Advanced Energy Perspectives

Nevada scored a major win for advanced energy last week, when Governor Steve Sisolak signed a new, stronger clean energy standard into law. SB 358, sponsored by Sen. Chris Brooks, doubles the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), to 50% by the year 2030. Passing both houses of the legislature without a single no vote, the RPS legislation was the latest – and biggest – step toward Nevada becoming an advanced energy leader nationally. It was also a source of satisfaction for AEE and member companies involved in our Gubernatorial Engagement work in the Silver State last year.

A new working paper from the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute is creating a bit of a stir. It concludes that one of the most popular, successful, and common state-level renewable energy policies – Renewable Portfolio Standards, or RPS – is far more expensive than previously believed. But there are reasons – multiple, in fact – to take the authors’ provocative conclusion with a grain of salt. So, too, their implied alternative, which would be to take a policy that seems to be working in 29 states and replace it with one that has nowhere been implemented on a scale sufficient to change the electric power mix as much as the RPS targets now being adopted by states around the country.

With the budget sucking up the legislative oxygen in Colorado, AEE hosted an Advanced Energy Lobby Day in Denver, supporting a number of bills that will reshape the state’s energy market, creating significant investment opportunities for a rapidly growing industry here. Like other Western governors, Gov. Jared Polis entered office on the promise of expanding clean energy investments while ensuring a just transition for the communities impacted by the shifting economics of energy. The bills supported by AEE would help him fulfilled that promise. We navigated the Capitol, meeting with legislators between committee hearings and floor votes, communicating the business message on advanced energy. With a little less than a month of session remaining, we push forward on bills that would reduce barriers to EV charging infrastructure, securitization of coal-fired power plants to be retired, and carbon mitigation plans. 

It’s no surprise that advanced energy has a home in Nevada. But when your neighbors include Colorado, California, and New Mexico, the status quo just won’t cut it. Hoping to keep pace regionally, Nevada’s Senate and Assembly Growth and Infrastructure Committee invited AEE, alongside former Colorado Governor and clean energy champion Bill Ritter and nonprofit solar developer Grid Alternatives, to present the economic case for expanding investments in advanced energy technologies.

Teresa Ringenbach of Direct Energy presents to legislators and staff at AEE’s Advanced Energy Showcase in Columbus

Ohio AEE hosted an Advanced Energy Showcase on March 7 in Columbus across from the Ohio State House. It was a busy day for legislators, with a big transportation bill on the floor. Nonetheless, we were joined by Sen. Steve Wilson, Senate PUC Chair; Representatives Jim Hoops, Nino Vitale, Niraj Antani, and staff from Sen. Marr Dolan’s office; Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes; and Rep. Jamie Callendar, the House PUC Chair, who is currently drafting energy legislation, and number of new members.