ACP https://cleanpower.org/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:21:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 Tax Credit Transferability Takes Center Stage: Panel of Industry Leaders Spotlight Standardization, Market Maturity, and What Comes Next https://cleanpower.org/blog/tax-credit-transferability-takes-center-stage/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tax-credit-transferability-takes-center-stage Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:41:00 +0000 https://cleanpower.org/?p=70317 Just before Thanksgiving, ACP Chief Policy Officer JC Sandberg led a discussion between industry experts — Clearway’s Chief Financial Officer Steve Ryder, Crux Co-Founder and CEO Alfred Johnson, Orrick Partner Alejandra Garcia Earley, and Norton Rose Partner Hilary Lefko — all of whom underscored the increased urgency to grow the available pool of tax equity and the opportunity tax credit transfer deals represent to help accomplish that goal.

As the clean energy industry accelerates project deployment nationwide, the ability to transfer federal tax credits has become one of the most consequential financial tools for shaping project finance. With billions of dollars in transferable credits circulating across technologies — from solar and wind to manufacturing, storage, and nuclear — standardizing these credit transfer transactions can help attract new investors.  ACP convened leading developers, legal experts, and market innovators to explore the state of play and introduce a new standardized Investment Tax Credit (ITC) transfer agreement form. 

Key Takeaways 

  • The market for buying and selling clean-energy tax credits is growing fast: Tax credit transfers have scaled dramatically — from under $10B in 2023 to an estimated $40B this year — and are diversifying beyond wind and solar. 
  • ACP and industry partners have introduced the new Tax Credit Transfer Agreement (TCTA) to make deals more accessible to a broader range of market participants: While every deal has a handful of unique attributes, a great many transfer deals can benefit from a standard template that incorporates provisions common to most deals.  The new TCTA form presents tax credit buyers and sellers with a common starting place to transact transfer deals. ACP’s goal in creating the form with its industry partners is to make the form broadly available and widely used similar to the ubiquitous ISDA framework for derivative transactions.  
  • This is just the first step — more standardized tools are coming: Experts expect similar templates for other credits like 45Y production tax credits and 45X manufacturing incentives further expanding the pool of potential tax equity investors. As these tools roll out, buying and selling credits should become easier, helping clean energy scale more quickly. 

Download TCTA Form

 A Growing Tool for a Growing Market 

“The market is only two years old,” noted Johnson — yet it has matured at remarkable speed. In 2023, an estimated $7–9 billion in credits changed hands. In 2025, that number will exceed$40 billion, with especially strong growth in battery storage, clean fuels, manufacturing, and nuclear energy. Large developers like Clearway report that traditional tax equity remains strong, but transferability has become a crucial supplement — particularly after IRS guidance and safe harbor rules helped clarify how deals should work.  

According to Orrick’s Alejandra Garcia Earley, demand now spans nearly every available tax credit category — from 45X manufacturing incentives to EV charging credits — demonstrating just how central transferability has become in financing new infrastructure. 

Corporate Buyers Are Fueling Liquidity — and Raising the Bar 

An ever-increasing number of new corporate buyers are entering the market, oftentimes with little prior experience in clean energy finance. Unlike banks or traditional tax-equity investors, these companies often do not have in-house tax teams or transaction lawyers with the necessary experience in these specific transactions. As Norton Rose’s Hilary Lefko explained, “These buyers tend to lean heavily on counsel, third-party advisors, and insurance rather than deep project-level diligence.”  

This evolution is healthy — it means the market is expanding — but it also reinforces why consistent documentation and predictable processes are needed. As Johnson put it, “First-time buyers want to transact on something tested, known, and accepted across the market.” Without those guiderails, buyer uncertainty risks limiting the pool of new market entrants at a time when they are desperately needed.   

A Standard Transfer Agreement — Designed for Speed and Confidence 

As the tax credit transfer market has grown, nearly every deal has required bespoke contract drafting.  This has served as a market constraint.  The new TCTA form aims to eliminate that constraint by reducing up-front transaction costs, shrinking timelines and encouraging consistent deal terms.    

