March 5, 2025 

A monthly roundup of activity and progress made towards our mission to transform public policy to accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy. 

Insight Engine Updates Coverage to Include Natural Gas Rate Cases

United’s Insight Engine™ platform now provides coverage of natural gas rate cases! Previously, coverage was scoped to electric rate cases only. Now, the same time-saving tools can be used to track and keep up with important developments in gas rate cases. We do the work for you, presenting information on what a utility is requesting and what the Utility Commission approves at a glance. This feature is included in our Essential + Rate Case and Pro plans. For more information, contact the Insight Engine team.

United Furthers Reach of Tax Credit Success Stories

Advanced Energy United (United) increased the catalogue of tax credit success stories featured on our “Unlocking Advanced Energy” website that launched in early February to showcase the tangible benefits of advanced energy projects and the suite of federal advanced energy tax policies that supported them. The site now features over 45 features and is a crucial platform in our work to educate lawmakers about the importance of tax credits. Reach out to Harry Godfrey and Joey Paolino if you have a story that we should feature.

Capitol Hill Lobby Day to Defend Tax Policies

In early February we led United member-companies REV Renewables, Enel North America, Blink Charging, Bekaert, and PowerFlex in meetings with 14 Members of Congress, including members of the House Ways & Means Committee, thirteen Republicans, and two Democrats. Member companies expressed their support for a diverse set of credits and provided lawmakers and their staff with salient examples of projects in their states and districts that have created jobs, reduced costs for consumers, and stimulated economic development.

Virginia Legislative Session Wraps with Key Wins on Energy

The Virginia legislative session wrapped its lightning-fast 45-day session with some key advanced energy provisions sent to Governor Glenn Youngkin. These include a bill that expands the distributed generation carveout in the state, a VPP pilot program, advanced conductors, IRP reform, and an expansion of rural EV infrastructure. Bills to support advanced conductors and the distributed generation expansion program passed with strong bipartisan support. United worked in coalition to move these priorities forward and drove home the business case for these solutions.

Two Key Legislative Policies Moving in Connecticut

United Senior Principal Kat Burnham was in Hartford on February 27 as two of our policy priorities came before the CT Energy and Technologies Committee. Burnham testified in support of legislation that would increase the use of advanced transmission technologies. In addition, United advocated for Connecticut to look closely into natural gas planning to leverage innovative regulatory and technology approaches developed in other states to meet consumer heating needs at lower cost and lower risk. We expect both proposals to be part of the energy debate this legislative session.

California PUC Takes on Flexible Interconnection in Multiple Dockets

In February, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) released rulings in two rulemakings (R.21-06-017 and R.24-01-018) that provide a regulatory pathway for flexible interconnection, something United and many of our members have spent over a year advocating for. One docket will provide a near-term opportunity to create a standardized process for new customers to connect to the grid more quickly, while the other creates a longer-term opportunity to develop policies for permanent load flexibility. United is excited to see the CPUC take up this topic and will be providing comments in response to both rulings in March.

United Represents Industry in Illinois Press Conference on Introduction of Energy Storage Legislation

United joined Illinois legislative sponsors, Sen. Bill Cunningham, Rep. Barbara Hernandez, and Rep. Marcus Evans for a press conference on the introduction of renewables industry-backed legislation which would establish energy storage procurement targets and create a statewide virtual power plant policy, among other policies. The press conference was covered in both state and national media, with United quoted in E&E News.

United Members Meet with California Lawmakers on Key Priorities, Including New VPP Bill

United member representatives traveled to Sacramento in February to welcome new legislators and to uplift our priorities for the year, including United-sponsored VPP legislation introduced that same day. AB 740, led by Assemblymember John Harabedian, would require the California Energy Commission to develop a VPP implementation plan for the state. Legislators and legislative staff welcomed the affordability solutions and economy-wide benefits that United members provide California and were interested in the prospect of scaling up VPPs in the state.

Pathways Initiative Makes Progress with Bill Introduction

SB 540, which authorizes California utilities and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to participate in regional energy markets governed by an independent regional organization if certain conditions are met, was introduced this month by Energy Committee Chair Senator Becker. The bill is co-sponsored by labor and environmental organizations and is supported by a wide variety of stakeholders, which bodes well for its prospects. United released a supportive statement and will be very engaged in ensuring its passage.

Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance Holds 20 Key Meetings to Shape Texas Energy Policy

The Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA) and its member companies made a powerful impact during their lobby day at the Texas Capitol on February 25, meeting with 20 legislative offices to advocate for policies that strengthen grid reliability, expand market access for DERs, and accelerate transmission investment. Representatives from member-companies, Apex Clean Energy, Enchanted Rock, Generac, Ørsted, Renew Home, Schneider Electric, and Voltus engaged directly with lawmakers, emphasizing the role of advanced energy in keeping Texas competitive. Rep. Rafael Anchia joined our kickoff lunch along with legislators and staffers, Speaker Dustin Burrows, Chairman Phil King, Chairman Drew Darby, Rep. Dade Phelan, Rep. Aicha Davis, Rep. John T. Smithee, and Sen. Cesar Blanco. With critical energy bills on the table this session, TAEBA is committed to driving smart, market-driven policies that ensure Texas remains the energy leader of the future.

United Advocates Push for Affordable Grid Act During Maryland Lobby Day

MidAtlantic working group members joined United staff on February 27 in Annapolis, Maryland to advocate for SB 908/HB 1225 (Affordable Grid Act), our distribution planning legislation which would require the Public Service Commission to review distribution system plans for cost-effectiveness and efficiency in advance of upgrades. We were able to meet with leadership in the legislature and discuss our bill alongside the leadership energy package in the works and discuss how our bill can work to make electricity more affordable for ratepayers given skyrocketing costs in the region.

United Hosts Transmission Briefing in Phoenix

On February 24, United hosted a legislative briefing on Arizona’s transmission landscape in partnership with member company, LineVision, and consulting firm, Converge Strategies. Representatives from member companies, LineVision and Baekart, engaged directly with Arizona lawmakers. The session, and the lively Q&A that followed, provided a bipartisan group of 11 Arizona legislators with key insights on the importance of transmission expansion, permitting, and advanced transmission technologies. Attendees included Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, Senate Majority Whip Frank Carroll, Senate Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan, and other key members of the Senate and House energy committees.

A Monumental Winter NARUC in DC Engaging with PUCs

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Winter Policy Summit included three of United’s proposed panels on the agenda and featured six representatives from member companies as panelists. In addition to our engagement on the content for the conference, United held a series of our own member meetings and meals, facilitating opportunities for members to engage directly with 30+ public utility commissions (PUC) commissioners and staff from across the country. Those engagements included member meetings with NARUC Electricity Committee Chair Duffley (NC), Energy Resources and Environment Staff Committee Leadership (NV), Education and Research Subcommittee Chair Marquez Peterson (AZ), and Board of Directors Member Chair Williamson (NV) to learn more about their priorities and to share panel ideas for future NARUCs. United also hosted a member dinner with 11 public utility commissioners (NY x 2, CO, IL, IN, MD x 2, HI, ME, MA, and NC) and a member lunch with 14 staffers from FERC and PUCs in 8 states (SC, NC, AR, IA, DC, HI, IL, CA). And finally, DMEE hosted a site visit to Amazon’s Arlington Headquarters with Commissioners and Commission staffers.

United Releases Analysis Highlighting Cost Benefits of Faster Interconnection in PJM 

In response to the political and consumer outrage over PJM related electric costs increases averaging 20% across the PJM region, United released a report prepared by Grid Strategies demonstrating that consumer electricity costs could have been reduced by as much as $7 billion dollars in PJM Interconnection’s latest capacity auction had the grid operator’s interconnection process been working more efficiently to bring needed supply online to match demand. The release of this report supports our strategy to keep focused attention on the need for additional reforms of the PJM Interconnection process.

United Files in Support of Enhanced Interregional Transmission Planning

United filed comments at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in response to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Interregional Transfer Capability Study (ITCS), emphasizing the many cost and reliability benefits of increased interregional transmission. Our comments encourage FERC to take further action to advance interregional transmission planning by setting a minimum transfer capacity requirement (that could be regionally adjusted), strengthening the interregional planning requirements under Order No. 1920, and supporting ongoing interregional coordination efforts.

United Convenes New England PUC Commissioners to Advance Demand Response

ISO-NE has major barriers for demand response (“DR”) providers to participate in the wholesale markets in addition to other challenges, such as reforming rate design and deployment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (“AMI”), which impact the scale and pace of deployment of DR resources and distributed energy resources (“DER”) aggregations. Having previously commented on reforms needed to advance DR in the region through the New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners (NECPUC) Demand Response Working Group, United continued efforts to find solutions and educate stakeholders and states by convening a key group of Commissioners, their staff, and DR providers. This resulted in productive discussions identifying issues, brainstorming solutions, and charting a path forward for the working group and state actions needed to effectively scale DR in New England.

