Advocates for clean energy lobby California lawmakers

Representatives from the Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), an association of California clean energy business leaders, are urging state lawmakers to support legislation that would accelerate California’s expansion of advanced energy.

Currently, there are several bills pending before the California legislature that would drive an expansion of advanced energy, which is described as clean, affordable energy. These bills would create jobs and drive economic growth, said AEE representatives who visited the state capital to meet with lawmakers earlier this week.

The group also bestowed “Legislative Champion” awards to state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-CA) and Assemblymember Phil Ting for championing clean energy policies.

Weiner sponsored SB 700, a bill to extend incentives for customer-sited energy storage.

Ting has worked closely with AEE on legislation to promote zero-emission vehicles. He also sponsored AB 2127, a bill that would enable better planning for infrastructure build-out statewide and across all vehicle classes.

“California has demonstrated that policy leadership expanding energy that is secure, clean, and affordable can actually spur economic growth,” Amisha Rai, senior director of California policy for AEE, said. “As a result, California has an advanced energy industry that employs more than 542,000 workers and is expected to grow 10 percent this year.”

AEE’s top legislative priorities are for the state to move to a 100 percent clean grid, boost California’s vehicle electrification goals, and grow a skilled advanced energy workforce.

Currently, California has more than 542,000 people working in advanced energy, which is more than hospitals (395,419) and grocery stores (297,167). Companies expect to see a 10 percent increase in job growth this year in the sector.

The lobbying session in Sacramento came one day before AEE held its 6th annual energy policy conference.

“This is a pivotal time for California as it faces federal challenges to state public policy that has transformed our energy markets, spurred innovation and led our nation’s competitiveness,” Rai said. “Our next governor has an opportunity to further expand this market and create even more opportunities to keep our economy humming while producing secure, clean, affordable energy for California.”