Advanced Energy Perspectives

In November 2012, California voters approved Proposition 39, which is anticipated to generate approximately $1 billion per year in corporate tax revenue, with approximately half of this revenue over the first five years dedicated to energy efficiency and advanced energy projects in schools and public buildings.

On May 23rd, the AEE Institute held its first Public Utility Commission (PUC) Forum. These gatherings are part of our PUC Engagement Program, and for this first time out we partnered with the New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners (NECPUC) and AEE’s regional partner, the New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC), to bring together regulators and senior staff from around the region to talk about how advanced energy technologies could – and should – reshape the utility landscape. With six commissioners and 12 senior staff from five New England States (MA, NH, VT, RI and ME) participating, it was a big success.

Another week, another Tesla update. If nothing else, Elon Musk knows how to keep up the drum beat.

Not content to simply pay off its DOE loan as it did last week, Tesla just announced a huge expansion of its supercharger network, promising to create a cross-country route from Los Angeles to New York City that will keep vehicles like its Model S juiced up all the way. Tesla will be tripling the number of superchargers nationwide by the end of next month, and by 2015 expects to leave no place in the U.S. unreachable by an EV.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, known for pushing an advanced energy agenda during his tenure, has announced he will resign from the commission after his term expires on June 30. He is expected to remain in his position for several months as the Obama Administration seeks a replacement. There is only speculation so far as to whether the President will tap one of the sitting Democratic FERC commissioners - Cheryl LaFleur or John Norris - or appoint an outsider. Any new member of FERC will need to be confirmed by the Senate.   

Guest Post by David Gilford, Assistant Director of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, leading the City’s programs to support the growth of the clean technology and advanced energy industries. Follow him on Twitter @dgilford.

In an advanced energy economy, what does innovation look like? Solar panels and electric vehicles may capture attention, but New York City is demonstrating another form of innovation, based on software, data and design.