From Lauren,

As we approach the middle of the year, I'm happy to share some significant updates on our recent activities and future plans. The issuance of FERC Order No. 1920 on May 13, 2024 marks a pivotal moment in regulatory history, establishing a new long-term planning process to better anticipate and address regional grid needs. This landmark order requires transmission providers to engage in 20-year regional transmission planning, reassessed every five years, using comprehensive benefit metrics. Our team is diligently analyzing the implications to ensure we're well-prepared to meet new requirements and leverage opportunities.

We're thrilled to welcome our new Transmission Fellow, Virginia Paschal, whose expertise will be invaluable as we navigate FERC Order 1920 and other initiatives. We're closely involved with transmission planning efforts in both the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) regions. SPP's Integrated Transmission Planning process and MISO's Long Range Transmission Planning initiatives are crucial for developing robust, forward-looking transmission solutions. Virginia will play a key role in these efforts, helping to ensure our region's interests are well-represented. This addition, coupled with our recent successful staff retreat, has energized our team as we tackle the challenges ahead. Our organization continues to actively collaborate on Integrated Resource Plans (IPs) and stakeholder convenings. We're engaged in IRP processes with utilities advocating economic and reliable energy solutions. Our participation in multi-stakeholder convenings, such as those facilitated by the Public Service Commission, underscores our commitment to fostering collaborative solutions in the energy sector.

As we look to the future, we remain committed to advancing a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy system. The challenges are significant, but so are the opportunities as we work cohesively. With your continued support and engagement, we're confident in our ability to make a meaningful difference in the energy landscape.

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Entegrity is playing a crucial role in helping Arkansas school districts transition to electric school buses by assisting with grant applications, providing technical expertise, and offering turnkey solutions for charging infrastructure. (Arkansas Business) #membernews #EVs #electricvehicles

AAEA & AAEF Updates

We are thrilled to welcome Virginia Paschal as our new Transmission Fellow! Arkansas Advanced Energy is proud to be one of only six organizations nationwide selected by the Rocky Mountain Institute to host a Transmission Fellow. Virginia brings extensive experience in energy policy and environmental analysis. During her year long fellowship, she will focus on advancing transmission infrastructure and policies. We're excited to have her expertise on board! (AAEA)

Our Members in the News

Entergy and NextEra Energy have announced a five-year agreement to jointly develop up to 4.5 gigawatts of new solar and energy storage projects, significantly expanding their renewable energy capabilities. (Entergy Newsroom, Reuters, Hart Energy) #membernews #solar #energystorage #batteries

Photo Credit: Ruby McCloskey

The University of Arkansas is leading a collaborative effort to enhance cybersecurity in solar inverters, which convert the direct current from solar panels into alternating current for the electrical grid. (University of Arkansas News, The Cyber Express) #membernews #cybersecurity #solar

AAEA Member Ørsted has commissioned a 518MW hybrid wind and solar project in Texas, marking a significant advancement in renewable energy infrastructure. (Wind Power Monthly) #solar #wind #membernews

• The Department of the Interior announced that it was awarding the state of Arkansas $5.59 million to plug and reclaim about 274 orphaned oil and gas wells in the state to address environmental hazards and safety issues. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Arkansas Business) #grants #environment #fossilfuels

Photo Credit: Eric Gay

• Low-income Arkansans can apply for energy bill assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program with $13.5 million available, the program aims to help residents during the July to September period. (KNWA/KFTA) #energyassistance
• Arkansas will receive a $1.7 million federal grant to clean up pollution from abandoned coal mines. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) #grants #environment
• Southwest Power Pool (SPP) predicts reliable power supply throughout the hot summer. (Arkansas Business) #energy #capacity #transmission
• The Farmington School District in Arkansas has been awarded $9.875 million through the EPA's Clean School Bus Program to replace 25 diesel buses with electric ones, potentially reducing annual operating costs by $500,000. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) #cleanschoolbuses #ArkansasEducation
• Priefert, a steel fabricator based in Benton, Arkansas, has been selected as a supplier for Origami Solar's innovative steel solar module frames, which is expected to create up to 70 new jobs in the area over the next three years. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) #solar #manufacturing #economy #jobs
• U.S. Steel reports a 19% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity since 2018, with its $3 billion Arkansas operations at Big River Steel playing a crucial role; These facilities in Mississippi County support over 1,000 jobs while contributing to more sustainable steel production in the state. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) #steelproduction #ArkansasIndustry #emissions