“People want to move fast,” Clearway’s Ryder said, emphasizing that developers and buyers alike benefit from reducing the amount of time spent repeatedly redlining the same provisions. The template gives parties a commercially balanced, middle-of-the-road starting point that reflects market norms to serve as a fair baseline informed by hundreds of completed transactions.  

The document is intentionally flexible: it works for single-asset ITC transactions today, but can be adapted for portfolios, production credits, or other emerging incentives. 

Driving Scale Through Standardization 

Panelists repeatedly highlighted that standardization is not just administrative — it is foundational for market growth. When parties start from a shared baseline, legal negotiation shrinks, deal timelines shorten, and more market participants can enter with confidence. That makes investment cycles more predictable and helps reduce transaction costs — particularly for smaller sellers or first-time buyers where those costs might otherwise consume a disproportionate share of deal value.  

Johnson estimated that the total cost burden on credit buyers and sellers can reach 3–7% of deal size, meaning efficiency improvements directly translate into more dollars available for additional deal flow to facilitate clean energy deployment. Standardization also allows technology platforms to automate parts of the process, bringing further speed and scale to the market. 

What Comes Next: PTCs, Manufacturing Credits, and Technology-Neutral Standards 

The consensus among these experts on next steps was clear: more standard templates are coming. Ryder pointed to the rising level of public and political support for domestic manufacturing credits like 45X, making that an ideal area for document standardization. 

Panelists also argued that 45Y production tax credit transfer deals should be standardized soon, since only minor revisions are needed once revenue recapture and timeline provisions are adjusted. Garcia Earley explained that once a PTC version is created, it will be relatively easy to adapt across multiple emerging credit categories including 45X, 45Y, and similar incentive frameworks. 

Turning Industry Collaboration into Market Acceleration  

In closing, ACP’s Sandberg underscored why this work matters: the ability to monetize credits efficiently is now central to financing clean energy projects and a key component to continue deploying enough clean energy to help meet skyrocketing demand for energy. The new agreement reflects months of collaboration among sponsors, financiers, lawyers, and market intermediaries — each contributing to a shared document that lowers barriers to entry to the tax credit transfer market and encourages wider market participation.  

As Ryder put it, “We invested the time because we care about where the industry is going. These transactions need to happen efficiently for clean energy deployment to continue.” The form is now being released publicly through ACP so that developers, buyers, platforms, and institutions can adopt it widely — similar to other industry templates like ISDA agreements in global derivatives markets. 

Tax credit transferability has become a core financing mechanism supporting America’s clean energy buildout. The TCTA form is designed to help buyers and sellers move with more speed and certainty as billions of dollars of capital flows through the system. And as Sandberg reminded the industry, standardization is not the end of innovation — it is the key to unlock it, paving the way for broader participation, lower barriers to entry, and the next wave of market expansion. 

Watch the full discussion here. 

Download TCTA Form

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Strengthen Your Resilience at ACP PEAK 2025 https://cleanpower.org/blog/cegeon-chan-peak25/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cegeon-chan-peak25 Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:54:12 +0000 https://cleanpower.org/?p=66493 The transition from ACP Resource & Technology to ACP PEAK couldn’t be more timely. In an era defined by supply chain disruptions, evolving tariff policies, and ongoing adjustments to the Inflation Reduction Act, one thing I suspect: the assumptions you began your project with—whether in layout, module, or turbine selection— will go through multiple iterations.

In this dynamic environment, the need for high-accuracy energy modeling, commercial flexibility, and cost-effective development has never been more critical. That’s exactly where ACP PEAK 2025 comes in.

A New Name for a New Era

While the name has changed, the core of the conference remains the same: a premier gathering for commercially driven decision-makers and technically focused professionals leading the charge in wind, solar, storage, and hybrid energy systems. ACP PEAK continues to be the go-to forum for cutting-edge insights in resource assessment, model validation, commercial analytics, and beyond.

