Next Edition >>
The MEEA Policy Insider summarizes the latest state and federal policy activity and provides new resources to aid members in their outreach, education and advocacy initiatives.
Register for our upcoming webinar State Appliance Standards: The Best Energy Saving Policy You've Never Heard Of on June 5 to learn more about what appliance standards are and why they're so important.
In this issue:
- State Updates: IL / IN / IA / KS / KY / MI / MN / MO / NE / ND / OH / WI
- Federal Update
- New Resources & Publications
Legislative
We’re in the home stretch, with session scheduled to adjourn by May 31. The 3rd reading deadline in both the House and Senate was May 23. There are several bills MEEA is tracking:
Energy efficiency related bills:
- SB 2473/HB 3779 (Sen. Cunningham/Rep. Williams) would create the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA). This bill is proceeding via an omnibus process that includes negotiations between stakeholders and legislators. Omnibus bills are not subject to the committee and 3rd reading deadlines. CRGA aims to strengthen the power grid and deliver ratepayer savings with clean energy resources including both electric and gas energy efficiency. Negotiations are ongoing with legislators hoping to pass an omnibus energy package before May 31.
- HB 1612 (Buckner) would create the Illinois Appliance Standards Act. This bill directs the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to adopt minimum efficiency standards for covered products. This bill has been referred to the House Energy and Environment Committee. The bill did not receive a hearing by the March 21 committee deadline and is likely dead.
- HB 3525 (Williams) would create the Clean & Healthy Buildings Act (CBHA) requiring gas utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The CBHA contains substantively the same gas EE provisions as CRGA but does not address electric EE. The bill was referred to the House Public Utilities Committee, but did not receive a hearing by March 21 and is likely dead.
- HB 3381 (Mason) would amend the School Code to create a duty of the regional superintendent of schools to inspect and approve school building plans and specifications for energy conservation measures. The bill was never assigned to a substantive committee and will not move forward this session.
- HB 3650 (Lilly) would amend the Energy Transition Act to create a statewide navigator program to provide information about building electrification, energy efficiency program and upgrades, resources about financing and funding and a contractor list. An amended version that only retained the provisions creating the statewide navigator program passed out of the House and received a first reading in the Seante. With ongoing negotiations around the energy omnibus bill, it is possible this bill is added to the omnibus.
Building energy codes bills:
- HB 3312 (Canty) would create the Utility Data Access Act. This Act would require investor-owned utilities to retain monthly billed energy consumption data for at least 15 years and provide the past two years of data to building owners at their request to assist owners with energy benchmarking. With ongoing negotiations around an energy omnibus, it is possible for Utility Data Access to be added to that bill. Read MEEA’s comments on the bill here.
- SB 1179 (Cunningham) would amend the Energy Efficient Buildings Act to make changes regarding insulation in attics to the Illinois Energy Code directly in statute. The bill did not receive a hearing and failed to pass out of the Senate by April 11. It is unlikely to advance this session.
- SB 2491 (Cunningham) would amend the Energy Efficient Buildings Act to adjust the timeline by which the Capital Development Board creates and adopts the stretch energy code. The bill was assigned to the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Commission and has not yet received a hearing; however, the Senate extended the committee deadline for the bill to May 23. As such, it is still possible for the bill to advance this session.
The Senate schedule is here, and the House schedule is here.
Regulatory
The investor-owned utilities in Illinois filed their 2026-29 EE plans with the ICC on February 28 after a nearly year-long negotiation process with stakeholders. Visit the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) EE Dockets page here for links to each of the dockets containing the plans.
Future of Gas proceedings remain ongoing. Since launching Phase 2B, the ICC has been considering commissioning a pathways study after receiving feedback from stakeholders participating in the Decarbonization Pathways Working Group. The Working Group met twice in May to review a draft proposal for a pathways study. Written comments on the proposal from participants in the Decarbonization Pathways Working Group are due May 30. Meanwhile, the Pilots Working Group has held meetings and continues its work as planned. Meeting materials for past Phase 2A workshops can be found here, but the Phase 2B working group meeting materials are not posted.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Illinois or to get more involved, contact Kit White.
