“All of us here need to be driving impact faster.” Almost 500 CEBA members gathered in San Jose, CA, last month for CEBA at VERGE 22 and shared this sentiment articulated by Emily Williams, VP of Strategy & Sustainability at Edison Energy.

During the week CEBA members — as well as non-members in the clean energy industry — gathered to collaborate toward a clean, resilient, and accessible energy future. Over four action-packed days, we chatted, networked, and problem-solved through CEBA-hosted sessions, the CEBA Station, receptions, meals, and happy hours. We covered a lot, and here are the highlights.

WE GOT THIS

CEBA members were happy to be in the same room, doing what we do best — problem solving through discussion-based sessions. The positivity was inescapable. In every session and side chat, CEBA members knew this was the place to get change accomplished for a customer-driven clean energy future. As David Haines, CEBA’s Senior VP of Strategy and Impact, stated, “The answer to some of the hardest problems of our industry are solved by conversations like these in this room.” 

CEBA MEMBERS LOVE CHURROS AND CHATS

Hundreds of members came through the CEBA Station — not just for the coffee, churros, comfy seating, and CEBA pins — but for the compelling side discussions and networking. The Station was so popular — more so than we expected — that it was often standing room only. We heard over and over that partnership and collaboration is key to decarbonize the grid faster and cheaper. CEBA members talked about the hourly and location considerations for clean energy, clean technology, the power of organized wholesale markets, international markets … the list goes on. 

IMPACT OF THE CLEAN ENERGY BUYERS INSTITUTE (CEBI)

Almost all clean energy conversations asked the question: How can we create more impact from procurement? At the Beyond the Megawatt Initiative panel we learned tribal engagement is a key opportunity for the clean energy transition. Energy customers and providers should enter dialogues without assumptions and follow tribes’ leadership. This can create a respectful and mutually beneficial partnership which in turn can create benefits for all stakeholders. 

Want to dive deeper into impact? CEBA members are invited to join us at the CEBA 2023 Spring Summit. The Beyond the Megawatt Initiative will host a workshop to bring energy customers and providers together to test resources, identify tools, and create partnerships.

POLICY PRIORITIES

During a CEBA session, Darija Cosic, Energy Policy Manager at Meta, stated “this past year has been a whirlwind of policy activity, and there’s still more work to be done.” Energy customers have announced more than 57 GW of new clean energy in the U.S. since 2014 — equivalent to more than a third of what’s been added to the grid in that time. This has driven a massive amount of impact, and the Inflation Reduction Act will accelerate that trend. With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and CHIPS and Science Act, this year has most consequential set of investments and programs to date to advance clean energy and reduce emissions. However, additional work is needed in grid data harmonization, transmission reform, and organized wholesale market expansion to unlock the full benefits of these incentives. Members can stay up to date on newest policy and advocacy updates through the year and continue to move discussions forward at CEBA Connect: Spring Summit. 

WE ARE NOT DONE

The fun doesn’t stop at VERGE. Join us at CEBA Connect: 2023 Spring Summit, May 9-11, in Seattle, WA. Keep an eye out for hotel announcements before the end of the year to grab your room at the best rates!

At Spring Summit you’ll gather with peers for a week of conversation, collaborations, and discovery as we move forward down the path to customer-driven clean for energy all. CEBA members will explore a broad range of topics from U.S. energy procurement trends to international engagements to supply chain and how progress in the U.S. federal policy space will affect the future of clean energy. Register today. 

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