What to Expect at ACP PEAK 2025

This year’s agenda is packed with sessions designed to address the most pressing challenges and innovations in the industry:

  1. Combined Technologies
    • Machine Learning & Digitalization in Resource Assessment
    • GIS & Spatial Modeling Advancements
    • Hybrid Project Optimization
    • Time Series & Revenue Modeling
    • Climate & Weather Risk Analysis
    • Transmission Planning & Integration
  2. Solar & Energy Storage
    • Solar Capacity Testing
    • Performance Assurance
    • Innovations in Solar Modeling & Technology
    • Solar Availability & Solar Tech Reviews
    • PV System Design of the Future
    • Energy Storage Performance & Revenue Forecasting
    • Storage Origination Strategies
  3. Wind Energy
    • Repowering Strategies
    • Site Suitability & Extended Asset Life
    • Remote Sensing (Lidar, TI Validation)
    • Power Performance Testing
    • Operational Assessments
    • Industry Updates
    • Blockage & Wake Effects

Whether you’re navigating technical complexities or commercial uncertainties, ACP PEAK 2025 is your opportunity to build the knowledge and network, while growing your resilience needed to thrive in today’s energy landscape.

 

Join us—and take your capabilities to the next PEAK.

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EmpowHER: Why Community Matters for Women in Energy https://cleanpower.org/blog/empowher25-ksb/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=empowher25-ksb Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:44:35 +0000 https://cleanpower.org/?p=66092 “Being in clean energy has its ups and downs,” they say. “Ha!” I say.

Today, when the clean energy industry concurrently faces such headwinds and continues to display such promise, and in the context of a dynamic policy landscape, unprecedented demand growth, and increasing political debate – “ups and downs” seems like a dramatic understatement.

And yet, at this point in my career, I know this is just another twist in the journey to a cleaner, more reliable, affordable energy future. Markets adapt. Some periods bring massive advancements, and some, retraction. On a personal level, what gets me through this period of disruption is community. As a woman of color who joined this industry in the late 1990s, I deeply appreciate the growth of this community, not just for reasons of camaraderie and familiarity, but also for the advancement of our industry through diversity of thought.

There were very few women I could connect with in my earliest career, and so I relied on a small community of fierce contemporaries to advise, console and laugh at the relentless intensity of this industry. Being a woman of color, I really looked for a community of ANYONE in those days. Just someone with whom to laugh, brainstorm, and innovate. As the market grew, and as more diverse voices joined the industry, I have treasured my contemporaries; admired from afar and sometimes close-up (if I’m lucky enough) forerunners like Sue Tierney, Lisa Jackson, Rose McKinney James, Suedeen Kelly, and Nora Mead Browne; and thoroughly delighted in the “newer” women entrants to the clean energy industry – whether transplants from the oil and gas industry, straight out of school, or new entrants from entirely different industries.

EmpowHER co-chair Kelly Speakes-Backman across industry events.

That’s why I’m excited to join the EmpowHER event this summer. To acknowledge not just the growth of our industry, but the growth of our community. Whenever I’m stuck on a particular issue, or if I’m feeling like the inherent volatility of our market is too much to bear, I am supported by those who can identify with my worries and understand the balance I try to make in my personal and professional life.

I hope to see you at EmpowHER in August, to expand your community, learn and teach others, and just laugh about the changeability and progress of our industry. It’s important to keep a long-view perspective, to stay motivated in moving our industry toward a cleaner, more reliable, affordable grid. Even as we’re learning to build our own professional skills, it’s important to never, ever forget the power of connection and community.

Two sessions I know I won’t miss on Thursday cover Deal Flow and Project Financing – one at 9:15am focused on the basics of finance, and one at 1:00pm with a deeper dive on project specifics. As long as I’ve been in this business, there have always been new and innovative ways to finance clean energy, and I enjoy keeping myself up to date on the latest trends. I hope to see you in the audience there. It’s going to be a blast.

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American Energy, American AI: Powering a Secure Future https://cleanpower.org/blog/american-energy-american-ai-powering-a-secure-future/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=american-energy-american-ai-powering-a-secure-future Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:36:06 +0000 https://cleanpower.org/?p=66036

Key Takeaways

  • Artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers are driving unprecedented energy demand growth, shifting industry conversations from megawatts to gigawatts.
  • Permitting reform and policy consistency are critical to maintaining American leadership in both AI and energy security.
  • An all-of-the-above domestic energy approach—including wind, solar, storage, nuclear, and natural gas—is essential for reliability and national security.