Photo Credit: Jon Super

• The new FERC mandate requires long-term planning to address rising energy demands and ensure grid reliability, emphasizing the need for enhanced coordination and investment in energy infrastructure. (Arkansas Business) #grid #transmission #FERC
• Rising costs of electricity generated from coal: why should consumers should bear these increased expenses? (The New York Times) #energycost #opinion #fossilfuels
• U.S. clean energy investment hit a record high of $71 billion, driven by increased spending on renewable energy projects and electric vehicle infrastructure, according to a report by Rhodium Group. (Utility Drive) #cleanenergy
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected the first projects under its Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, aiming to repurpose DOE-owned lands for solar energy production, with plans to generate 400 MW of power through photovoltaic installations and battery storage. (Solar Industry Mag) #solar #batteries #energystorage #cleanenergy
• Sunrun CEO criticizes utilities for their "slow and no" culture which she argues hinders energy innovation and the adoption of advanced energy solutions. (Energy News Network) #utilities #energyinnovation #advancedenergy
• Electric lawn equipment and solar energy systems could serve as entry points for broader home electrification efforts. (Canary Media) #electrification

Permitting reform is crucial for accelerating clean energy deployment in the United States, and highlights the need for streamlined processes at all levels to meet climate goals and overcome current bottlenecks in project approvals. (Triple Pundit) #permitting #energyprojects

• The U.S. Department of Energy has announced $750 million in funding to accelerate domestic green hydrogen manufacturing, aiming to reduce costs and boost production capacity to meet the growing demand for this clean energy source. (Triple Pundit) #hydrogen
• A solar project in Virginia is using sheep and pigs for vegetation management to achieve cost savings, improve soil health, and enhance sustainability. (Solar Power World) #solar #agrivoltaics

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• The Senate confirmed two new members to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which supports renewable energy projects. (AP News) #FERC #federal
• A University of Wisconsin-Madison study has mapped millions of acres of abandoned farmland across the United States, suggesting these areas could potentially be repurposed for clean energy production, such as solar and wind farms. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) #renewableenergy #advancedenergy #landuse

AAEA is participating as a member of the Stakeholder Committee of SWEPCO’s 2024 Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process. Resource Planning is a triennial utility planning process which requires the utility’s consideration of all reasonable resources for meeting the demand for its electricity, including those which focus on traditional supply sources and those which focus on conservation and the management of demand. Lauren Waldrip and counsel Randy Bynum attended the initial Stakeholder presentation by SWEPCO on June 6. Lauren and Randy, on behalf or the Association, also participated in the first Stakeholder Committee Zoom meeting on June 26. As a result of that meeting, on June 28, the Stakeholder Committee submitted to SWEPCO an initial list of modeling requests, questions, and data requests regarding SWEPCO’s 2024 IRP. The Stakeholder Committee submitted these questions and requests for the purpose of informing our preparation of the Stakeholder Committee Report to be submitted in October. The second Stakeholder meeting is scheduled for early September. 

The U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS have issued final regulations on prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which are essential for taxpayers seeking enhanced tax credits for clean energy projects. These rules ensure fair wages and apprenticeship opportunities, significantly increasing tax benefits for compliant projects. This guidance supports job creation, fair labor practices, and the development of a skilled workforce in the clean energy sector. Compliance is crucial for maximizing tax incentives and contributing to the broader goals of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. (Utility Drive) #workforce #apprenticeships #energyefficiency #renewableenergy

• PWA Final Rule
• Treasury and Department of Labor Blog Post on Project Labor Agreements 
• New IRS Fact Sheet/ePoster
• Updated IRS PWA Overview
• Updated IRS PWA FAQs
• Updated IRS PWA Requirements
• IRA Taxpayer Resource Hub

AAE Engagements: The Month in Motion

The Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA) recently held a productive work retreat in Little Rock, welcoming our new fellow and intern to the team. During the retreat, staff members engaged in strategic planning sessions to chart the organization's future direction and initiatives. The team also took time to bond over our shared passion for advancing Arkansas's energy landscape, discussing local developments and opportunities in the state's clean energy sector. This retreat reinforced AAEA's commitment to fostering innovation and sustainable growth in Arkansas's advanced energy industry.

Congratulations to The Stitt Group, where affordability and integrity meets innovation!

The Stitt Group, led by AAEA board member David Stitt, just received the prestigious Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics! Founded in 1978, they’ve been pioneers in energy efficiency and solar solutions.

Membership in AAEA is an opportunity to be a part of a growing and influential organization that is leading the way for advanced energy development in Arkansas.

AAEA is dedicated to growing Arkansas’s economy through expanded utilization of advanced energy technologies, including energy efficiency, solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, electric vehicles, alternative fuels and smart grid. These are innovations that make our energy supply more secure, clean and affordable.

AAEA engages in policy advocacy at the federal, state and regulatory levels; industry policy group briefings; targeted outreach to other businesses and policymakers in Arkansas and across the country and regular communications with our members.

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