Advanced Energy Perspectives

On Monday, the Illinois General Assembly passed a landmark clean energy bill, which Governor JB Pritzker promptly signed into law, fulfilling a cornerstone promise from his 2018 campaign: deliver strong climate action by transitioning Illinois to 100% clean energy by 2050. It also means potential market opportunity worth an estimated $37 billion for advanced energy companies as they help Illinois meet two great challenges: decarbonizing the electric grid and lifting up every corner of the state with good jobs in the new energy economy. Read on for what the bill does, how it came about, and why it’s a huge win for the advanced energy industry.

In most parts of the country, how utilities plan their distribution systems – the network of poles, wires and other equipment designed to support electricity delivery at the local level – is something of a “black box.” But now, with the continued proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs) – ranging from rooftop solar to onsite battery storage and demand response – available to help manage electric supply and demand at the distribution level, that black box needs to be opened. Colorado is doing just that by joining a growing number of states that are implementing distribution system planning (DSP) rules for the first time.

It’s Labor Day! It’s a day not only for backyard BBQs and final dips in the pool, but also, and more importantly, a day to recognize the hard-working yet under-appreciated folks who built America, and keep it humming. For us at AEE, it’s also a day to provide some new resources for growing jobs in the advanced energy industry.

In the 1920s the United States dominated the automobile market, led by Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Co. Before that, cars were difficult to make and expensive to buy. But thanks to Ford’s Model T and (then) newfangled assembly line production, the demand for cars became overwhelming, driving production into high gear, putting Americans to work with higher wages, and lowering the cost of these vehicles. This phenomenon occurs with most new technologies, from the desktop computer to the toaster. So, it is no surprise that we see the same phenomenon happening with electric vehicles (EVs) nearly 100 years later. Question is: Is the U.S. prepared to dominate the EV market the way it did in Henry Ford’s time?

As the United States transitions toward advanced energy and transportation, the nation (and indeed the world) will witness exponential growth in demand for energy storage. Lithium-ion batteries are key to this development, accounting for more than 99% of electric vehicle (EV) batteries and 90% of utility-scale storage in 2021. China currently dominates nearly every aspect of the lithium-ion supply chain, enjoying the ensuing economic and strategic advantages that come with it. For the U.S. to upend this dynamic and build a domestic storage industry, the first step is understanding the battery supply chain and identifying opportunities for disruption, from responsible sourcing and recycling of materials to support for domestic manufacturing. There is no time to lose.