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.

On Nov. 9, Advanced Energy Economy Institute hosted California gubernatorial hopeful Antonio Villaraigosa for an engaging roundtable with AEE member companies in San Francisco. Coming fresh off a speaking appearance at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator the day before, Villaraigosa was energized, and spoke about the opportunity and need to expand advanced energy business growth in all parts of the state. 

The roundtable was the second in a series of meetings with all the leading candidates for governor over the next few months. 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 growing in California.

On Sept. 22, AEE hosted a California Gubernatorial Roundtable featuring Treasurer John Chiang. Treasurer Chiang joined AEE staff and our member companies for a lively session focused on the state’s leadership in advanced energy and how the industry is expanding economic development opportunity throughout the state. The roundtable was the first in a series of meetings with all the leading candidates for governor over the next few months. Through these roundtables, we hope to learn more about the candidates’ visions for the state, and we hope they will learn more about the advanced energy industry growing in California.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, September 16, the California legislature’s 2017 session came to a close. It was a jam-packed year, full of debate, negotiations, and deal making. The legislature took on a number of big ticket issues this year, including cap and trade, transportation, and housing. While the cap and trade extension was secured in early summer, a host of other measures important to AEE on energy storage, advanced transportation, and PACE financing cleared the legislature at the tail end of session. They were sent to Gov. Brown’s desk, with the expectation that all would gain his signature. That leaves us with much to wrap up about what got done this year – and what remains to be done next year.

In January, Gov. Jerry Brown declared he would seek a two-thirds vote to extend California’s cap-and-trade system to 2030. The extension to 2030 would keep in place the market-based mechanism that enables the state to reach its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals on a cost-effective basis – and send a market signal in favor of advanced energy technologies and services – while passage by two-thirds would protect the system from legal challenges claiming it is a tax, which by law requires approval by supermajority vote. Supporters and neutral observers alike agreed that was the ideal scenario for locking in cap and trade for the next decade, but there was substantial doubt that the votes were there. The idea of a two-thirds vote became even more challenging after the Governor asked the Legislature to hike the gas tax as part of a transportation package. Could he get a two-thirds vote twice in one year? Yes, he could and he did. Here’s how – and how AEE was engaged all along the way.