AEE State Coalition Adds Four New Partners, Including Organizations Active in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming

Coalition Now Working for Policies to Accelerate Advanced Energy Growth in 21 States

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national association of business leaders who are making the global energy system more secure, clean, and affordable, announced today the addition of four new partner organizations to its State Coalition: the Clean Energy Project of Nevada; the multi-state Interwest Energy Alliance; Maryland Clean Energy Center; and the Renewable Energy Alaska Project. With the addition of these groups, which are active in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, AEE's State Coalition now includes 13 state and regional partner organizations and covers 21 states, representing more than 900 companies and other entities.

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"Thanks to the efforts of our expanding coalition of state partners, advanced energy continues to gain momentum," said Graham Richard, CEO of Advanced Energy Economy. "Working together with these additional partners, our members will have more impact on state energy policy to help advanced energy companies grow across the country."

Actively engaged with business leaders from advanced energy companies headquartered or operating in these states, AEE partner organizations drive state and local policy advocacy throughout the country. This year alone, AEE and its Coalition partners have achieved 56 state legislative victories – 49 new pro-advanced energy laws, and seven challenges turned away.

With this announcement, AEE added four new partner groups to its growing State Coalition:

• Clean Energy Project, Inc. (CEP) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to powering the clean energy economy through education and engagement with policy leaders, community leaders and citizens on the economic benefits of fully developing a clean energy economy. CEP builds on existing successful policies and advocates for continued development of Nevada's promising clean energy industry.
• The Interwest Energy Alliance (IEA) is a non-profit trade association that brings the nation's renewable energy industry together with the advocacy community in the West. This consensus-based, collaborative approach to market development has proven to be successful since IEA's inception in 2002. Together, IEA's members support state-level public policies that harness the West's abundant renewable energy resources. Currently, IEA's primary states of focus are Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
• The Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) is a not-for-profit corporate instrumentality of the state of Maryland, founded in 2008 through an act of the Maryland General Assembly. MCEC's mission is to increase clean energy jobs, technical innovations, business development, and consumer adoption of clean energy products and services. MCEC is focused on helping consumers, supporting businesses and informing policy makers.
• The Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) is a diverse coalition of large and small electric utilities, Alaska Native corporations, private businesses and developers, conservation groups, and other organizations with a shared interest in developing Alaska's vast renewable energy resources and promoting energy efficiency. Formed in 2004, REAP's membership coalition has grown from 16 to over 80 entities. During that time REAP has played an integral role in the passage of several key pieces of legislation that have advanced renewable energy and energy efficiency in Alaska. REAP's ongoing education and advocacy efforts emphasize the economic benefits of clean energy to both policy makers and the general public.

"The Interwest Energy Alliance is pleased to partner with AEE to expand markets for clean, homegrown renewable energy in the West," said Sarah Propst, Executive Director of the Interwest Energy Alliance. "AEE's national profile and policy expertise combined with Interwest's strong state policy team is a powerful combination."

"States are the incubators of the policies that will drive energy innovation, economic growth and energy security," said Lydia Ball, Executive Director of the Clean Energy Project. "Working with AEE, we look forward to sharing our insights and learning from others to ensure Nevada's energy future."

"REAP is excited to work with AEE and its other state partners to promote a clean, stably priced energy future for Alaska and the United States," said Chris Rose, Executive Director, Renewable Energy Alaska Project. "As a state that pays nearly $6 billion a year for heat, electricity and transportation, it is critical that Alaska develop its vast local clean energy resources to keep money in the state's economy flowing for the benefit of Alaskans."

"At the state level we are often in the trenches dealing with details. Being involved with AEE gives us access to information about what is happening on the national level in terms of policy and provides us with perspective to learn from other states about model programs and best practices," said Katherine Magruder, Executive Director of Maryland Clean Energy Center.

These four new partner organizations join the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association, Clean Energy Trust (Illinois), Colorado Cleantech Industry Association, Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council, New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, Ohio Advanced Energy Economy, South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance, and the New England Clean Energy Council in the AEE State Coalition.

About Advanced Energy Economy
Advanced Energy Economy is a national association of businesses and business leaders who are making the global energy system more secure, clean, and affordable. Advanced energy encompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best available technologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE's mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses.  

SOURCE Advanced Energy Economy (AEE)