recent announcement Carrier, the HVAC company, would keep 800 jobs, some number of them advanced energy jobs, in Indiana made national headlines. But the focus on Carrier missed the far larger number of advanced energy jobs in Indiana that aren’t going anywhere. Advanced energy companies have put nearly 48,000 Hoosiers to work, and that number is growing. Advanced energy jobs represent about 2% of Indiana jobs overall – more than machinery manufacturing and nearly twice as many as colleges and universities. And it’s not just numbers. It’s people like Jennifer Atteberry, Ryan Logan, Steve Schamber, and Alan West, who are making careers in Indiana-based advanced energy companies and helping the Indiana economy grow.

A worker builds a Tesla in a California factory.

In the news this week: Jobs. Longtime readers of Advanced Energy Perspectives will know that this is not a new story, but a years-long trend of growing employment for everyday Americans in advanced energy industry jobs. This week we saw stories of jobs growth in Indiana, rust belt New York, and nationwide. Plus, as more and more Fortune 100 and 500 companies make commitments to advanced energy, states can put policies in place to ensure companies site advanced energy projects there, leading to greater employment across the country.