Updated February 9, 2018 │ Lynn Abramson, President & Andy Barnes, Program Manager, Clean Energy Business Network

Since last fall, the federal government has been running on a series of “continuing resolutions,” or short-term funding measures that continue the prior year’s spending levels.  Congress has been passing these incremental measures since Oct. 1, 2017 (when fiscal year 2018 began)—except for a brief government shutdown over one weekend in January.

February 1, 2018 | Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network

The Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) is a group of 3,000+ business leaders working in every aspect of the clean energy economy—primarily executives of small- to medium-size companies.  After spinning out of The Pew Charitable Trusts last year to become an independent initiative of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), we launched a member-driven strategic planning effort to identify the major challenges facing these small energy businesses and ways the CEBN could provide assistance.

January 30, 2018 | Dan Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy; Jeff Moe, Ingersoll Rand; Jared Blum, EPDM Roofing Association

As of 2018, the costs of certain energy efficiency improvements can now be immediately deducted as business expenses rather than recovered more gradually through depreciation. Learn more about the changes in three questions with industry leaders.

January 9, 2018 | Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network

On January 8, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected a proposal by the Secretary of Energy to require new rate structures favorably pricing electricity generation resources with 90-day onsite fuel storage.

December 19, 2017 | Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network

Thank you to the nearly 80 CEBN members who signed onto our group letter to conferees on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Congress finalized the conference report on December 15th and voted to send the final legislation to President Trump on December 20.

December 15, 2017 | Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network

Major accomplishments in 2017 and a sneak peek at 2018

December 14, 2017 | Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network

The new pricing regime would promote electricity-generation sources with a 90-day onsite fuel storage.  Based on the criteria laid out, this pricing system would likely favor nuclear and coal power plants.

December 5, 2017 | Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network

As of early December, both the House of Representatives and Senate have passed their own versions of H.R. 1, the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” legislation to provide corporate tax cuts and simplify the personal tax code. The House passed the measure on November 16 and the Senate on December 2, and the two chambers are working to go to conference and reconcile differences by December 15.

December 5, 2017 | Dave Muchow, Partner, Muchowlaw and Counsel, Clean Energy Business Network

An exciting new pilot project in Chile is looking for 1-2 kW of solar power from a donor.

On October 30, the Clean Energy Business Network and Utah Clean Energy joined forces to organize meetings with district offices of Senators Hatch (R-UT) and Lee (R-UT) in addition to Representatives Stewart (R-UT-2) and Love (R-UT-4).  A delegation of seven clean energy business leaders with footprints in Utah discussed their energy, tax, and appropriations policy priorities with district staff.

October 10, 2017 | Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network

In the wake of Hurricanes Maria and Irma, the CEBN sought member comments on reliable, clean, and efficient solutions to rebuild power supplies in impacted communities.

October 10, 2017 | Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network

Today, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a proposed rule to repeal the Clean Power Plan.  Adopted under the Obama Administration, the Clean Power Plan set CO2 emissions targets for each state, with the goal of reducing nationwide carbon emissions