The race for global AI leadership isn’t just about algorithms and computing power—it’s increasingly about who can provide the most reliable, secure, and abundant energy to power the data centers that support the technology.

American AI development is rapidly driving the need for more of data centers due to the vast computational power required for training and running complex models. These data centers require electricity to power their infrastructure and the cooling systems which manage the heat generated by their operations.

ACP’s recent PowerTalk explored this critical intersection between America’s energy strategy and our technological future. The conversation—moderated by ACP CEO Jason Grumet and featuring panelists Helen Toner of Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Harry Krejsa of Carnegie Mellon’s Institute for Strategy and Technology, David Carroll of ENGIE North America (and ACP’s Board Chair-Elect), and Heather McGeory of CoreWeave—offered perspectives from both energy producers and technology companies at the forefront of AI development.

AI is Driving Unprecedented Energy Demand

Data centers and AI infrastructure are creating energy demand at scales previously unimagined. “The demand in terms of volume and energy that we could use—we used to have conversations about megawatts and now we have conversations about gigawatts,” explained Heather McGeory of CoreWeave, referring to conversations around powering individual data centers. This is already happening today, as energy demand is forecasted to increase by as much as 50% by 2040, according to a study from S&P Global Commodity Insights.

This exponential growth represents both a challenge and opportunity for American energy development. As David Carroll of ENGIE noted, “It’s no longer a conversation about ‘can you just bring a solar project.’ It’s how can we pair technologies associated with wind, solar, battery, and even now some peakers or natural gas generation so that we can have a data center that has firm reliable power.”

Energy Security is National Security

The location and security of our energy infrastructure directly impacts America’s technological leadership position.

“I certainly think that energy permitting—making sure that it’s actually possible to build new energy sites—is genuinely a huge deal,” emphasized Helen Toner. “Having a really strong domestic base that you’re able to build on is very valuable… From a sort of high-level strategic perspective, these are really valuable assets and it makes sense to want to have them at home,” she continued, highlighting the strategic importance of domestic energy production.

Harry Krejsa further explained that the newest energy technologies offer the best security advantages: “The most defensible and resilient technologies are the most shovel ready, fastest onto grid and often are the lowest carbon emitting—but their national security imperative and value often have nothing to do with their carbon emission.”

Policy Certainty is Critical for Meeting Energy Demand

Meeting these massive energy demands will require embracing all available domestic energy resources. “We always want to be finding the most modern and efficient energy solutions possible, and I really think that includes renewables and nuclear. I don’t think we can get through any of this without nuclear,” stated McGeory.

However, policy uncertainty is creating investment challenges. Carroll emphasized: “We’ve been investing about $3 billion a year in the U.S. market and that’s slowed down because of the policy uncertainty, but also tariffs.”

As America navigates the dual challenges of energy security and technological leadership, the clean power industry stands ready to deliver the reliable, domestic energy resources needed to power our AI future. As Jason Grumet concluded, “We are in a race for digital dominance… The efforts to make sure that we are scaling U.S.-based technology as the backbone of the data centers and the reliable, clean, secure electrons that our members are providing is really the point of our work.” This will require smart policy, streamlined permitting, and a commitment to building American energy systems that support both our economic and national security objectives.

Watch the full PowerTalk here.

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Stephanie Smith, COO, Eolian: What EmpowHER Means To Me https://cleanpower.org/blog/empowher-smith/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=empowher-smith Thu, 29 May 2025 17:50:32 +0000 https://cleanpower.org/?p=65219 Stephanie Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Eolian, shares what the inaugural EmpowHER event means to her: 

When I started my career in energy in 2002, I often found myself to be the only woman in the room.  As a young lawyer, I didn’t yet know how to use my voice, and I had constant imposter syndrome.  My solution was to silently work harder and longer to prove my worth – a wholly unsustainable practice considering the lack of sleep if nothing else.  In time, like many women first starting out, I eventually found my way and learned to use my voice, not only for myself, but also to help others along.  So the imposter became the expert, and I was all set, right? Wrong!

