Advanced Energy Perspectives

The Indiana General Assembly has officially hit the halfway mark for the 2019 legislative session. With a part-time legislature, odd-numbered years are considered “long sessions,” ending no later than April 29 and with passing a biennial budget the only statutory duty. So far, AEE has worked to support legislation to move the market forward for advanced energy while trying to stop legislation that would go the other way. While advanced energy has historically faced barriers to deployment in the Hoosier State, momentum is building, with Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) announcing its intent to close all existing coal operations by 2028 and invest in wind, solar, storage, and demand-side resources to save ratepayers $4 billion. Will Indiana legislators get on board the advanced energy bandwagon? Here is our halftime report on where key issues and policies stand.

The outcome of the 2018 election cycle has the potential to cause a seismic shift in energy policy. Last year, Advanced Energy Economy and our allies conducted a comprehensive campaign in nine targeted states to engage candidates for governor on the benefits of advanced energy. In seven of the nine states the winning candidates made strong commitments for expanding advanced energy in their states. While it is early in these new administrations, it’s not too soon for a snapshot of what’s happened to date and determine where promises are being kept or broken.

Penalty flags litter the political gridiron in Virginia, as revelations and allegations involving the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General have rocked Richmond. But for the Commonwealth’s General Assembly, it’s halftime. Reaching the midpoint of the short, 46-day legislative session last week means we arrived at “crossover.” Crossover is the juncture at which legislation in one chamber must be voted out and sent to the other chamber or it is benched for the year. So here is a halftime report on advanced energy legislation in Virginia – what bills are still in the game, and which have been sent to the locker room.

Those of us who follow energy policy likely spent a good portion of December looking at year-in-review articles. That period of reflection on what went well and what’s left to be done is important. So too is the process, beginning in January, of looking out toward the horizon to see where the road goes from here. We know that much of the action on advanced energy will be driven by state governments across the nation. So here is a look at the five issues we think will drive state policy for – or against – advanced energy in the year ahead.

Indiana AEE hosted an ‘Energy 101’ legislative briefing and breakfast January 8 to introduce AEE and advanced energy policy issues to legislators. The audience was newly elected legislators and members of the House and Senate Utility committees. Legislators heard from Claudia Earls, Chief Counsel, Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO), on the utility’s recent IRP and announcement of plans to close its last two coal plants in the next 10 years, replacing that capacity with solar, wind, storage, and demand management resources.