The 2022 election is still not in the books, but with the outcome of most contests already known, advanced energy and its champions at the state and federal level were clear winners. Heading into any midterm election we expect to see a swing away from the sitting president’s party. This year that meant the potential to see the progress of the past four years slowed in key states across the country and at the federal level. But now, with the votes mostly tallied, we can say the stage is set for more clean energy progress next year, especially with the funds and incentives from federal legislation arriving in states ready to put it to work.
Topics: State Policy, Federal Policy, Arizona, Manufacturing and Infrastructure, California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Connecticut, Minnesota
Last week, the White House and Congress celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Between IIJA and the more-recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the federal government has devoted almost $500 billion in grants, tax credits, and other incentives to accelerate America’s energy transition, electrify transportation, and address many of the energy-related challenges facing the nation. For all the attention paid to the work inside the Beltway, however, whether the U.S. realizes that potential hinges largely on what happens outside the Beltway.
Topics: State Policy, Federal Policy, PUCs, Manufacturing and Infrastructure
Every year, on the first Wednesday of October, we celebrate the low-profile powerhouse of the advanced energy sector: energy efficiency. The annual Energy Efficiency Day (#EEDay2022 on social media) serves as a reminder that efficiency upgrades – however big or small – work year-round to lower bills, improve grid efficiency, enhance the resilience of our communities, reduce reliance on fossil fuel energy, and create local jobs. Energy efficiency touches everyone in their homes, at their jobs, and in their schools, and will become ever more important as we upgrade our transportation and buildings to high-performing, clean technologies like electric cars and heat pumps. Efficiency is also key for keeping us cool during extreme heat and warm during severe cold without straining the grid or our pocketbooks. Now, there’s more reason than ever to cash in on the value of energy efficiency, thanks to landmark legislation passed by Congress.
Topics: Federal Policy, Energy Efficiency