10 years later, I decided to take the leap from practicing law to running a business and found myself back at square one, starting this cycle all over again. In fact, with every pivot, the cycle hits me again to some degree.  Though I still struggle from time to time, I have largely been able to keep my apprehension and confidence challenges at bay by learning to lean on and engage my mentors, my coach, and most of all, my wonderful network of women in the industry.  I’ve learned to ask for help when I am in doubt or need an outside perspective.  I’ve been lucky to have a variety of advocates, both male and female, who have helped me be braver and use my voice – even getting me to a place where I now do some public speaking, which was once a source of sheer terror for me!

As I’ve now evolved into a leadership position, my network of female colleagues are usually the ones I turn to for advice, a confidence boost, or a supportive ear.  Leadership is both a blessing and a responsibility, and having other women to lean on is essential.  They understand what you’re facing in the office as well as the myriads of other things you’re juggling in your nonwork life.  As every passing year brings more and more of everything, I’ve found it harder and yet ever more essential to maintain and build that network.

Events like EmpowHER give us the space to focus on deepening relationships like those that are the foundation of my success (and sanity!), and that is why I am so happy to serve as a co-chair this year with Kelly Speakes-Backman, one of those amazing women in my circle.  I am excited to dig into issues that those of us in more senior roles are currently wrestling with daily as we struggle to be the best leaders we can be for our teams in a time of unprecedented uncertainty.  I am also looking forward to meeting more of my peers and finding out how they are navigating many of the same challenges we are all experiencing right now.

I hope that you will join me at EmpowHER to build and grow your own essential network in new and important ways.  Whether you are a current decision-maker or on track to become an executive of the future, the EmpowHER space is for you. We hope you’ll leave the conference empowered with new and deeper relationships and tools to help you be more resilient and better equipped as we forge ahead to face current obstacles.  I would love to be one of the new members of your network and look forward to meeting you at the conference in August!

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Harvesting American Power: How Clean Energy Strengthens Rural Communities https://cleanpower.org/blog/harvesting-american-power-how-clean-energy-strengthens-rural-communities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=harvesting-american-power-how-clean-energy-strengthens-rural-communities Thu, 17 Apr 2025 15:21:51 +0000 https://cleanpower.org/?p=64424 Key Takeaways:
  • American clean energy production creates family-supporting jobs and substantial local tax revenue that powers schools, roads, and emergency services
  • Transparent community partnerships and addressing local questions directly build successful domestic energy projects
  • ACP’s Local Affairs Committee unites diverse expertise to ensure domestic energy development benefits rural communities while strengthening America’s energy leadership

When clean energy projects take root in rural communities across the country, they bring more than just new infrastructure—they deliver prosperity. These American energy projects generate substantial tax revenue that funds local schools, improves rural infrastructure, and buoys essential community services. Supporting these successful partnerships between communities and energy developers is ACP’s Local Affairs Committee, working to ensure clean energy’s growth strengthens local communities nationwide while increasing American-made energy production.

In ACP’s recent Member Group Spotlight: ACP’s Local Affairs Committee PowerCast, Hilary Clark (ACP’s Senior Director of Social Licensing) hosted an insightful discussion with committee leadership including Stephen Goodin (Chair, NextEra Energy Resources), Lara Hamsher (Vice Chair, AES), Matt Wagner (Past Chair, DTE Energy), and Bevan Augustine (Past Vice Chair, RWE) about the community work they do and the insights they learn from peers in the Local Affairs Committee. These energy veterans shared valuable perspectives on building successful community relationships.

ACP members can join the Local Affairs Committee here.

Building Trust: Community Engagement and Transparent Communication

“Effective local engagement isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about putting the time in with the community stakeholders,” noted Stephen Goodin from NextEra Energy Resources. “When we take time to understand local priorities and demonstrate how our projects support those goals, we’re more likely to achieve permitting success.” The committee emphasizes that early, transparent communication helps communities see how clean energy production can complement local values and priorities.

This foundation of trust creates an environment where communities can fully appreciate the economic advantages that clean energy development brings to rural America.