Legislative
Session adjourned sine die on April 25. In a last-minute move, language prohibiting the passage or enforcement of municipal energy benchmarking ordinances was added to HB 1389 (Pressel) in conference committee. The provision would have eliminated Indianapolis’ benchmarking program and prohibited any other municipalities from requiring building owners and operators to track and report energy and water usage, but the bill failed in the Senate on April 24.
Executive
The Indiana Office of Energy Development has announced the statewide rollout of the Indiana Energy Saver Program. The program is comprised of the two federal home energy rebate programs: the Home Appliance Rebates (HEAR) and the Home Energy Rebates (HOMES). Indiana joins Wisconsin and Michigan as the Midwestern states that have launched their programs. More information can be found on the program website here.
Regulatory
The IURC is conducting a study of performance-based ratemaking, as required by 2023 legislation. A stakeholder survey will inform the commission’s consultants as they continue research and drafting for a future report. No future dates for this process have been shared.
The current integrated resource planning (IRP) processes in Indiana are:
- Indiana-Michigan Power (AEP) – The IRP process has concluded and public comments are now being accepted on the I&M 2024 IRP. Comments are due June 26.
- AES Indiana - AES has begun its 2025 IRP process, and meetings will continue approximately bi-monthly through October 2025. Meeting materials and agenda will be uploaded at the above link. The second meeting should be scheduled soon, now that session is over and all pending legislation has been resolved.
Updates from the Commission on integrated resource plans in Indiana will be posted to the IURC’s IRP page.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Indiana or to get more involved, contact Greg Ehrendreich.
Legislative
The Iowa General Assembly adjourned Sine Die on May 15.
Both HF 834/SF 585 stalled in their chambers. The wide-ranging omnibus bill covered the Governor’s energy priorities. Notably, the bill would have set a new process for utility resource planning by requiring rate-regulated utilities to submit a resource plan at least once every five years that considers “all reasonable resources” and includes “supply resources and conservation and management of demand.” Resource plans would have needed to include programs approved in the utilities’ most recent energy efficiency plans. The bill would have set forth an uncontested, but docketed, proceeding in which the Iowa Utilities Commission could offer recommendations for the utility’s next resource plan.
On April 18, Governor Reynolds signed HF 860 into law, including language which prohibits state and local regulations on fuel-powered equipment based on the equipment’s fuel source – echoing similar “ban on gas bans” language from across the region. This bill extends the reach of prohibitions outlined in HF 555 (2021) beyond counties and cities.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Iowa or to get more involved, contact Clara Stein.
Legislative
The 2025 Kansas legislative session has officially ended.
SB 98 was signed into law by the Governor on April 24. The bill authorizes a 20-year sales tax exemption for companies investing in data centers costing at least $250 million, which covers costs to develop, operate and maintain data centers. The tax exemption notably excludes electric generation equipment. Qualifying data centers would be required to purchase electricity from the public utility providing the region's electric service for 10 years. SB 98 passed the Senate on the last day of the session, after significant debate regarding fair data center incentives that would protect the state’s resources and Kansans’ electric rates. There are no requirements for energy efficiency or water efficiency in SB 98. Read MEEA’s comments on SB 51 (which got folded into SB 98) here.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Kansas or to get more involved, contact Clara Stein.
Legislative
Session is adjourned in Kentucky. No energy or utility bills were introduced in the 2025 session.
Regulatory
Duke Energy Kentucky is engaged in integrated resource planning in Case 2024-00197. The procedural schedule has been set. The Staff Report and subsequent comments have been submitted, and the case was expected to close in early May but the final order has not yet been issued as of the time of this writing.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Kentucky or to get more involved, contact Greg Ehrendreich.
Legislative
Michigan legislators have been working on the budget, but recently Senate Republicans released a suite of energy bills that would modify the clean energy standard and energy waste reduction program.
SB 322 (Hoitenga) substantially amends the Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act by scrapping much of the language that legislators passed in 2023. Notably, on the energy efficiency side, this bill would delete much of the new language around energy efficiency. It would set tiered incentives for shared savings (also in SB 324 below), with utilities eligible for incentives starting at 1% energy savings for electric utilities and .75% for gas utilities, with the incentives maxing out when electric utilities reach 1.5% in savings and gas utilities reaching 1%. The bill sets the standard for gas utilities at .75% and deletes the line that ramps up that standard to .875% starting in 2026. The bill also deletes the entire section on electrification, effectively removing the definition of efficient electrification and the stated ability to claim savings on electrification measures. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Government Operations on May 21.
