News

New report provides 21 case studies of market rules that thwart new 
technologies — some that have been corrected, many that still stand in the way 
of technology-neutral competition on price and performance

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 23, 2019 — Wholesale electricity markets should be technology-neutral, allowing all resources to compete on price and performance. Many market rules are outdated, however, having been designed with older technologies in mind. Such rules can prevent new technologies from selling their services on the open market, which stifles innovation and keeps our electricity system from being modernized for higher performance.

Ohio House Energy and Natural Resource Committee adopts Sub. HB 6, a bill that creates new “electricity tax” on all Ohioans for benefit of FirstEnergy Solutions and owners of old coal plants

COLUMBUS, May 22, 2018 — Today, Ohio House Energy and Natural Resources Committee adopted, on a party line vote, substitute House Bill 6 for consideration, which would create a new “electricity tax” on all Ohioans to bankroll FirstEnergy Solutions’ failing nuclear facilities while gutting the state’s advanced energy standards and threatening the jobs of 112,000 Ohioans working in the advanced energy industry that will power Ohio in the future. A committee vote on the bill is expected tomorrow.

Virginia AEE Lauds State Corporation Commission Approval of Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Programs That Will Save Virginians Money

Richmond, May 2, 2019 – Business group Virginia Advanced Energy Economy (Virginia AEE) applauded today’s decision by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to approve a portfolio of 11 new energy efficiency (EE) and demand response (DR) programs proposed by Dominion Energy Virginia. The portfolio includes programs utilizing an array of advanced energy technologies and services, including residential customer engagement, smart thermostats, and lighting systems and controls. The Commission approved in its entirety the proposed budget of $225.8 million for the programs, which are slated to commence this summer and run through June of 2024. 

“This decision marks a genuine sea change in the use of energy efficiency and demand response in Virginia,” said Harry Godfrey, executive director of Virginia AEE, in response to the Commission’s ruling. “For years our Commonwealth has badly underutilized these resources for reducing energy demand and saving money on electric bills. That’s cost Virginia families and businesses dearly. Today’s ruling is a major step toward changing that.” 

•  In 2018, worldwide advanced energy revenue was equal to global tourism, greater than pharmaceuticals, and double airlines.

• At $238 billion in 2018 revenue, the U.S. advanced energy market is nearly equal to aerospace manufacturing, double the revenue of the biotech industry.
  
  
  

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 25, 2019 – Today, the business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) announced that total revenue for advanced energy worldwide was a record $1.6 trillion in 2018, making the industry equal to global tourism, bigger than pharmaceuticals, and twice the size of airlines worldwide. The U.S. advanced energy market hit $238 billion after growing 11% in 2018 – nearly four times as fast as U.S. GDP. Advanced energy is now nearly equal in revenue to aerospace manufacturing, and twice the revenue of the biotech industry. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 22, 2019 — Today Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) reacted to Nevada Governor Sisolak signing Senate Bill 358* that increases Nevada’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The bill, sponsored by Senator Chris Brooks, requires energy generated and used in Nevada to come from at least 50% clean energy sources by 2030, up from 25% by 2025 previously in state law. It passed unanimously the state Senate and passed the Assembly 40-0 (with 2 absent).

Report from Advanced Energy Buyers Group focuses on practical steps and best practices for states that want to offer ways for businesses to choose renewable energy to power their operations

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 18, 2019 — Of the more than 15 gigawatts (GW) of corporate renewable energy deals done to date, less than 2 GW have occurred through utility programs, with the vast majority of power purchase agreements occurring in states that have competitive wholesale markets. A new report from the Advanced Energy Buyers Group, a business-led coalition of large energy users, explains how states with vertically integrated electricity markets can unlock the many benefits of corporate renewable energy procurement.

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2019 — Today, Advanced Energy Economy reacted to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruling on a petition filed by AEE in response to suggestions made earlier this year by ISO New England (ISO-NE) staff that the grid operator might, outside of established processes, change how already-qualified energy efficiency resources would be measured and included in its Forward Capacity Markets (FCM). In yesterday’s order, FERC concluded that ISO-NE’s commitment (made in its answer to the AEE petition) that it would not make changes to the measurement and verification process for energy efficiency resources without following the usual stakeholder process and filing the changes with the Commission made a declaratory order unnecessary at this time.

“We are pleased with the outcome here. As the Commission states in its order, ISO New England has committed that it will not make changes to the measurement and verification standards for energy efficiency resources without engaging stakeholders and making a filing with FERC," said Jeff Dennis, Managing Director, at AEE. "We appreciate this commitment by ISO-NE in its answer to our petition, and the Commission’s recognition of it, which brings needed clarity and certainty for energy efficiency resource providers. We look forward to continuing to work with ISO-NE and stakeholders in the region to ensure that advanced energy technologies can compete in the wholesale markets on a level playing field.”

HB6 fails to live up to promises of comprehensive energy reform in Ohio, instead offering a handout to a bankrupt power company at consumer expense, business group says

COLUMBUS, April 16, 2019 — Today, Ohio Advanced Energy Economy (Ohio AEE) declared its opposition to House Bill 6*, a bill that would raise electricity rates on all Ohioans to bail out money-losing nuclear generating facilities across the state.

Indiana Advanced Energy Economy Opposes SB 472 as Amended
Bill now includes moratorium on energy development designed to protect coal interests at the expense of Indiana consumers and businesses

INDIANAPOLIS, April 8, 2019 — Indiana Advanced Energy Economy (Indiana AEE) released the following statement today in opposition to SB 472, which was amended last week to include a 20-month moratorium on utility regulatory commission action on any matter involving more than 250 MW of generating capacity at a time when utilities are considering retiring coal-fired units and replacing them with cleaner, cheaper energy sources:

With 3.5 million jobs, advanced energy industry employs more U.S. workers than retail stores, twice as many as hotels and motels, three times coal and oil industries

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 20, 2019 – Today national business group Advanced Energy Economy released a fact sheet showing that the advanced energy industry employed 3.5 million U.S. workers in 2018, an increase of 125,000 jobs over 2017. Advanced energy employment grew 4 percent year-over-year, more than twice as fast as the overall U.S. employment growth rate of 1.5 percent. Employers expect to add 6 percent more advanced energy jobs in the coming year.