Delivering Tangible Community Benefits: Local Investment

Clean energy projects are revitalizing rural economies across America. “The tax revenue from these projects often represents the largest investment some communities have seen in decades,” explained Matt Wagner of DTE Energy. “We’ve seen firsthand how this revenue strengthens schools, improves roads, and enhances emergency services.”

According to Lara Hamsher from AES, “When we can demonstrate how harvesting domestic energy resources translates to direct community benefits, we transform the conversation from abstract policy discussions to real kitchen table issues that matter to families.”

Addressing Concerns Respectfully: Commitment to Solutions

The committee recognizes that communities rightfully ask how projects impact their daily lives—from visual considerations to questions about reliability. “Listening is our most powerful tool,” shared Bevan Augustine of RWE. “When concerns arise, we address them with facts, research, and a genuine commitment to finding solutions. This respectful approach builds the trust necessary for successful projects.”

Strengthening America’s Energy Backbone

As America’s demand for electricity grows, the Local Affairs Committee’s work becomes increasingly important to ensuring that the expansion of domestic clean energy options strengthens communities while bolstering American energy security. Clean energy projects represent a unique opportunity to meet our nation’s power needs while delivering tangible local benefits. Through thoughtful engagement, transparent communication, and genuine partnership, the clean energy industry can continue to foster rural economic development while advancing America’s renewable energy goals.

By supporting the responsible development of clean energy resources in communities nationwide, ACP’s Local Affairs Committee is helping to build a more sustainable and economically vibrant future for rural America.

 

Watch the full Member Group Spotlight: ACP’s Local Affairs Committee PowerCast.

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Trump Administration’s First 100 Days: Implications for Energy Policy https://cleanpower.org/blog/trump-administrations-first-100-days-implications-for-energy-policy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-administrations-first-100-days-implications-for-energy-policy Fri, 04 Apr 2025 19:14:36 +0000 https://cleanpower.org/?p=64099 Key Takeaways
  • The Trump administration has demonstrated greater organization and momentum in its second term, enabling rapid implementation of energy policies through executive orders.
  • According to a former advisor, Trump’s approach appears to support an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that could accommodate clean power development if market-driven.
  • The reconciliation process for tax policy changes is anticipated around August-September, creating a critical timeline for clean energy stakeholders.

ACP recently hosted a PowerTalk examining the first 100 days of the Trump administration’s second term, featuring insights from political and media experts on what this new chapter means for American energy policy and the clean power sector. The analysis revealed important implications for renewable energy development, energy market dynamics, and industry investment strategies moving forward.

Speaking to the relevance of these conversations for the clean energy industry, ACP’s CEO Jason Grumet stated: “As builders, we care very much about the executive actions that enable this country to ‘build baby build’ as fast as possible. And as manufacturers, our industry has brought nearly 200 new manufacturing facilities online in the last few years—so we care very deeply about tariffs and trade policy.”

Joining Jason Grumet for the first half of the discussion was Marc Lotter, co-host of Newsmax’s Wake Up America and former Special Assistant to President Trump, followed by a conversation between Grumet and Julia Manchester, political reporter for The Hill and News Nation, and Hans Nichols, political reporter for Axios and a former NBC News political reporter.

Trump’s Second Term: Better Organization and Policy Implementation

A distinct difference between Trump’s first and second terms has emerged in these early days. Marc Lotter observed: “The thing that is most striking to me is how much more prepared they were for Trump 2.0 than we were on Trump 1.0.” This preparation has enabled rapid implementation of policies through executive orders and nominations that have “just sailed through.” The administration has used their political capital to create momentum across multiple policy fronts simultaneously.

This enhanced organizational capacity directly influences how the administration is approaching energy policy decisions that impact clean power development and renewable energy markets.

All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy: Implications for Clean Power

Despite concerns about potential conflicts between the administration’s rhetoric and some executive actions, Lotter suggested that Trump fundamentally supports diverse energy sources: “I truly believe he thinks that if you can do it cleaner, cheaper, better and bring it to the market, do it. We need more power.”