SB 324 (Hauck) would create shared savings mechanisms for electric utilities that have not otherwise capitalized those costs of the energy conservation measures. Utilities that reach 1-1.25% in energy savings would be eligible for a shared savings incentive of 25% of the net benefits validated as a result of the programs implemented. The mechanism increases to 27.5% for utilities that save between 1.25-1.5% and to 30% for those that save more than 1.5%. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Government Operations on May 21.
SB 325 (Bellino) also modifies the standard for electric utilities back to 1% with an additional mention that the Michigan Public Service Commission can utilize shared savings mechanisms to reward energy savings above that. The bill also modifies definitions and requirements for future statewide energy savings potential studies and rules for integrated resource plans. The bill would modify the IRP process by removing affordability, greenhouse gas emissions and environmental justice as factors that the PSC could consider in its approval process. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Government Operations on May 21.
Executive
At the third annual MI Healthy Climate Conference, Governor Whitmer announced that both of the home energy rebate programs have launched statewide. Michigan now joins Wisconsin (and now, Indiana) as the only Midwestern states that have launched both the Home Energy Rebates and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates statewide.
Regulatory
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is requesting comments on a new definition of energy security. MPSC staff working on the Energy Affordability and Accessibility Collaborative have created a proposed definition that seeks to understand how energy affordability and access to energy efficiency can affect a household’s energy security. The Commission is asking for comments in part due to the impact this definition could have on the assessment of percentage of income payment plan pilot results. Comments are due in dockets U-20929 and U-21021 by June 12.
The MPSC held its second technical conference on February 11 for the 2025 Michigan Potential Study on Energy Efficiency, Demand Response and Electrification. No additional meetings are scheduled as of yet. The process is scheduled to wrap up by September. More information on the potential study can be found here.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Michigan or to get more involved, contact Maddie Wazowicz.
Legislative
Legislators were supposed to wrap up session with a completed budget by May 19, but failed to meet that deadline. Legislators were working on compromise omnibus bills through conference committees, but many did not wrap up in time. Governor Walz will call a special session, but as of publication that date has not yet been announced.
The House energy omnibus bill, HF 2442, is a ‘lights-on’ bill that just funds base operations for the Department of Commerce and the Public Utilities Commission. This is in large part due to disagreements between the committee co-chairs, as Rep. Swedzinski wants to eliminate the Renewable Development Account which has previously funded projects and programs in the energy omnibus bill. It is possible more programs will be added to the omnibus bill as negotiations continue. The bill currently sits in the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Senate omnibus bill package is SF 2393, which covers energy, utilities, environment and climate. This bill currently sits in the Senate Finance Committee. This bill is considerably larger and includes many bills that were introduced and heard in committee this session. This bill will likely change as negotiations continue, but as it stands includes:
- Modifications to definitions in the state’s energy policy for data center and low-income customers.
- Changes to the state’s carbon free mandate by including hydroelectric power of any size, fuel derived from burned wood chips and biodiesel back-up if that facility only uses the fuel for 400 hours or less per year.
- Sunsets the Renewable Development Account.
Regulatory
Minnesota utilities filed their required compliance reports detailing 2024 energy conservation and optimization savings and spending. The filings detail if utilities are meeting statutory requirements and provide information on individual EE programs, like participation and budgets. The filings can be found in the utilities’ respective dockets: Xcel Electric, 25-47 and 25-50; Minnesota Power, 25-48; and Otter Tail Power, 25-49.
Xcel has announced that the utility will host workshops to finalize its upcoming gas integrated resource plan, which is due to the Commission by July 1, 2026. The first workshop was held on May 7 and discussed Xcel’s approach to load forecasting and the next steps in developing the IRP. Presentations from that meeting can be found here. Additional meetings are tentatively scheduled for August, November and February.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Minnesota or to get more involved, contact Maddie Wazowicz.
