Advanced Energy Perspectives

As 2016 barrels to a close and 2017 looms ahead of us, it is a time to take stock of the challenges faced and the progress made for the advanced energy industry over the past 12 months. While you’ll likely read top 10 lists that features the ups and downs of myriad issues in the coming week, when it comes to energy legislation in the states, the news was overwhelmingly positive in 2016. Here are the top five state policy battles of 2016 and how they turned out:

In September, we published a post on the top 10 utility commission issues of 2016 so far, but action on utility regulations has continued in the months since. In this year-end post, we look at 10 key actions taken by state public utility commissions (PUCs) in 2016. These actions affected everything from rate design for distributed energy resources to data access to grid modernization. More broadly, they all point the way toward a modern electric power system for the 21st century, even if getting there is by fits and starts.

By any measure, this year has been a doozy, and advanced energy has been in the headlines throughout. From the first American offshore wind power to the economic power of advanced energy to employ millions of people, advanced energy is a major growth market that shows no signs of stopping. All year long, we have been collecting clips (and links) on the top 10 news topics of 2016. Here is Part 1 of our two-part roundup of advanced energy news of the year, covering the first five. Be sure to check back next week for Part 2!

1) Finally! American Offshore Wind No Longer a Dream 

Offshore wind power in the U.S. has been a notion since Cape Wind was a twinkle in Jim Gordon’s eye, but it was long stymied by political (and NIMBY) interests. Last year’s top news round-up had some solid good news: construction had begun on the nation’s offshore wind installation, though it was not in Nantucket Sound.

Advanced energy makes news, and 2015 was proof of that. From innovative financing models for energy efficiency to Fortune 500 companies choosing advanced energy, businesses big and small had impact on the way the world generates and uses energy. In fact, it’s not easy to pick the top stories of the year. Still, last week we gave you the first five of our top 10 of the year, and here are the other five. (Read Part 1 here.) Then get ready for 2016, which we are sure will be another news-filled year for advanced energy!

Advanced energy makes news, and 2015 was proof of that. From American offshore wind finally breaking water to energy storage gigafactories to fundamental changes in the way utilities make money, businesses big and small had impact on the way the world generates and uses energy. In fact, it’s not easy to pick the top stories of the year. That said, here is the first five of our top 10 for 2015. Be sure to tune in next week for the other five. Then get ready for 2016, which we are sure will be another news-filled year for advanced energy!