Julia Manchester, political reporter for The Hill, characterized the administration as “organized chaos,” noting that while the pace is frenetic there appears to be “competent leadership, whether you agree with them politically or not.” This organization may prove crucial to the administration’s effectiveness as the administration navigates complex energy policy challenges.

Tax Reconciliation Timeline: Critical Dates for Energy Stakeholders

For the clean energy industry, the reconciliation process and potential tax policy changes represent crucial developments to monitor. Hans Nichols, political reporter for Axios, offered a clear timeline prediction: “They want to use the threat of a debt shutdown… That puts you in an August, September timeframe.” This timeline creates both urgency and opportunity for energy stakeholders to engage with policymakers.

The tight margins in the House—where Speaker Johnson can only afford to lose three votes—create additional complexity. As Nichols noted, “Members of Congress have now learned that they all can be Joe Manchin and they can all hold the bill hostage for one or two things that they want.”

As the Trump administration continues to implement its agenda, the clean energy industry will need to navigate a complex policy landscape while advocating for consistent, market-driven approaches that support American energy leadership across all technologies. The coming months will be critical as reconciliation legislation takes shape and longer-term energy policies emerge.

The American Clean Power Association and its members are working hard to influence favorable outcomes for the clean power sector so the industry can continue contributing to grid reliability, energy security, and economic development across the country.

Watch the PowerTalk.

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Power Demand Surge: Industry Leaders Address Energy Reality and Bipartisan Opportunity https://cleanpower.org/blog/power-demand-surge-industry-leaders-address-energy-reality-and-bipartisan-opportunity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=power-demand-surge-industry-leaders-address-energy-reality-and-bipartisan-opportunity Wed, 26 Mar 2025 18:54:35 +0000 https://cleanpower.org/?p=63688 Key Takeaways
  • Meeting rising electricity needs will require maximizing all American energy resources to maintain reliability and affordability
  • Permitting reform represents a critical bipartisan opportunity to strengthen and build the American energy infrastructure necessary to meet growing demand
  • Rising electricity costs could reshape energy policy conversations and highlight the need for comprehensive, durable solutions

The unprecedented growth in American power demand is creating both challenges and opportunities for our energy future. At ACP’s inaugural PowerTalk on March 25, industry leaders came together to discuss how America can adapt to this increasing demand while strengthening energy security, reliability, and economic competitiveness.

The conversation featured energy policy experts Marty Durbin, Senior Vice President of Policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Dustin Meyer, Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs for the American Petroleum Institute. The two joined ACP’s Chief Advocacy Officer Frank Macchiarola to explore the realities of America’s changing energy landscape.

Embracing “Energy Reality”

A central theme of the discussion was the recognition that America has entered what Durbin called an “energy reality” phase—acknowledging the substantial growth in power demand across the country driven by manufacturing growth, data centers, and broader electrification.

“Three years ago, I don’t think anybody was even looking at this enormous growth in power demand,” noted Durbin. “We’ve gone through periods of energy scarcity, then energy abundance with the shale revolution. I think that Russia reminded us all about energy security globally… And now I think we’re entering an energy reality phase.”

This pragmatic shift in collective thought comes at a pivotal moment as America seeks to balance reliability, affordability, and a strengthened domestic energy system.

Permitting Reform: A Bipartisan Path Forward

Both panelists emphasized that comprehensive permitting reform represents one of the clearest opportunities for bipartisan progress—benefiting all forms of American energy development.

Durbin clarified a common misconception: “This debate is often perceived as an energy debate. It’s pipelines versus transmission lines. It’s fossil fuel versus renewables. It’s not—it’s everything.”

Meyer added: “The need for something like comprehensive permitting reform becomes more obvious by the day, and the reason is because it has impacted our industry for 20 years or more. But now it’s impacting so many other industries, including the renewable side. And you can see this growing appreciation for what an obstacle the current permitting process—which is fundamentally broken—is to investment of any type.”

Macchiarola emphasized the importance of a truly comprehensive approach to meeting America’s energy needs: ‘Our message to [the Trump administration] is energy dominance and all of the above energy has to include all energy. I think they could take a real lesson from what happened during the Biden Administration,’ referring to how restricting energy development ultimately conflicted with goals for affordable energy.

