News

Politico Pro reported on FERC's decision today not to rehear arguments on Order 841 that allows energy storage providers to participate in wholesale power markets, including AEE's Jeff Dennis' reaction. See the full Politico piece here (sub. req.) and excerpts below.

FERC today declined to rehear arguments on its landmark order allowing energy storage providers to participate in wholesale power markets. Commissioners voted 3-1 to leave Order 841 in place, dismissing a request from electric cooperatives and municipal utilities to let states opt-out of letting distribution-connected storage participate in wholesale markets.

Distributed energy resources (DERs) are rapidly expanding as technologies advance, their costs decline and customers demand more control over their own energy usage.

The rapid deployment of technologies like onsite renewable energy generation, battery storage, fuel cells and electric vehicles, along with enabling consumer devices and software controls, promises to bring significant benefits not only to the customers deploying them, but also for the electricity grid as a whole...

Utility Dive reported on the latest action — seven utilities (and AEE) urging a legislative committee to approve new Illinois Cloud Computing rules currently under review. They included a link to the letter to review committee leaders and AEE's filed comments about the rule. See excerpts below and the entire UD story here:

Seven Illinois utilities and Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) on Thursday asked state regulators to finalize accounting rules for cloud-based computing solutions. Current rules disincentivize some investments and have not kept pace with changes to technology, the utilities say. Those rules allow utilities to earn a rate of return on computing systems developed on-premises, but treat cloud-based systems as operating expenses. The Illinois Commerce Commission launched a rulemaking in December 2017 to consider the changes, citing a need to "level the playing field" between on-premise and cloud-based computing systems at a time when utilities focused on modernization are investing billions in new systems...

Smart Energy Decisions published an article by AEE's Caitlin Marquis about ways corporate buyers can work with utilities, regulators and state officials to shape renewable energy program offerings with appeal to meet their sustainability goals. The piece draws from a recent report by AEE's Advanced Energy Buyers Group, "Renewable Energy Offerings that Work for Companies: A Practical Guide to Meeting Corporate Renewable Energy Demand in Vertically Integrated Markets," highlighting a six-step process to engage key players. See excerpts below and the entire SED article here and the related AEE webinar here.

Energy procurement and sustainability teams tasked with meeting corporate renewable energy targets are all too familiar with the fact that doing so is much easier in some states than in others. Specifically, in states that lack retail choice, and especially in states that are not part of an organized wholesale market, customers rely on either policy changes or the introduction of utility programs to make progress on their renewable energy goals. That means customers can wait for change – or work to make it happen.

Washington Examiner highlights AEE's new Advanced Energy Now 2019 Market Report that shows the clean energy industry's record numbers. AEE's CEO Nat Kreamer's comments are included. See excerpts below and the entire Washington Examiner 'Daily on Energy' segment here:

Total revenue for the clean energy industry reached a record $1.6 trillion in 2018, according to a  report released Thursday. The clean energy business group Advanced Energy Economy says that amount of revenue makes the industry equal to global tourism, bigger than pharmaceuticals, and twice the size of airlines.

Inside Sources focuses on an Ohio bill that many are calling a bailout for nuclear energy, noting AEE's opposition and including AEE's Ray Fakhoury's comments. See excerpts below and the entire Inside Sources story here:

Republican lawmakers in Ohio are under fire over a bill intended to create a clean air program but denounced by energy industry and environmental advocates as a “bailout” for the state’s nuclear energy industry. House Bill (HB) 6, proposed by Reps. Jamie Callender, R-Concord Township, and Shane Wilkin, R-Hillsboro, would establish the Ohio Clean Air Program to incentivize the state’s dynamic energy economy to build and maintain zero and reduced emissions generation facilities to fight climate change.

This Investor Ideas article calls attention to the Governor of Nevada signing new clean energy standards legislation into law. AEE's Ray Fakhoury's supportive reaction was included. See excerpts below and the entire Investor Ideas story here:

With the stroke of his pen, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak doubled Nevada's Renewable Portfolio Standard on Monday, laying the groundwork for thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in economic impact of the coming decade. The new law positions the state to maintain the fastest job growth in the country for clean energy like solar, geothermal and wind.

The Indianapolis Star reports Indiana's second largest coal company is pushing for a moratorium on new electric generation projects with new lobbying help. AEE's Caryl Auslander's comments were included. See excerpts below and the entire Indianapolis Star story here:

In the final days of the legislature, an Indiana coal company has retained the support of a high-powered ally in its effort to pass legislation that would keep Indiana's coal-fired plants from closing as planned.

This San Francisco Chronicle piece covers steps PG&E has taken amidst its bankruptcy, referencing an AEE return on equity figure. See excerpts below and the entire San Francisco Chronicle story here:

Seeking Wall Street’s favor, bankrupt PG&E asked regulators Monday for higher rates and has replaced a board member to win over a restive shareholder group.