Advanced Energy Perspectives

As policymakers, industry, and advocates lean into the challenge of decarbonizing the economy, hydrogen has for some become the New New Thing, an energy source that gives off no harmful emissions and is not dependent on the weather. As with many technologies that experience a surge in interest, there is both excitement and skepticism about hydrogen as a clean energy source, prompting AEE to ask: What is the appropriate role of hydrogen in an advanced energy economy? What should policymakers be considering when hydrogen is proposed as a solution for reaching a 100% clean energy future? We don’t have all the answers to these questions, but we do have a set of principles for approaching them.

Today, 95% of school buses in the United States are powered by diesel, emitting more than 40 toxic chemicals from their exhausts each day. The 24 million children who ride these school buses are exposed to five to 15 times more air pollutants than those who do not. In order to eliminate these harmful emissions, mitigate their health impacts on school-aged children, and reduce the effect of school transportation on climate change, policymakers should take action to electrify school bus fleets. This transition would be especially beneficial in regions prone to electricity supply disruptions caused by natural disasters, because electric school buses can also provide emergency backup power in the event of a grid failure. The challenge now is how to get it done – fast.

On March 16, the New York Public Service Commission quietly adopted a significant advancement in rate design. It did so as a result of a long proceeding on standby and buyback rates, in which AEE argued that owners of distributed generation not eligible for net metering (such as standalone storage facilities and institutions with combined-heat-and-power systems) were being overcharged for the customer-specific components of those rates. While the PSC action seemingly addressed a technical matter, the impact is a big win for advanced energy in New York, as it will lead to new rates much more favorable for a range of distributed energy resources (DERs).

A new trend is emerging as a growing number of governors and state legislatures are taking action to electrify their state-owned motor vehicles. By accelerating their own transition to clean transportation fleets, states are leading by example while saving taxpayer money, lowering maintenance requirements, reducing emissions, and contributing to energy independence.

On April 8, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed to a $220 billion state budget with the New York State Legislature that commits the state to deploying a fully zero-emission school bus fleet by 2035, thus positioning New York to become the first state in the nation to end the use of fossil fuel-powered school buses and provide 100% clean rides for students. Working in concert with partners and other advocates, AEE was deeply involved in building support for electrifying schools in both executive and legislative branches and takes pride in the nation-leading action taken by leaders in the Empire State. Now, the advanced energy industry, including many of AEE’s members, are poised to assist New York’s 950 school districts with a rapid transition to zero-emission school buses.