Advanced Energy Perspectives

Why be part of a multi-technology industry association? 

One might think about joining because of the need for a shared voice in helping to shape policy. Another, because they are seeking to build partnerships across technologies. While yet another may seek market expansion, or benefit from the shared knowledge that only comes from a community of stakeholders. 

These answers resonated with the attendees of Advanced Energy United’s annual Leadership Forum last month. The retreat-style gathering at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia was exclusively for business and policy leaders from across our membership. The event served as an opportunity to step away from our day-to-day work and come together to think creatively and collaboratively about the strategies needed to drive the energy transition. 

It's important that all stakeholders are included in the clean energy transition, bringing diverse perspectives to address challenges and opportunities. And, when we are given a platform to speak, it’s crucial that we are intentional about the conversations we have. 

A collective event summary by Heather O’Neill, Laura Bartsch, Jeremiah Holston, Kate Johnson, Meron Lemmi, Jeremy McDiarmid, Cheryl Pretlow, and Janeen Said.  

Last week, our team had the privilege of attending the 2024 AABE (American Association of Blacks in Energy) National Conference, representing Advanced Energy United and our member companies, specifically a coalition of our members who joined us in a shared sponsorship in support of the event: Caelux, CTC Global, DNV, LS Power, Microsoft, Pattern Energy, Sunrun, and Utilidata.

Our industry has a story to tell. It is a great story. It is the story of a growing, job-creating, economic engine of our society. It’s about an industry that is poised to leverage billions of dollars in federal and state funds into many billions more in private investment to transform our energy infrastructure and create the path to a cleaner, more reliable, more affordable energy future. It’s about the chance to bring people who have been ignored or excluded into the energy resource planning process to define and implement community benefit projects that are, in fact, beneficial.  

Last month, the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) held its annual Energy Policy Summit in Washington, DC. Bringing together leaders across the energy industry, AABE members and other attendees took on the challenge of discussing an ‘Expedient & Equitable Implementation’ of the most recent federal policies aimed at the national energy transition.