National business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) launched online scorecards to show where candidates for governor stand on a range of advanced energy policy priorities in nine key states. AEE will update candidates’ policy stands based on public statements and policy platforms adopted by Republican and Democratic nominees leading up to Election Day on Nov. 6. The project will be supported by targeted digital advertising in the nine states to help voters learn more about the energy policies of gubernatorial hopefuls.
Tracking and reporting policy positions of candidates is the latest step in a nearly yearlong effort to engage with gubernatorial candidates to discuss the positive economic benefits of advanced energy and offer policy ideas for expanding advanced energy markets in each state. AEE has reached out to every nominee in the nine states for roundtable meetings with member companies, has shared its policy priorities, and released new data on advanced energy jobs. Nationally, the advanced energy industry employs 3.4 million U.S. workers.
“Ensuring that candidates for governor appreciate the benefits that advanced energy can bring to their states, namely economic development and good jobs, has been a key focus of Advanced Energy Economy this year. We have greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet with many of the nominees from both major parties and their key advisors in these states,” said J.R. Tolbert, vice president, state policy, at AEE. “We have found the candidates to be receptive to our message and hearing from the companies working in their state, with the result that a bipartisan slate of gubernatorial candidates across the states has adopted at least one of our priority positions. Today, we’re excited to share much of the information we’ve shared with candidates directly with voters so that they can be well-informed when they head to the polls.”
Candidate positions on advanced energy policies, AEE’s proposed policy priorities, jobs fact sheets, and worker profiles were release publicly this morning at the links below:
To date, 14 candidates in these nine states have included at least one of AEE’s policy priorities in their energy platform. Both major party nominees have expressed support for at least one AEE policy priority in California, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, and Ohio.
“We want voters to understand what key policies can accelerate the growth of advanced energy and the jobs supported by the advanced energy industry, but also where the candidates for governor stand on those policies,” added Tolbert.
In producing its policy roadmaps, AEE identified five or six policy priorities specific to each state, but in general these roadmaps highlighted ways to promote and capitalize on growth in renewable energy, energy efficiency and demand response, battery storage, and electric vehicles.
— Solar Builder magazine
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