United Expands its Pushback on MISO's ERAS Process to FERC and Other State Commissioners

MISO continues to refine its Expedited Resource Additions Study (ERAS) proposal, a proposal intended to speed up the generator interconnection process for projects needed to meet new large load additions. Concurrently, United has expanded its engagement to FERC staff and other states. We have held meetings with members and staff from the offices of all five FERC Commissioners, the Office of Energy Market Regulation, and with Commissioner Sullivan from Minnesota. We shared concerns as well as recommendations to improve the proposal, including removal of the three-year commercial operations date extension, firmer sunset provision, ensuring opportunities for independent power producers to submit projects rather than just load serving entities, and other suggestions to avoid adverse impacts on the existing queue. MISO will share its final proposal at a March 7 Special Planning Advisory Committee meeting before filing with FERC in mid-March.

FERC Approves PJM's Queue Jumping Proposal, United Prepares to Push Back

On February 11, FERC approved a PJM filing proposing to supplement its ongoing interconnection reform with a “Resource Reliability Initiative” (RRI) that would allow ‘dispatchable’ mostly natural gas generation not currently in the interconnection queue to move to the front of the line in PJM’s closed queue. The filing received significant support from many stakeholders but faced strong opposition from United and clean energy advocates and developers with projects already in the queue who in effect may get pushed aside. United advocated for improvements to RRI at PJM, and filed a protest at PJM. The RRI was approved 3-1, with Commissioner Judy W. Chang in dissent and Commissioner Lindsay S. See not participating. United and our clean trade allies are preparing to request rehearing of FERC’s approval. The same day, FERC approved a positive PJM interconnection reform known as “Surplus Interconnection Service” (which United filed comments in support of) which allows for expedited interconnection for various technologies at sites with known headroom on the transmission system. United also filed comments in support of PJM’s proposed Capacity Interconnection Rights transfer process, which will make it easier for new resources to interconnect at the site of a retiring resource; this proposal is still pending before FERC.

United Joins Industry Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coalition

United has joined Renewables Forward, a coalition working towards championing a new system of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the clean energy industry. Renewables Forward and its cohort commit to work together to develop and share corporate policies and resources, create a more diverse pipeline, and assess and build DEI. Learn more about Renewables Forward and their membership here.

Participate at the USHCC Legislative Summit (Washington, D.C., March 24-26)

Join the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Legislative Summit this Spring in Washington, D.C. The Legislative Summit stands as the USHCC’s flagship advocacy gathering. It provides attendees with an opportunity to connect with business executives, corporate leaders, policymakers and government officials across the political spectrum. You can find more information and registration details here.

Nevada Lobby Day (Carson City, NV, April 1)

Members of the West Regional Working Group are invited to join the United team in Carson City on April 1. We will be setting up meetings with legislators to discuss our session priorities and showcase the work our members are doing in the state. Register here.

Join the Advanced Energy Coalition Sponsorship (Atlanta, GA, April 28-May 2) 

Join United to raise the profile of the advanced energy industry with the American Association of Black in Energy (AABE). The AABE National Conference provides an impactful forum for more than 1000 energy professionals every year. AABE boasts a membership of 1,600 energy professionals in over 39 chapters nationwide, representing all energy industry sectors. Connect with thought leaders and forge partnerships with our Advanced Energy Coalition sponsorship. For more information, contact Kate Johnson.

Join United at the USHCC Energy Summit (Santa Fe, NM, April 29-May 1)

Join United at the USHCC Energy Summit from April 29 – May 1 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Summit aims to bring together key stakeholders from the energy sector to share insights on emerging issues and highlight the critical role of Hispanic businesses in the industry. You can find more information and registration details here.

New Mexico Advanced Energy Industry CEO Roundtable 

United will host an industry roundtable in New Mexico with Governor Lujan Grisham in late spring, following the legislative session. Attendance is open to CEOs of West Regional Working Group member companies. A date and location to be announced soon. For any questions, contact Michael Barrio.

Join the American Clean Power Association at CLEANPOWER in COLOR (Phoenix, AZ, May 19-22)

The American Clean Power Association has launched CLEANPOWER in COLOR, a forum designed to empower, elevate, and connect mid-level professionals of color in the clean power industry. This event is designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities for professionals of diverse backgrounds in clean power. Attendees will access tailored tools, actionable strategies, and meaningful inspiration designed to empower them to excel, advance their careers, and lead with confidence in the clean power sector. We encourage United members to consider sponsorship. Learn more and register here.

SAVE THE DATE: Grid Edge Innovation Workshop (San Jose, CA, May 27)

United is facilitating a Forum and workshop in partnership with DTECH Events at the May 2025 DTECH Data Centers & AI in San Jose, CA. This three-hour Forum and workshop will showcase AI-powered automation and advanced tools that are helping drive improvements to an increasingly complex grid along with a solutions-oriented discussion about the policy and regulatory mechanisms needed to ensure that utilities can take advantage of such tools. Stay tuned for more details. For more information, contact Kate Johnson.

Share your feedback on the format of this Member Report by contacting us at membership@advancedenergyunited.org.