Legislative
The 2025 Missouri legislative session has ended sine die, ending early after the Senate used a Previous Question to end debate. The legislature is expected to be called back to special session in June, and veto session is scheduled for September. SB 4 (Cierpiot), the 133-page omnibus energy bill, was signed by Governor Kehoe on April 9. The new law will take effect on August 28. The most relevant provisions to EE include:
- Changing the schedule of integrated resource planning from every 3 years to every 4 years with at least a 16-year planning horizon
- Requiring electric utilities to demonstrate they have secured and placed on the electric grid an equal or greater amount of reliable electric generation before retiring existing generation, further requiring at least 80% to be “dispatchable” energy (like coal, nuclear or natural gas) rather than improvements like EE
- Allowing the Public Service Commission (PSC) to contract external experts to review financing orders for energy transition costs
- Allowing the PSC to approve an alternative residential customer rate based on household utility burden and
- Allowing the PSC to require electrical corporations to provide annual documentation demonstrating sufficient capacity to meet its obligations.
HB 939 (Jones) did not pass this session. It would have prohibited any county or municipality from adopting an ordinance or other policy to require building design and construction practices with the intent to improve sustainability, energy efficiency and environmental responsiveness. In practice, this bill would have prohibited jurisdictions from adopting a residential energy code beyond the 2009 IECC. Although this bill did not pass, similar language is expected to be reintroduced next legislative session.
Regulatory
The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) failed to approve a unanimous settlement agreement between parties in the Liberty Utilities docket on energy efficiency and demand side programs under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA). In docket EO-2025-0124, parties filed a Global Stipulation and Agreement on March 10 outlining five EE and demand response programs. Despite Staff’s recommendation that the Commission approve the agreement, the Commission chose not to approve or deny the agreement, effectively tabling it. On April 10, Liberty withdrew its MEEIA cycle 2 application rather than reattempting to get programs approved in formal docket proceedings.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Missouri or to get more involved, contact Natalie Newman.
Legislative
The 2025 Nebraska Unicameral Legislative session began on January 8, the 90th day of session is June 9. These are the notable bills that are still alive or have passed this legislative session:
- LB 317: Merge the Department of Natural Resources with the Department of Environment and Energy and change the name to the Department of Water, Energy and Environment and provide, change and eliminate power and duties. LB 317 was approved by Governor Pillen on May 6 after significant debate amongst senators throughout the session.
- LB 526: Provides powers and duties for public power districts related to cryptocurrency mining operations. LB 526 requires cryptocurrency mining facilities to notify power utilities in advance if operating in their service territory and allows for the requirement of direct payment or a letter of credit covering costs associated with potential infrastructure upgrades due to an increase in energy load. Additionally, the bill gives public power districts the authority to impose terms and conditions on these operations, such as requiring mining operations to shut down during peak load times and requiring mining operations to report their annual energy consumption. Governor Pillen signed LB 526 into law on May 20.
- LR 234: Conduct an interim study to examine the impact of net-zero plans and goals of public power utilities. LR 234 was introduced on May 15, and referred to the Natural Resources Committee on May 19. This resolution is pointed at the net zero carbon emission plans of Omaha Public Power District and Nebraska Public Power District and outlines a public engagement effort including “representatives from the public power utilities, the Soutwest Power Pool, economic development community, and local municipalities” -- but not explicitly public stakeholders.
Regulatory
Lincoln Electric System (LES) is undergoing their strategic planning process and just concluded a series of community meetings designed for public input. The public power district is drafting a new mission, vision and values, as well as strategic objective areas. You can follow the planning process here.
LES is also undergoing significant resource planning in response to new Soutwest Power Pool resource adequacy rules finalized and approved by the SPP Board of Directors in August 2024. The updated rules required LES to reevaluate its near-term resource plan, previously determined in the LES IRP from 2022. At the March LES Board meeting, LES presented updated generation models and potential resource acquisition scenarios. In April, LES provided insights into the impact of different resource pathways on LES’s 2040 carbon neutral goal. On May 16, the LES Administrative Board voted to approve a mid-year rate increase of 4% and begin acquisition of two 50MW Aero Combustion Turbines. The Lincoln City Council still needs to approve the motion before efforts move forward. MEEA submitted testimony to the Board regarding the potential for energy efficiency and demand response to help LES meet resource adequacy needs.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Nebraska or to get more involved, contact Clara Stein.
