Advanced Energy Perspectives

Left to right: Arizona Corp. Commission Chairman Bob Burns, Nevada Public Utilities Commissioner Hayley Williamson, Colorado Public Utilities Commission Chairman Jeffrey Ackermann, and AEE Managing Director Ryan Katofsky

Throughout the West there is a bold vision from elected officials, advanced energy companies, and utilities of a 100% clean energy future. But what’s the path to 100% clean energy in the West? On October 16-17, in Scottsdale, AZ, AEE convened leaders in energy innovation, business, and government from across the western region to identify ways to achieve this goal, state by state and through a regional grid, powered by advanced energy growth from New Mexico to Washington state. It was a fitting focus for our first regional policy conference for states from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, Advanced Energy Now | West.

With numerous strokes of a pen weekend before last, Gov. Newsom decided the fate of the final batch of bills before him and closed out this year’s legislative cycle in California. Among those the Governor signed into law were all but one of the bills AEE actively worked on and shepherded through the Legislature this year. In all, it was a big year for promoting electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes. But there is more to come in advanced transportation and other advanced energy issues when lawmakers reconvene in January for the second year of the legislative session.

Two-thirds of the nation’s wholesale electricity sales occur in a competitive market managed by a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) or Independent System Operator (ISO), with over 200 million customers in these areas and over $120 billion in annual energy transactions taking place. Under the Federal Power Act, these markets are overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which ultimately determines the rules for how wholesale electricity is bought and sold in the marketplace. RTOs/ISOs develop the market rules that dictate whether and how energy resources can participate and compete. Wholesale electricity markets should allow all resources to compete on price and performance, as the Federal Power Act requires that the rates, terms, and conditions of service governing wholesale competitive markets be “just and reasonable” and not grant any “undue preference or advantage.” Many market rules, however, are outdated, having been designed with older technologies in mind. Those rules can favor incumbent technologies and disadvantage newer and more innovative energy options – that is, advanced energy.

Florida was recently named the 3rd Best State in the nation for economic growth in 2018 by U.S. News & World Report. Florida’s jobs future may be as bright as its nickname – “The Sunshine State” – but some sectors are growing faster than others. One of them is the advanced energy industry, which showed job growth more than double overall job growth in the state last year. In everything from electric vehicles to energy efficiency and solar energy, the forecast looks sunny for advanced energy jobs in Florida.

Advanced energy momentum is building in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Last week, Gov. Ralph Northam met with 10 AEE member companies – executives from Apex Clean Energy, CLEAResult, EnelX, EVgo, Greenlots, Microsoft, Schneider Electric, Sun Tribe Solar, Veolia, and Volkswagen of North America. The Governor opened the meeting by asking the companies to share what Virginia can do to help them create more jobs in the Commonwealth. He had recently issued an Executive Order calling for 100% carbon-free energy by 2050, with 30% of Virginia’s electric power coming from renewable energy sources by 2030. Shortly thereafter, Virginia AEE released a study that showed the economic benefits – in bill savings, jobs, and economic growth – of meeting the 100% clean energy goal by 2050, if not before. There’s much work to be done, but the path to an advanced energy future for Virginia is clear.