Coalition Now Working for Policies to Accelerate Advanced Energy Growth in 21 States
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC – Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national association of businessleaders who are making the global energy system more secure, clean, and affordable,announced today the addition of four new partner organizations to its State Coalition: theClean Energy Project of Nevada; the multi-state Interwest Energy Alliance; Maryland CleanEnergy Center; and the Renewable Energy Alaska Project. With the addition of these groups,which are active in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah andWyoming, AEE’s State Coalition now includes 13 state and regional partner organizations andcovers 21 states, representing more than 900 companies and other entities.
“Thanks to the efforts of our expanding coalition of state partners, advanced energycontinues to gain momentum,” said Graham Richard, CEO of Advanced Energy Economy.
“Working together with these additional partners, our members will have more impact onstate energy policy to help advanced energy companies grow across the country.”
Actively engaged with business leaders from advanced energy companies headquartered oroperating in these states, AEE partner organizations drive state and local policy advocacythroughout the country. This year alone, AEE and its Coalition partners have achieved 56state legislative victories – 49 new pro-advanced energy laws, and seven challenges turnedaway.
With this announcement, AEE added four new partner groups to its growing State Coalition:
• Clean Energy Project, Inc. (CEP) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated topowering the clean energy economy through education and engagement with policyleaders, community leaders and citizens on the economic benefits of fully developinga clean energy economy. CEP builds on existing successful policies and advocates forcontinued development of Nevada’s promising clean energy industry.
• The Interwest Energy Alliance (IEA) is a non-profit trade association that brings thenation’s renewable energy industry together with the advocacy community in the West.This consensus-based, collaborative approach to market development has proven tobe successful since IEA’s inception in 2002. Together, IEA’s members support state-levelpublic policies that harness the West’s abundant renewable energy resources. Currently,IEA’s primary states of focus are Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah andWyoming.
• The Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) is a not-for-profit corporate instrumentalityof the state of Maryland, founded in 2008 through an act of the Maryland GeneralAssembly. MCEC’s mission is to increase clean energy jobs, technical innovations, businessdevelopment, and consumer adoption of clean energy products and services. MCEC isfocused on helping consumers, supporting businesses and informing policy makers.
• The Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) is a diverse coalition of large and smallelectric utilities, Alaska Native corporations, private businesses and developers,conservation groups, and other organizations with a shared interest in developingAlaska’s vast renewable energy resources and promoting energy efficiency. Formed in2004, REAP’s membership coalition has grown from 16 to over 80 entities. During thattime REAP has played an integral role in the passage of several key pieces of legislationthat have advanced renewable energy and energy efficiency in Alaska. REAP’s ongoingeducation and advocacy efforts emphasize the economic benefits of clean energy to bothpolicy makers and the general public.
“The Interwest Energy Alliance is pleased to partner with AEE to expand markets for clean,homegrown renewable energy in the West,” said Sarah Propst, Executive Director of theInterwest Energy Alliance. “AEE’s national profile and policy expertise combined withInterwest’s strong state policy team is a powerful combination.”
“States are the incubators of the policies that will drive energy innovation, economic growthand energy security,” said Lydia Ball, Executive Director of the Clean Energy Project.
“Working with AEE, we look forward to sharing our insights and learning from others toensure Nevada’s energy future.”
“REAP is excited to work with AEE and its other state partners to promote a clean, stablypriced energy future for Alaska and the United States,” said Chris Rose, Executive Director,Renewable Energy Alaska Project. “As a state that pays nearly $6 billion a year for heat,electricity and transportation, it is critical that Alaska develop its vast local clean energyresources to keep money in the state’s economy flowing for the benefit of Alaskans.”
At the state level we are often in the trenches dealing with details. Being involved withAEE gives us access to information about what is happening on the national level in termsof policy and provides us with perspective to learn from other states about model programsand best practices,” said Katherine Magruder, Executive Director of Maryland Clean EnergyCenter.
These four new partner organizations join the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association, CleanEnergy Trust (Illinois), Colorado Cleantech Industry Association, Michigan Energy InnovationBusiness Council, New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina SustainableEnergy Association, Ohio Advanced Energy Economy, South Carolina Clean Energy BusinessAlliance, and the New England Clean Energy Council in the AEE State Coalition.
About Advanced Energy Economy
Advanced Energy Economy is a national association of businesses and business leaders whoare making the global energy system more secure, clean, and affordable. Advanced energyencompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best availabletechnologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE’s mission is to transformpublic policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses.
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Media Contact:Amy Widdowson
415-766-0338
amy.widdowson@463.com