Legislative
North Dakota legislators adjourned sine die on May 3 on day 74 of the session, leaving them 6 additional days before hitting the 80-day limit of legislative days per session. By saving some legislative days, legislators can call a special session later in the year if needed. There were no bills directly impacting energy efficiency introduced in either chamber.
HB 1579 (Novak) would require new data centers to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Public Service Commission prior to commencing construction. The bill was amended significantly to provide for a legislative management study on the impact of large energy users like data centers. It passed the House on February 24 and passed out of the Senate with zero no votes on April 18. Governor Armstrong signed the bill into law on April 29.
How to Get Involved
For more information about North Dakota or to get more involved, contact Kit White.
Legislative
HB 15 (Klopfenstein) was signed by the Governor on May 15, and will be effective August 14. The final bill did not include any energy efficiency or demand response, but a standalone bill dealing with energy efficiency could still be introduced during the 2025-26 session.
Regulatory
First Energy will likely be filing to withdraw its sixth Energy Security Plan (“ESP VI”) in case 25-0092-EL-SSO. Among its provisions, HB 15 eliminated new ESPs, so it is no longer possible for the utility to have this case approved.
With the end of ESPs, until the legislature acts, we are unlikely to see any new electric EE programs. ESPs were one of the few proceedings where any electric demand-side programs could be approved since HB 6 repealed the EERS in 2019. With that route gone and no success with other approaches for regulatory approval of voluntary electric EE over the past five years, it is clear that legislation is the only path to bring EE back to Ohio.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Ohio or to get more involved, contact Greg Ehrendreich.
Legislative
Session dates for the remainder of the biennial can be found here. There have been only a few bills introduced that touch on energy policy, with none directly impacting energy efficiency. The Senate Committee on Utilities and Tourism has only heard and voted out a handful of bills, with the majority focusing on growing nuclear power. The appointments for Public Service Commissioners Nieto (for a term expiring in 2031) and Hawkins (for a term ending in 2027) currently are sitting in that Senate Committee. The Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities has not yet voted out a bill from its committee.
Regulatory
Focus on Energy and Public Service Commission staff released a memo that outlines Focus’ progress on meeting its quadrennial goals. This document serves as a checkpoint, as the program has only a year and a half remaining for this quadrennial period. The memo presents options for the Commissioners to increase Focus’ therm savings goal, accept or modify a plan to use additional contributions to the Focus program above the planned budget and accept or revise the proposal to increase Focus’ overall savings goals.
Focus on Energy is hosting two virtual stakeholder meetings for customers and advocates to learn more about Focus offerings and to provide feedback on ways to reduce barriers for increased program participation. The meeting for under-resourced, rural and marginalized residential customers will be on June 4 at 2:00 and the meeting for small businesses will be on June 25 at 10:30.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Wisconsin or to get more involved, contact Maddie Wazowicz.
Executive
President Trump’s cabinet secretaries continue signaling a significant shift in federal policy towards energy efficiency through a variety of agency actions. Over the past month there have been rumors that the administration plans to cut the ENERGY STAR program, and the White House’s budget request included a request to completely cut the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). You can read more about threats to LIHEAP and Energy Star as well as the ongoing attempts to rollback appliance standards in MEEA’s latest blog here.
On March 12, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced 31 Deregulatory Actions including a reconsideration of the regulations governing power plants. The EPA has not provided details as to how it plans to weaken these regulations or remove them completely. On March 24, Secretary Wright announced DOE was postponing the effective date of three new appliance standard rules and officially withdrawing four other federal appliance standards, which include electric motors, ceiling fans, dehumidifiers and external power supplies. Then the administration announced on April 9 that they will alter the definition of ‘showerhead’ in an attempt to roll back the previous definition and efficiency standards for showerheads. This expanded definition would theoretically allow for less efficient showerheads to come to market. Going even further, on May 9, President Trump signed several Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolutions that repeal newer efficiency standards passed by the previous administration. Then on May 12, Secretary Wright announced that DOE will rescind even more energy and water efficiency standards, including standards for clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, battery chargers, microwaves and more. We can expect to see legal challenges to these rollbacks for possible violations of federal law.
