The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), National Hydropower Association (NHA), and Energy Storage Association (ESA) have agreed to actively collaborate across their industry segments to achieve a shared vision of renewables reaching a majority of U.S. electricity generation by 2030.
A collection of joint advocacy principles has been released by the four industries that will allow them to realize this ambitious vision of a majority renewables grid.
Such common values, along with enhanced cooperation, include creating a more robust, effective, safe, and accessible grid, achieving carbon cuts, and promoting greater competition through fair market rules.
“This collaborative promise sets the stage to deliver on the American electric grid of the future powered by wind, solar, hydropower, and storage. Market opportunities for projects that include a mix of technologies have opened up that didn’t exist even a few years ago. And demand is growing for integrated renewable energy options. Individually and cooperatively, these sectors will continue growing to meet that demand and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs to strengthen economies from coast to coast, building a better, cleaner tomorrow. In the face of significant challenges the country is currently facing across pandemic, economic, climate and social injustice problems, we are prepared to help lead toward a healthier and more equitable future.”
Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association.
“These principles are just another step toward realizing our vision for a Solar+ Decade. In the face of this dreadful pandemic, our nation must chart a path forward that puts a premium on innovation, jobs recovery and a smarter approach to energy generation. The right policies will make a growing American economy fueled by clean energy a reality for all Americans.”
Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association.
“The path towards an affordable, reliable, carbon-free electricity grid starts by harnessing the immense potential of hydropower, wind, solar and storage to work together. Today, hydropower and pumped storage are force multipliers that provide the grid with the flexibility needed to integrate other renewables onto the grid. By adding new generation onto existing non-powered dams and developing 15 GW of new pumped storage hydropower capacity, we can help accelerate the development of a clean energy electricity grid.”
Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association.
“We are pleased to join forces with our clean energy friends to substantially reduce carbon emissions by 2030, building a more resilient, efficient, sustainable, and affordable grid for generations to come. A majority of generation supplied by renewable energy represents a significant change in the way we operate the grid, and the storage industry is a fundamental asset to provide the flexibility that a more modern, decarbonized grid will require. We look forward to actively collaborating with our colleagues to make this vision a reality by 2030.”
Kelly Speakes-Backman, CEO ESA.
