Advanced Energy Perspectives

On December 7, Advanced Energy Economy Institute hosted California gubernatorial hopeful John Cox for a 90-minute roundtable session with AEE member companies in San Francisco. Cox, a Republican from San Diego, spoke about his plans to limit the impact of special interests in Sacramento and attract more businesses and investment to the state.

The roundtable was the third in a series of meetings with the leading candidates for governor. Through these roundtables, we hope to learn more about each candidate's vision for the state, and we hope they will learn more about the advanced energy industry that’s growing in California.

With another year coming to a close, it is time to take a look in the rearview mirror at the year that was for the advanced energy industry. Our annual review of the top state legislative issues tells a story of policy progress for a myriad of advanced energy technologies, along with some familiar struggles. So, without further ado, here’s our countdown of the top five legislative battles of 2017.

Back in July, Advanced Energy Economy published a list of the top utility regulation trends of 2017 – so far. With 2017 almost in the rearview mirror, we check in on the top public utility commission actions of the year. Not surprisingly, the challenges PUCs are grappling with are wide-ranging and diverse: utility business model reforms, distribution system planning, grid modernization, rate design changes, large investments in renewables, transportation electrification, energy storage, wholesale market changes, and data access, to name a few. Here is a roundup of the top 10 matters before PUCs in 2017.

At a time when Americans are starting to get into the holiday spirit, Congress has its foot on the gas pedal to pass a significant tax bill by year’s end. AEE supports Congress’ intention to lower the corporate tax rate and adjust the tax code to give certainty to businesses and let them do what they do best – invest, innovate, and create jobs. As a $200 billion industry supporting more than 3 million American workers, the advanced energy industry has much at stake in the sweeping revision of the tax Congress is aiming for. Unfortunately, the bills passed by the House and Senate each include troubling provisions that would undermine Congress’s goal of implementing a pro-growth strategy for the American economy. On Wednesday, AEE submitted its recommendations for the final legislation to congressional leaders.  

Solar worker at Renewable Energy Jobs Tour event in Bedford, Va.  

This is a guest post by Dan Shugar, CEO of NEXTracker, and an AEE board member

Most folks working in the U.S. wind and solar industries already know that both are creating jobs all across the country. These industries now employ over 360,000 workers, and have the two fastest growing job categories in the nation: solar photovoltaic installers and wind turbine technicians, according to a US Department of Labor report released earlier this year. Over the next 10 years, the demand for the two positions is set to essentially double. But data points alone are not always enough to convince the public and policymakers about the tremendous job creation of these sectors. That’s why, earlier this fall, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Wind Energy Foundation (WEF), and NEXTracker, Inc. launched the Renewable Energy Jobs Tour.