Advanced Energy Perspectives

Last week was an exciting and inspiring time for Advanced Energy United as our team and member companies, including NRG, GoodLeap, Utilidata, Monarch Strategic Ventures, LS Power, DNV Energy Services, Sunrun, Pattern Energy, and CTC Global, proudly engaged at two important national convenings: the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Energy Summit in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Addendum July 16, 2025: On July 2, 2025 the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) released its written order for the decision on the Oak Creek gas plant. Despite intervenor testimony demonstrating that energy efficiency programs, virtual power plants (VPPs), and distributed generation could provide a cost-effective alternative to part of the requested load, the PSCW approved the project in full. Despite WEC Energy Group artificially capping the amount of wind allowed in its modeling and not considering any kind of VPPs, the Commission considers this project compliant with the Energy Priorities Law. The order directs the opening of an investigation examining cost overruns and how to develop a consistent approach across the state. Additionally, the PSCW directs WEC to include an analysis of a robust and comprehensive demand response program in their next rate case, which will be in 2026.

After a robust exchange of testimony, arguments, and briefings among stakeholders, the fate of We Energies’ (WEC) proposal to spend $1.2 billion on a new gas plant – a plant the utility plans to use just 10-20% of the time – now rests with the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin. Formal proceedings before the PSC concluded on April 11, and a decision is expected in the coming weeks.

Last summer, when temperatures soared past 100 degrees, thousands of New Mexicans worried whether their power would stay on. Thankfully, our grid held up. But extreme heat and unpredictable weather are becoming a recurring challenge, and no one should have to live in fear of losing power when they need it most. 

New Mexico is one of the first states in the nation to pass legislation requiring the use of advanced transmission technologies, thanks to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signing of House Bill (HB) 93. This forward-thinking legislation is a big step toward upgrading our grid and ensuring reliable and affordable energy for all New Mexicans.

The Maryland General Assembly’s 2025 regular session adjourned sine die at the stroke of midnight Tuesday, April 8th, closing out what many dubbed “The Energy Session.”

Advanced Energy United’s Maryland policy team was on the ground, making the case that advanced energy technologies are the fastest, most cost-effective path to meet the state’s energy needs. The result? A session that brought some incremental progress but also served as a missed opportunity to implement real solutions that would give ratepayers much needed relief and address existing grid challenges. Here are some of the highlights from the 2025 session, starting with where we saw positive movement: 

Last May, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued Order No. 1920, a landmark order requiring all transmission providers to engage in multi-value long-term regional transmission planning. The order grants states significant opportunities to engage in this process. In December, the Commission issued Order No. 1920-A, responding to issues raised on rehearing (where parties can argue that the Commission should have ruled differently on specific issues in the final order). Order No. 1920-A expanded the role of states in the planning process. Since then, all the multi-state RTO/ISO regions have requested extensions, giving states and transmission providers additional time to craft compliance plans. States can use this extra time to work together to identify priorities and reach alignment on key questions raised by the order.

Below, we outline the key decisions and actions states can take to influence compliance and to engage in implementation once the planning process begins.