Building flexible, affordable, and clean energy despite federal headwinds
In 2025, the U.S. clean energy industry faces a volatile policy landscape marked by the rollback of major federal programs such as Solar for All and key incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act. Amid political uncertainty in Washington, Advanced Energy United (United), led by Senior Vice President of Advocacy Amisha Rai, is focusing on state and regional action to sustain progress in renewable energy, storage and electrification. Founded after the failure of the 2010 federal cap-and-trade bill, United has long centered its advocacy on state policymaking, helping pass measures like California’s Pathways Initiative, which enables Western states to cooperate on energy market integration. The group’s strategy aims to provide practical, bipartisan solutions that address rising electricity demand, supply chain disruptions, and grid reliability challenges—issues that transcend party lines and directly affect consumers.
United’s new playbook offers a framework for states to strengthen their energy systems through three pillars: Build it, Make it Flexible, and Make it Affordable. This approach encourages states to accelerate project development, scale distributed and demand-side resources, and manage investments wisely to prevent stranded assets. Success stories in Texas and Colorado demonstrate that flexible, efficiency-driven solutions can improve grid stability and lower costs without years of delay. United’s message is clear: progress doesn’t have to wait for Washington. By empowering state and local decision-makers to act, the organization argues that America can maintain momentum toward a cleaner, more resilient, and affordable energy future even in the face of federal headwinds.
