Advanced Energy Perspectives

Step-by-step, Virginia is moving closer to establishing a carbon trading market. That’s good news for advanced energy and the Commonwealth’s economy.

Earlier this month, Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) wrapped up a public comment period on its proposed CO₂ Budget Trading Program. Under this regulation, fossil-fired generators with a capacity equal to or greater than 25 megawatts (MW) would be issued permits and required to meet mitigation targets, either through reducing emissions or procuring additional permits. This regulation will help make Virginia’s energy more secure, clean, and affordable while reducing emissions and bolstering the state’s economy – central goals of Virginia AEE.

In his State of the State address in January, Gov. Jerry Brown set a new goal of 5 million zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road in California by 2030. Just a day later, the Governor formalized this goal through an Executive Order, which identified an expansion of charging infrastructure – specifically, 250,000 installed chargers by 2025 – along with an expansion of vehicle rebates as the most critical needs in order for the state to hit the target. A new bill sponsored by AEE would address the charging infrastructure challenge and set the state on course toward having the charging capacity needed to support a mass market for EVs.

Advanced energy employs 3.3 million Americans making and installing solar panels, wind turbines, energy efficient appliances and HVAC systems, and electric vehicles  for homes, businesses, and farms across the country. Advanced energy jobs range from software engineers and coders to construction workers. Advanced energy workers are in every corner of the United States. Unfortunately, not all of our leaders in Washington, D.C. and in state capitals across the country are aware of this thriving sector and what it’s doing to drive our economy.

That’s why we’re launching Advanced Energy Works.

 President Trump has been vocal on the need to improve America’s infrastructure. Given his background as a businessman and high profile for building things, upgrading the nation’s infrastructure has been a natural fit. Much of the public dialogue and the President’s announced priorities, however, focus exclusively on improving roads and bridges. But the need for modernizing our energy infrastructure is just as pressing, and there is broad and growing bipartisan support for including energy in an infrastructure plan.

 This is a guest post by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, a member of AEE's State Coalition, which originally published it here. 

Last summer, Duke Energy Progress (DEP) filed a rate case with the NC Utilities Commission (NCUC). As advocates for clean energy, NCSEA pays close attention to any changes in utility rate structures; in particular, how the proposed changes impact access to energy efficiency and renewable energy options for customers. Accordingly, NCSEA was heavily engaged in the DEP rate case proceeding. Our team’s deep dive into DEP’s request uncovered three primary opportunities for clean energy, which shaped our testimony and arguments in the December rate case hearing: fair rate design, transparent access to energy consumption data for customers, and the need for true grid modernization in the utility’s proposed grid investment plans.