Advanced Energy Perspectives

Teresa Ringenbach of Direct Energy presents to legislators and staff at AEE’s Advanced Energy Showcase in Columbus

Ohio AEE hosted an Advanced Energy Showcase on March 7 in Columbus across from the Ohio State House. It was a busy day for legislators, with a big transportation bill on the floor. Nonetheless, we were joined by Sen. Steve Wilson, Senate PUC Chair; Representatives Jim Hoops, Nino Vitale, Niraj Antani, and staff from Sen. Marr Dolan’s office; Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes; and Rep. Jamie Callendar, the House PUC Chair, who is currently drafting energy legislation, and number of new members. 

The Indiana General Assembly has officially hit the halfway mark for the 2019 legislative session. With a part-time legislature, odd-numbered years are considered “long sessions,” ending no later than April 29 and with passing a biennial budget the only statutory duty. So far, AEE has worked to support legislation to move the market forward for advanced energy while trying to stop legislation that would go the other way. While advanced energy has historically faced barriers to deployment in the Hoosier State, momentum is building, with Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) announcing its intent to close all existing coal operations by 2028 and invest in wind, solar, storage, and demand-side resources to save ratepayers $4 billion. Will Indiana legislators get on board the advanced energy bandwagon? Here is our halftime report on where key issues and policies stand.

Amid the controversy surrounding the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rollback of greenhouse gas emissions standards for light-duty vehicles, AEE filed an amicus brief in support of petitions brought by 17 states, the District of Columbia, and others in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit seeking to halt EPA’s efforts. In a first for the organization, AEE and its members chose to weigh in on this issue in court because EPA’s actions ignore overwhelming realities about the availability of cost-effective technologies to reduce automobile emissions, particularly the burgeoning electric vehicles (EV) market.

The outcome of the 2018 election cycle has the potential to cause a seismic shift in energy policy. Last year, Advanced Energy Economy and our allies conducted a comprehensive campaign in nine targeted states to engage candidates for governor on the benefits of advanced energy. In seven of the nine states the winning candidates made strong commitments for expanding advanced energy in their states. While it is early in these new administrations, it’s not too soon for a snapshot of what’s happened to date and determine where promises are being kept or broken.