The ability to build critical energy infrastructure more efficiently would strengthen America’s energy backbone while creating jobs and maintaining affordability. From transmission lines carrying renewable power to factories relying on consistent electricity, permitting reform would support the entire American economy.

Addressing Future Affordability

Looking ahead, the panelists identified electricity costs as an underappreciated but potentially significant concern. As demand continues to grow, maintaining affordable electricity prices for American families and businesses will require proactive approaches.

“On one hand, there’s nothing more visible to the American public than the price of gasoline at the pump. But a close second might be your monthly electricity bill, and you have regions of the country that now routinely get that monthly bill, and it is really surprising,” Meyer observed. This reality reinforces the importance of advancing policies that encourage diverse, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions.

The PowerTalk highlighted that America’s energy future depends on thoughtful policies that help domestic energy production meet growing demand while strengthening energy security. By focusing on practical solutions like permitting reform that transcend partisan divides, America can build a reliable energy system that powers our economy for generations to come.

 

Watch the full discussion here.

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Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Why CLEANPOWER in COLOR Matters https://cleanpower.org/blog/why-cleanpower-in-color-matters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-cleanpower-in-color-matters Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:30:49 +0000 https://cleanpower.org/?p=63037 For much of my career, I kept my head down, grinded away and worked ten times harder than those around me. My bosses loved it. Who wouldn’t? I helped them be great. But here’s what I got wrong – I thought hard work alone would open doors. I was spending so much time working that I didn’t spend any time networking and letting others know all that I was accomplishing. Such a big mistake.

Everything shifted when got the opportunity to work an executive coach who gave it to me straight – I was doing it all wrong. He helped me understand that I needed to balance great work with networking. To advance my career, I had to do something different. So, I started to let others know.

Hard work is in our DNA. But figuring out how to navigate the system? That’s the real challenge. Success isn’t just about what you do – it’s about who helps you see the bigger picture. Meeting people who can help you see the landscape differently is what matters. Iron sharpening iron is what matters.

Why did it take so long for me to learn this lesson? I was in my second COO role before I truly appreciated why it was so important to network and find those individuals who could open doors.

I want others to learn this lesson faster than I did. You’ve got the talent, the expertise, the drive. Now let’s learn how to leverage that!

That’s exactly why we created CLEANPOWER in COLOR, a first-of-its-kind forum designed to empower, elevate, and connect mid-level professionals of color in the clean power industry. This isn’t just another conference. It’s a movement. Here, we take off the corporate armor, have real conversations that matter, and most importantly—we walk away with the tools, strategies, and sponsorship that will change the trajectory of our careers.

Why Now?

Because we’re out here doing the work. People of color in clean energy are driving innovation, leading teams, and shaping the industry’s future. But let’s be honest—many still encounter roadblocks their peers don’t – navigating unwritten rules, repeatedly proving their expertise, and searching for mentors who truly see us.

CLEANPOWER in COLOR is about breaking those barriers and building the bridges that will launch more people of color into leadership. It’s about making sure people of color don’t just survive in this industry—but lead in it.

What to Expect

  • Workshops that work—real-world strategies for career advancement, executive presence, and managing up.
  • Powerful connections—because your network should have people who advocate for you when you’re not in the room.
  • Honest conversations—about what it takes to climb the ladder.
  • Actionable insights—because we’re not here for fluff. You’ll leave with a clear, personalized action plan – one that you can immediately apply to elevate your leadership, expand your influence, and take the next step with confidence.

Who Should Join?

If you’ve ever asked yourself, How do I navigate leadership as a person of color in clean energy? or Where are the spaces where I can show up authentically?—this is for you.

CLEANPOWER in COLOR is your space, community, and power circle. You’ll meet industry leaders and people who you’ll stay connected with long after the event—people who will be in your corner when it’s time to make bold moves.

So, are you in?

Because clean energy needs you in the driver’s seat.

Let’s build something powerful. Let’s make history. And let’s do it together.

Join us at CLEANPOWER in COLOR, May 19-22, 2025, in Phoenix, AZ.

Learn more and register today

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