Advanced Energy Perspectives

Last week, Gov. Brown signed California’s state budget for 2014-15, which totals $156.3 billion, and the advanced energy industry fared well. Over the past several months, AEE participated in a series of hearings and meetings focused on the budget, as several appropriation issues directly impact our business members and the industry as a whole. The result was at least five key provisions we count as wins for the advanced energy industry in California.  

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) have been tremendously successful in driving both renewable energy investment and deployment of renewable resources in the U.S.  Two-thirds of all non-hydro renewable capacity additions since 1998 – 46 gigawatts – have happened in states with RPS policies. Manufacturing facilities for wind power have cropped up across the country while utilities have seen the costs of renewable power plummet. Through this process, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has done numerous reports on RPS policies to help policymakers evaluate their effectiveness.

After a flurry of positive activity during the 2013 legislative session, 2014 has been more of a mixed bag to date. There have been some notable advances during this session around the country and a few very disturbing setbacks that threaten the progress of advanced energy in the heartland.

On May 16, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley solidified his legacy as a clean energy champion when he vetoed a bill (HB 1168) that would have effectively placed a moratorium on wind power for much of the state. AEE sent a letter to the governor last month, joining a chorus of industry advocates urging this veto action.

Ohio put energy efficiency and renewable energy standards in place in 2008. The standards have been a great success – saving money, creating jobs, diversifying resources.

But no good deed goes unpunished. Some of the utilities have been slow in implementing energy efficiency programs and decided to exercise their influence in the Ohio General Assembly rather than implement efficiency measures that would save money for their customers.