Advanced Energy Perspectives

Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) and Arizona Public Service (APS) have been working together to identify solution opportunities to help APS achieve its ambitious goals for clean energy and support electrification of the transportation sector. This collaboration is known as the Arizona Clean Energy Future project. In January 2020, APS announced a goal to deliver 100% clean, carbon-free electricity to its customers by 2050. APS set nearer-term targets of reaching 65% clean energy by 2030, with 45% coming from renewable energy. APS also plans to end all coal-based generation by 2031, seven years sooner than previously projected. To help achieve these targets, AEE and APS discussed ways AEE member companies could help in advancing towards these targets. Bringing together product development and creative thinkers from our companies has allowed us to leverage their expertise and brainstorm possible solutions, finally narrowing them down to 10.

Florida historically has been a difficult state for the advanced energy industry, despite the great potential for these resources there. Over the past five years, the biggest win for the advanced energy industry was passage of property tax exemption for solar energy in 2017. Other policy ideas to boost solar, storage, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles have been proposed infrequently and passed even more rarely. But as the legislature adjourned March 19, it showed that Florida is ready to move forward on advanced energy – starting with electric vehicles (EVs). Approved by the legislature and now ready for the Governor’s signature is a bill to put Florida in a position to encourage statewide investment in EV charging infrastructure.

In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, businesses and trade associations alike have shifted to remote work options, making many adjustments along the way. We hope that all of you, your coworkers, families, and friends are safe and remain healthy — and have transitioned well to this new reality. Today we share some tips from a lively internal email thread at AEE, where some of our staff have worked remotely for more than eight years (some for 15 or longer in prior roles), and now the rest of us are working from home as well. We have refined many tools and systems for productive, impactful advocacy work from dispersed locations. But the current situation is far more extreme, with travel restrictions, offices closed, and shelter-in-place orders. We need all the tricks of the work-from-home trade to succeed in our work and in our mental state. Here, we share the best of them with you.

The 2020 session of the Indiana General Assembly was expected to be quiet. After all, we had just wrapped up the first year of the 21st Century Energy Task Force – a two-year study to create a comprehensive statewide energy plan for Indiana. Add to that, advanced energy advocates had been victorious the year before by defeating a proposal that would have placed a 20-month moratorium on Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) action on any matter involving more than 250 MW of generating capacity – a requirement that would have locked in Indiana’s coal-fired generation for nearly two years and prevented Indiana’s utilities from pursuing their plans for advanced energy investment. With coal’s bid for a bailout knocked down last year, no one – advocates, special interests, or legislators – expected a big energy fight this session. Little did we know, but the bell was about to ring for another round in the legislative ring.

Sen. Jennifer McClellan and Del. Rip Sullivan celebrate passage of the Virginia Clean Economy Act, with AEE's Harry Godfrey (center) and JR Tolbert (right of Sullivan) looking on. Photo by Mary Rafferty

Last week, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), which is now headed to the Governor’s desk for signature. The VCEA represents the single largest initiative spurring advanced energy investment in the southeastern United States. It  is also the culmination of three years of engagement and advocacy in the Commonwealth for Advanced Energy Economy. What does the Virginia Clean Economy Act do? And how did the Old Dominion go from laggard to leader in advanced energy? Read on.