Author: Adam Winer Published: 7/30/2024 Advance Energy United Weekly
A Note From Our CEO |
 |
Heather O’Neill CEO & President |
|
This week, the U.S. Senate’s Energy & Natural Resources Committee approved, by a vote of 15-4, broad permitting and power grid development legislation that addresses some of the great challenges still impeding America’s transition to 100% clean energy. The much-awaited federal permitting reform package is far from perfect, but making it easier to get clean energy projects more quickly permitted and interconnected, and accelerating the building of long-distance transmission lines, is going to require bipartisan compromise. As my colleague Harry Godfrey noted when the legislation was first announced last week, we see this proposal as a foundation on which we should aim to construct a comprehensive reform package that will empower our industry to deploy advanced energy solutions at much greater speed. This is a rare legislative opportunity on Capitol Hill, and we know that when our industry is better able to compete on a level playing field, we win. |
|
|
Policy Update |
|
PJM Failures Causing Electricity Prices to Skyrocket This week, the largest U.S. power grid operator, PJM, announced a 9-fold increase in capacity price for electricity across its 13-state footprint, with costs jumping from $28.92 per megawatt-day to $269.92 per megawatt-day. United’s Jon Gordon stated that consumers will pay the price for PJM’s failure to plan and insufficient electric transmission build-out. Read more.> |
On the Blog |
 |
|
Last month, Illinois became the first state in the Midwest, and one of the few states outside the coasts, to establish a state-run incentive program for medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicles (EV) that are part of a fleet, such as commercial trucks, transit, and school buses. On our blog, United’s Samarth Medakkar discusses the new program, which supports fleet electrification and the state’s growing EV industry. Read more.> |
Webinars |
 |
|
In this webinar, United will explore policy principles decision-makers and stakeholders should consider when reforming state policy frameworks that govern the siting and permitting processes of large-scale renewable and energy storage projects. The discussion will spotlight case studies in Michigan and Massachusetts, two states working to reform and update state laws that dictate how wind, solar, and storage projects are reviewed and approved to move forward with construction. Register here.> |
United in the News |
|
E&E News: Skyrocketing PJM Power Prices Reflect Grid Troubles E&E News reports on an announcement by PJM, the largest U.S. power grid operator, to increase 9-fold in capacity price for electricity across its 13-state footprint. In the article, United’s Jon Gordon speaks to how PJM’s poor planning and insufficient electric transmission build-out will leave consumers paying the price. Read more.> |
|
Utility Dive: Steering Gas Utilities Toward Calmer Seas With an Eye to the Electric Experience Utility Dive features an opinion piece by United’s Sarah Steinberg and Current Energy Group’s Brad Cebulko, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions and strategic planning by state regulators and utilities to ensure that the transition to clean, electric buildings does not compromise the reliability and affordability of energy services for customers. Read more.> |
|
Erie News Now: 35% Clean Energy by 2035- PA Lawmakers Hold Hearing on PRESS Erie News Now covers Pennsylvania’s push for clean energy with the PRESS policy aiming for 35% renewable energy by 2035. The article quotes United’s Nick Bibby who states Pennsylvania is sending a clear signal to the clean energy industry that they want their services and the generation they’re providing. Read more.> |
|
RTO Insider: NV Energy Should Do More to Tap VPP Potential, Report Says RTO Insider covered our latest report, Moving the Needle on DERs and VPPs in Nevada, suggesting NV Energy’s VPP market potential could rise from 134 MW this year to 1,230 MW by 2035. Despite this, NV Energy is not fully utilizing VPPs in its resource planning, which could be a missed opportunity to reduce reliance on new gas-fired power generation. United’s Chloe Holden expressed concern about the “vagueness” in NV Energy’s plan, including a lack of detail about how different devices would be treated and how customers would be compensated. Read more.> |
Member News |
|
Limited Accountability, Technology Hurdles Inhibit VPP Adoption: Uplight Panel Utility Dive reports on a recent panel discussion, co-presented by Heatmap Labs and United member company Uplight, about the challenges facing the widespread adoption of virtual power plants (VPPs). The panel highlighted the significant potential VPPs hold for enhancing grid flexibility and reliability by aggregating distributed energy resources, while also underlining issues, such as limited accountability and technological hurdles that impede the deployment and effectiveness of VPPs in distribution grids. Read more.> |
Industry Events |
|
NCSL Legislative Summit, August 5-7 Register now to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)’s 2024 Legislative Summit in Louisville, Kentucky. Engage in transformative discussions, gain valuable insights from public policy experts, and develop new skills to take your career to the next level. Register here.> |
|
Navigating the Domestic Clean Energy Manufacturing Landscape, August 15 Join Heatmap Labs and Shoals Technologies Group for a virtual webinar exploring the evolving landscape of domestic clean energy manufacturing. United’s Harry Godfrey will moderate this discussion examining the broader trends shaping the future of homegrown clean energy production now and into a more uncertain 2025. Register here.> |
|
National Conservative Energy Summit, August 19-21 Join United at this year’s National Conservative Energy Summit in Huston, Texas. The annual summit brings together an unparalleled group of conservative clean energy advocates, policy experts, state & federal leaders, and technical specialists from across the nation. At the event, United’s Matt Boms will be speaking in a panel on VPPs and DERs, while United’s Salome Garcia will moderate a panel about artificial intelligence and load growth. Register here.> |
|
Midcontinent Clean Energy, August 20-21 Join United at the Midcontinent Clean Energy conference, hosted by Infocast, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The conference will bring together policymakers and industry professionals to provide insights into special issues and practices in a specific MISO context. United’s Lisa Barrett will be moderating a panel discussion on transmission expansion, planning, and financing. Register here.> |
 |