Heather O'Neill President and CEO |
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Policymakers across the country are recognizing that we can and must get more out of the grid infrastructure we already have, and with our support they are increasingly turning to advanced energy technologies to get it done. Our latest success is in Colorado, where Governor Polis signed the Colorado Grid Optimization Act, which will require utilities in the state to consider advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) in their plans. Ever since we championed the first-ever state legislation for increased ATTs deployment in Virginia two years ago, we’ve made ATTs a featured part of our suite of solutions as decision-makers come to us for guidance on what technologies are available to quickly and cost-effectively increase power capacity on the grid. Right now, we’re also building bipartisan support for legislation that speeds ATT deployment in several states, including Pennsylvania and New York. By uniting to engage state leaders with a whole suite of advanced energy solutions that work in concert to expand grid capacity, bolster reliability, and lower energy costs, our industry can continue to thrive!
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From left to right: Clean Air Task Force’s Sara Orrange, United’s Emilie Olson, Governor Jared Polis, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, and Audubon Rockies’ Daly Edmunds at the signing of the Colorado Grid Optimization Act. |
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Join Us for California Powers Up on August 11 |
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California is known for its forward-thinking energy policies and solutions. On August 11, we’re bringing together lawmakers, industry leaders, and advocates working on practical solutions to the challenges shaping California's energy landscape.
At our inaugural California Powers Up: Energy & Policy Solutions Summit in Sacramento, you'll hear firsthand how policies are evolving and engage directly with the people influencing those decisions. The agenda is focused on real solutions, not just big-picture thinking, filled with content-packed panels and interactive breakout sessions exploring what's next for the Golden State's clean energy future.
Be sure to reserve your seat before the early bird pricing deadline on June 11. |
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Illinois Combats Rising Energy Costs as Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act Takes Effect Today
This week, the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) took effect, ensuring Illinois can produce more energy to keep up with rising demand by deploying substantially more battery storage, creating an innovative virtual power plant (VPP) program, and strengthening energy efficiency programs statewide. United's Samarth Medakkar, who worked with legislators throughout the legislative process, noted in our statement to the press that Illinois is showing all states how to address the supply crunch and affordability challenge by using proven advanced energy technologies. Read more.>
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Faced with rising costs, fiscal duress, and persisting uncertainty at the federal level, energy policymaking in the 2026 Colorado legislative session moved on multiple fronts at once, with energy affordability and reliability top of mind for legislators. On our blog, United's Emilie Olson covers key outcomes and the work ahead, highlighting United's ongoing collaboration with current and incoming state decisionmakers to lower electricity costs, increase grid reliability, and help Colorado meet its clean energy goals. Read more.>
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All eyes are on the grid operator PJM Interconnection as it readies an ambitious plan to avert a reliability crisis and maintain affordability in the face of unprecedented demand growth. In this webinar, moderated by United’s Caitlin Marquis, industry experts from Enel North America, Clearway Energy Group, Calibrant Energy, and Google will assess whether PJM’s proposals will meet the moment, discussing what’s at stake and what steps they want to see to ensure their businesses can manage the changes. Preceding the roundtable will be a presentation from Synapse Energy Economics about a recent analysis that lays out what resource mix would provide the most reliability and affordability benefits for PJM customers. Register here.>
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Factor This: Stalled Federal Funding is Freeing Up to Aid Homeowners Eyeing Energy Efficiency
On an episode of the Factor This podcast, host Paul Gerke dives into the details on billions of dollars of previously frozen home energy efficiency funding that will finally begin flowing to the states. United’s Kate Shonk and the State of New Mexico’s Rebecca Puck Stair break down why the funding was stalled, where it’s headed, and how it can help consumers at a time when electricity prices are skyrocketing nationwide, sharing examples from several states that are rolling out unique programs to take advantage of the efficiency rebates. Listen to the full episode.>
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Nevada Current: NV Energy Betting the House on Data Centers
The Nevada Current reports that NV Energy is projecting it needs 47% more electricity than it anticipated just two years ago in its last Integrated Resource Plan, relying heavily on natural gas to meet incoming load growth. United’s Brian Turner stated that instead of defaulting to building expensive new infrastructure, the utility should get more out of existing energy resources already found in homes and businesses statewide. Read more.>
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Google is Voltus’s First ‘Bring-Your-Own-Capacity’ Customer
United member companies Google and Voltus are partnering to create a grid-scale VPP within PJM. This agreement provides a scalable blueprint for how data center capacity needs can be met affordably and reliably. It's also an example of how industry leaders are creating grid-scale solutions to the growing capacity shortfall within PJM. Read more.>
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At the Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners this week, United hosted several engagement events. On Tuesday, we held an in-person site visit in partnership with member company SPAN. Over a dozen commissioners and many more attendees were able to see how SPAN’s smart panels accelerate home electrification and avoid costly upgrades. Additionally, United held a dinner with commissioners and a lunch with PUC staff for members.
Pictured: Richard Caperton (SPAN), Erik Lyon (Renew Home), Gigi Olmedo (EnergyHub), Lucy Darago (XGS Energy), Collin Smith (Leap), Michelle Bogen (Ford), Emma Rodvien (Kraken), Marguerite Behringer (Landis+Gyr) with United team members Sarah King, Audrey Thacker, and Nick Schou. |
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United is proud to be a Gold Sponsor for Infocast’s Transmission & Interconnection Summit 2026, focused exclusively on the business and policy environment of transmission asset investment and development. On day one of the event, be sure to catch United’s Caitlin Marquis on the “Consolidating Interconnection & Transmission Planning Processes to Meet Increasing Capacity, Speed to Power, and Cost Containment Needs,” panel, and United’s Doug Pietrucha on the “GETs and Reconductoring – Will the $1.9B SPARK Funding Accelerate Near-Term Capacity Expansion” panel. Register here.>
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More than 600 industry and policy leaders will convene at the Reuters Events Global Energy Forum 2026, sponsored by United, to explore how the world can meet growing energy demand reliably, affordably, and at scale. United President and CEO Heather O’Neill will serve as a panelist on “The Price of Progress: Who Pays for Tomorrow’s Grids?” panel with other global leaders on the first day of the event, exploring strategies to balance affordability with reliability in scaling infrastructure for growing demand. Register here.>
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US Sustainable Investment Forum’s (SIF’s) three-day event will bring together industry experts on a broad range of leading-edge content, offering a unique opportunity to network with leaders in sustainable investing and learn about new approaches, emerging trends, and policy developments. On the final day of the event, United President and CEO Heather O’Neill will be speaking on “The States Leading the Clean Energy Transition Amidst Federal Rollbacks” panel, examining how state-level policy is translating into real-world investment decisions for our industry. Register here.>
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