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Groups advocated for a more inclusive, transparent, and cost-efficient energy market for the Southeast U.S. region

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 13, 2021 — Today, national business associations Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), Advanced Energy Buyers Group (AEBG), and Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) issued the following statement regarding today’s 2-2 split decision by FERC that will allow, by operation of law, a proposal by utilities to form a Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM):

“FERC missed an opportunity to ensure that SEEM is a stepping stone to a competitive wholesale electricity market that delivers substantial benefits to consumers,” said Jeff Dennis, Managing Director and General Counsel at AEE, which manages the AEBG. “The acceptance of SEEM without a FERC order allows the sponsoring utilities to move forward without any Commission direction on how the new platform should be implemented and with no conditions that would improve transparency as to the benefits SEEM will actually deliver in practice. Moreover, FERC appears to have passed on creating a forum to foster discussion with states and stakeholders regarding the future of wholesale power markets in the region. This result could allow utilities in the Southeast to lock in a subpar alternative that will not create meaningful savings for ratepayers and will do little to accelerate the adoption of advanced energy technologies, while allowing those utilities to cement their market dominance in the region.”

Austin American-Statesman ran Suzanne Bertin's opinion piece on reforming Texas's electricity market. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Abundant natural resources, free markets, and a strong commitment to innovation have long positioned Texas as an energy leader. However, Texans’ faith in that leadership was tested this year during Winter Storm Uri, and our state is still looking for solutions to reliably keep the lights on. After the storm, the Texas legislature tasked state regulators with fixing the energy marketplace. This is an opportunity to better integrate advanced energy technologies, like wind, solar, battery storage and efficiency, into the electric grid.

AEE joins in sixth annual national campaign urging everyone to save money, cut pollution, create jobs

October 6, 2021, Washington, D.C. — Today, Advanced Energy Economy joins in the celebration of the 6^th annual national Energy Efficiency Day (#EEDay2021) along with more than 8,800 regional and national organizations, businesses, utilities, universities, and individuals. In a blog post published today, AEE notes that “less is more when it comes to energy,” as technologies and products that save energy also relieve stress on the nation’s power grid, improve resilience, and reduce costs for all consumers. With Congress currently considering landmark advanced energy investment in pending infrastructure and budget reconciliation bills, it’s more important than ever to recognize energy efficiency – the cheapest, quickest way to meet our energy needs, cut utility bills, and reduce pollution.

S&P Global summarized the Western utilities exploring further power market integration, citing AEE's Amisha Rai on the need for a Western RTO. Read snippets below.

A new coalition of electricity suppliers in the U.S. West with about 11 million combined customers is exploring further power market integration as the drought-ravaged region seeks to slash greenhouse gas emissions while boosting grid reliability.

RTO Insider detailed Western utilities effort to build a Western RTO, quoting AEE's Amisha Rai. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Major Western utilities plan to discuss coordinated market services and the possible formation of an organized market in an exploratory group.

A utility-only exploration of options risks falling short of the urgency of the moment and failing to provide all the benefits that would come with a full-blown regional electricity market 

SAN FRANCISCO, Wednesday, October 6—National business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is calling on electric utilities in the West to support the development of a regional transmission organization (RTO) for Western states. Several energy companies recently announced plans to explore market options in response to state momentum for a regional solution to energy resilience challenges, a process AEE says should be done expeditiously and lead to the creation of a western RTO. 

E&ENews outlined the Midwest states looking to create regional EV charging network, quoting Ryan Gallentine on the region's critical EV manufacturing.

CLIMATEWIRE | The governors of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois are teaming up to build an electric vehicle charging network across the Midwest.

E&E News detailed the U.S.'s EV boom, quoting Ryan Gallentine on how automakers are adapting to the market. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Electric vehicle sales are booming in the U.S., with purchases nearly doubling over a year ago.

Utility Dive outlined PJM's proposal to relax its minimum offer price rule, quoting AEE's Jeff Dennis. Read snippets below and the full article here.

FERC's inability to reach a decision on PJM's proposed changes to its MOPR — a rule designed to prevent a market participant from offering artificially low bids to suppress capacity prices — is the latest twist in a controversial regulatory process.

The Hill published Harry Godfrey's co-authored op-ed detailing how Congress can use state clean energy policies as a model for adopting the Build Back Better Budget. Read snippets below and the full article here. 

The pandemic, and its cascading negative effects on our economy, and our people, have presented a novel opportunity to build new and better infrastructure, foster innovation and bring good jobs to Americans everywhere. That is the promise at the heart of the President Biden’s Build Back Better budget being considered by Congress — a historic opportunity to put our economy on a path to greater prosperity for everyone while also supporting and accelerating the transition to 100 percent clean energy.