Executive Orders
President Trump has issued many executive orders (EO); those related to the energy sector include:
- On April 8, President Trump issued the Executive Order (EO) ‘Protecting American Energy from State Overreach.’ Amongst the provisions, the EO instructs the Attorney General to identify all state and local laws “purporting to address climate change” and to stop the enforcement of any laws determined to be illegal. It is unclear how this EO would be enforced given the federal executive branch’s lack of authority over state laws.
- Also on April 8, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid.” Amongst the provisions, the EO instructs the Secretary of Energy to identify generation resources that are “critical” and to prevent their disconnection from the electric grid. This EO has to do with the emergency powers granted under the Federal Power Act to order temporary connection of generation resources during times of war or emergency. President Trump, in a previous executive order, declared a national energy emergency. Taken in context with other executive actions, the intention behind this EO is to prevent the planned retirements of fossil fuel burning generation resources.
- Also on April 8, President Trump issued another Executive Order called “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 1424.” Amongst the provisions, this EO instructs the Secretary of Energy among other cabinet secretaries to identify regulations and programs within their department that seek to transition the U.S. away from coal production and electricity generation. The relevant cabinet secretaries must “consider revising or rescinding” identified regulations. The EO additionally instructs the Secretary of Energy to identify regions where coal powered infrastructure could power AI data centers.
- On April 9, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled ‘Zero-based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy.’ Amongst the provisions, the EO instructs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy and many other regulatory bodies to add provisions to their energy-related regulations so they sunset within five years. The directive covers regulations under numerous federal acts, as listed in the EO. There is some confusion over how this EO can be implemented and will likely be challenged in court.
On April 15, a federal judge issued the clearest ruling so far on the illegality of one of Trump’s most significant day 1 executive orders. The ruling ordered the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy to immediately resume disbursing funds under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This ruling pertains to the Executive Order entitled “Unleashing American Energy” issued on January 20. The Order immediately paused disbursements of funds under the IIRA and IIJA for at least 90 days. All agencies were ordered to review their processes and policies regarding disbursing funds under these programs to ensure compliance with the policy sections of the Executive Order and submit a report within 90 days to the National Economic Council and the Office of Management and Budget. Prior to the April 15 ruling at least two federal judges had also ruled to block the funding freeze, granting injunctions to 22 states and the District of Columbia. While the original Order continues to cause confusion and delays, states are continuing to implement many programs including HOMES and HEAR.
Legislative
After debating through the night, the House passed its version of the sweeping domestic policy and budget reconciliation bill, in the early morning hours on May 22. The bill now heads to the Senate. The House version of the bill rescinds a number of programs under the Inflation Reduction Act including State-based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants designed to support implementation of the Home Energy Rebates programs. This bill, however, does not rescind the Home Energy Rebates programs often referred to as HOMES and HEAR (Home Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates). The bill rescinds $401 million from the budget for the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. It also phases out several renewable energy tax credits. Senators are expected to make their amendments over the coming weeks and potentially pass their bill later this summer prior to their August recess.
Regulatory
Commissioner Willie Phillips resigned his seat from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) after a request from the White House that he step down. Phillips previously served as the Chair of FERC from June 2023 – January 2025. Phillips’ term was set to expire on June 30, 2026. Once President Trump nominates a replacement for the seat, FERC will have a 3-2 Republican majority. At the time of writing, President Trump had yet to announce a new nominee.
How to Get Involved
Information about a number of federal funding opportunities can be found on the Funding Roundup page of MEEA’s website.
For more information about federal matters or to get more involved, contact Maddie Wazowicz.
Recent Publications:
Recent Testimony and Comments:
- MEEA Comments to LES Administrative Board on Demand Side Management for Resource Adequacy
- MEEA Comments to Iowa Senate Subcommittee on Integrated Resource Planning Best Practices
- MEEA Comments on Utility Data Access in Illinois
- MEEA Comments on SB 51 in Kansas
Recent Blogs:
- Three Federal Energy Programs That Save You Money—And What We Risk Losing
- Evanston's Healthy Buildings Ordinance: The Newest Building Performance Standard in the Midwest
- Illinois Mid-Session Legislative Status Report
- Missouri Energy Efficiency Dis-Investment Actions: The MEEIA Cycle 4 Dockets
- Evanston Becomes First in Illinois to Adopt Stretch Energy Code