AEE Points Congress, Administration toward Modernizing U.S. Energy Infrastructure for Economic Growth 

New paper outlines five key policy areas to reduce regulation, drive private investment, and capitalize on the benefits of advanced energy technologies 

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2018 – Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) released a policy paper recommending five ways to modernize American’s energy infrastructure, driving private investment in advanced energy technologies for consumer and economic benefits. As the Trump Administration and the U.S. Congress consider policies to rebuild bridges and roadways, AEE makes the case that removing barriers to investment in advanced energy is an essential element of rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure.

The paper, “Modernizing U.S. Energy Infrastructure to Grow Our Economy” is available for download here.

“Congress should embrace all advanced energy technologies to modernize the American energy infrastructure at the lowest cost to the consumer,” said Dylan Reed, Head of Congressional Affairs for Advanced Energy Economy. “As a $200 billion industry supporting more than 3 million jobs across the United States, we support legislative efforts that removes barriers to investment for all advanced energy technologies. Our nation’s economic growth depends on it.”

AEE’s key policy recommendations are summarized below:

1. Streamline Regulations to Promote Advanced Energy Deployment

• Enhance coordination and establish non-binding targets to reduce average permitting time for advanced energy projects to 24 months, from the current average of 70 months.
• Grant federal “backstop” authority to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for FAST Act infrastructure transmission projects.

2. Make Use of Advanced Transmission Technologies and Non-Wires Alternatives in Grid Modernization

• Encourage greater consideration of advanced grid technologies and “non-wires” alternatives to traditional transmission to solve power delivery problems at lowest cost, and require FERC to collect data and report metrics on the use of such options in transmission planning.

3. Support Local Infrastructure Modernization

• Pass legislation to enable taxable Qualified Infrastructure Bonds, allowing the private sector to finance state and local public infrastructure projects.
• Require recipients of federal funding or competitive grants for upgrades at U.S. ports to consider port electrification and shore power. 

4. Accelerate Electrification of Transportation

• Amend federal law to allow electric vehicle charging stations at interstate highway rest stops.
• Create incentives for private companies to build electric vehicle charging infrastructure in national priority corridors.
• Promote alternative financing mechanisms to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles.
• Expand funding for federal Low or No Emission Vehicle Program for transit buses.

5. Promote Energy Efficiency

• Support the use of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs) so the federal government can partner with the private sector to modernize federal infrastructure and improve the efficiency of federal facilities through innovative financing.
• Modernize America’s schools with private sector financing: leverage private capital through public-private partnerships for facility renewal, infrastructure upgrades, and new technology to modernize rural, urban and suburban schools.