This is a guest post from AEE member company Ørsted Wind Power. Fred Zalcman, head of government affairs North America for Ørsted, will speak on the panel “Strong Winds Blow for Offshore Wind” at Advanced Energy Now | East on June 13.

Offshore wind energy is no longer an “alternative” form of energy – it’s a cost-effective, clean, reliable and mainstream energy source that has the potential to power the U.S. East Coast in the near future. Ørsted has already invested significantly in communities from Massachusetts to Virginia, as we embark on bringing our portfolio of development projects to commercial operation and in so doing supporting robust job creation and training, economic development, and strategic investments throughout the local communities we serve.

Corporate renewable energy transactions have accelerated rapidly since companies first recognized and seized upon the advantages of low-cost, abundant resources like solar and wind, reaching a record 6.5 GW contracted in 2018. But the 15 GW of commercial and industrial (C&I) customer deals signed since 2014 aren’t spread evenly across the country. In fact, 16 states have no C&I renewable energy projects operational or in development, and another 10 states have fewer than 50 MW (or less than 1% of the total). While resource potential plays a role, it is far from the whole story; policies that facilitate corporate procurement to drive renewable energy development are also key. Which means that the 26 states that currently account for less than 10% of the market can play catch-up. Our recent guide from the Advanced Energy Buyers Group shows how.

For years, Virginia’s leading investor-owned utility, Dominion, has lagged behind its peers when it comes to investments in energy efficiency (EE). According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), in 2017 Dominion ranked 50th out of 51 large utilities in EE, narrowly avoiding last place. Those days may be at an end following a stunning decision by the Commonwealth’s State Corporation Commission (SCC) earlier this month approving in full the programs – and budget – for greatly expanded efficiency investments for homes and businesses.

It has been an action packed few months in transportation electrification as legislative sessions have been in full swing. We have seen some good, some bad, and some ugly, but ultimately, as sessions start to wind down, the electric vehicle (EV) industry is walking away with some major wins. In Michigan, we saw a major charging infrastructure program approved. In Colorado, new legislation removed barriers to EV charging station deployment and extended tax credits for EV purchases. Down in the southwest, Nevada’s legislature has passed bills that incentivize the adoption of electric school buses by school districts and ease weight restrictions on heavy-duty electric vehicles. Next door in California, we got assurance that a new rulemaking is not going to hold up utility requests for approval of EV infrastructure plans. Meanwhile, a bill introduced in Pennsylvania is making that state look like the next one that could become EV friendly. These actions are all part of an accelerating trend toward vehicle electrification in states across the country.

The Indiana General Assembly finished its legislative work in the late hours of April 24, capping a significant session for advanced energy. Although constitutionally obligated to adjourn sine die by April 29, lawmakers wrapped things up a few days early. With the National Rifle Association hosting its national meeting in Indianapolis, hotel rooms were hard to come by, so lawmakers had extra incentive to finish up. But the shortened session didn’t keep the advanced energy industry from claiming several successes, as legislation to provide additional market opportunities were passed while proposals to significantly impede the industry by protecting coal plants from replacement by advanced energy technologies were stopped. Here is Indiana AEE’s scorecard on this year’s session.