Catalyst with Shayle Kann – Frontier Forum: A New Playbook for Clean Energy Growth

Date: October 6, 2025 | Host: Stephen Lacey | Guest: Heather O’Neill, CEO of Advanced Energy United | Produced by Latitude Media

Episode Overview

This episode, recorded live as part of Latitude Media’s Frontier Forum series, explores how U.S. clean energy policy can be advanced at the state and regional level in the face of federal roadblocks. Host Stephen Lacey talks with Heather O’Neill of Advanced Energy United about her organization’s new playbook for catalyzing clean energy growth through state-focused strategies centered around three core principles: “Build it, make it flexible, and make it affordable.” The discussion covers the shifting federal landscape, the role of state governments, specific policy priorities, and tactical advice for clean energy companies seeking to influence policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. History and Context: From Bipartisan Momentum to State Action

• The episode opens by recalling the fleeting bipartisan support for climate policy in the mid-2000s (00:10–02:13). The failed Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill marks a pivot point from federal to state-focused activism.
• Heather O’Neill:

  “The failure was really a wake up call...if we couldn't get Washington D.C. to act, then we were looking and seeing states and regions were creating energy markets. They were shaping the rules of the road.” (02:54)

• States emerge as the “laboratories of democracy,” driving much of the energy innovation and regulatory experimentation (03:17).

2. A New Playbook: Build It, Make It Flexible, Make It Affordable

• O’Neill introduces Advanced Energy United’s three-pronged strategic playbook as a pragmatic approach for the current policy landscape (04:32, 09:43).
  • Build It: Speed up infrastructure and project deployment by removing regulatory roadblocks (10:50–14:42).
  • Make It Flexible: Extract more from existing infrastructure using technologies like virtual power plants (VPPs), grid modernization, and advanced transmission (16:01–19:45).
  • Make It Affordable: Prioritize cost-effective solutions, foster smart investments, and updated rate design (22:16–24:39).

Notable Quote

“We need state leaders to focus their energy agenda on speed, flexibility, and affordability.”
— Heather O'Neill (09:47)

3. Why States? The Case for Local and Regional Leadership

• Federal policy is described as hostile or at minimum unhelpful (“systematic chaos,” HR1, new executive orders, etc.), pushing the clean energy sector to double down at the state/regional level (05:21–06:28).
• States are making urgent decisions due to factors like rising electricity costs, surging load (especially via data centers/AI), electrification, and grid stress from extreme weather (07:15).
• Local economic and political incentives are aligned with solutions that deliver affordability and dependability.

Notable Example

“In Maryland, right in PJM's territory, customers are seeing their monthly bills increase by up to $20 a month. And so...governors are going to feel that pressure, right? They're going to need to act now.”
— Heather O’Neill (08:22)

4. Drilling Down: Policy Solutions for States

Build It

• Policy focus: Permitting reform, transmission expansion, speeding up grid interconnection (11:13).
  • Michigan as a positive siting reform example; Indiana and Virginia for ongoing reforms (13:01–14:48).
  • RTOs like PJM highlighted for interconnection challenges with state leaders increasingly engaged (14:48).

Make It Flexible

• Target: Maximize value from infrastructure via advanced tech (16:08).
  • Highlighted tech: Virtual power plants, EV fleet batteries, advanced transmission.
  • Progress: Legislation in Virginia, California for VPP pilots and distributed resources; Texas for demand flexibility (16:08–18:47).
• VPPs shifting from “vitamin pill” nice-to-have to “painkiller” must-have as grid pressure mounts (18:47–19:45).
  • Jigar Shah’s “painkiller” analogy underscores VPPs’ newfound urgency in policymaker minds.

Make It Affordable

• Policies: Accelerate interconnection for lowest-cost resources, grid flexibility/managed charging, integrated utility planning, rate design reforms for cost containment (22:33–24:39).
• Calls for smarter, future-proof investments, utility incentive reform, and regulatory efficiency.
• Explicit push for integrated approaches over siloed efforts.

5. Statehouse Tactics: Coalition Building and Messaging

• Coalitions: Essential everywhere, but vary state-to-state by political dynamics, leadership, and specific issues (24:59–26:26).
  • “No substitute for sustained engagement—you can’t parachute in; you have to walk the halls.” (25:34)
• Advice for Companies:
  • Engage via associations like Advanced Energy United.
  • Understand the “agency alphabet soup” (PUCs, governors’ offices, legislators).
  • Leverage United’s relationships and expertise to introduce new tech as part of solution sets (26:43).

6. Shifting Industry Messaging: Beyond Decarbonization to Affordability and Growth

• The panel notes that while decarbonization remains core, recent state-level momentum is being driven by growth, competitiveness, and cost issues (09:16–10:00, 27:44–28:25).
• Heather O’Neill:

  “It is one of those moments where I do think we have an opportunity because we are leading with a solution set that is directly responsive...affordability, reliability, economic development, and growth.” (28:25)

7. How to Use the Playbook & Closing Thoughts

• The “Build it, Flexible, Affordable” framework is meant to be adaptable and widely used—regardless of company membership in United (30:02).
  • “I hope that folks pick it up and use it far and wide.” (30:43)
• The playbook, based on what resonates in the field, is designed to help companies tailor their messaging to each state and policymaker they engage with (30:02–30:51).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John McCain (2007):

  “There's not a doubt in my mind that climate change is real and we have neglected our obligation again to this generation of young Americans because we may be handing them a very battery damaged planet.” (00:35)

• Heather O'Neill:

  “For Build it...coalitions are going to look different in different states, but there are some really great models out there around permitting and siting reform.” (13:01)

• Moderator:

  “VPPs...now they're considered painkillers. Instead of vitamin pills, they're painkillers.” (18:47)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:10–02:13 – Recap of U.S. bipartisan climate policy window and collapse of federal momentum
• 03:17–04:32 – Transition to state-centric strategies and formation of Advanced Energy United
• 04:32–09:43 – Introduction to the “Build it, Flexible, Affordable” playbook
• 10:50–14:42 – Deep dive into “Build it”: permitting, siting, and transmission reforms
• 16:01–19:45 – “Make it Flexible”: virtual power plants, demand response, grid tech, VPPs as “painkillers”
• 22:16–24:39 – “Make it Affordable”: interconnection, rate design, investment prioritization
• 24:59–26:43 – Coalition-building and on-the-ground policy advocacy advice
• 27:44–28:25 – Rethinking messaging for the current era; tailoring solutions to urgent state concerns
• 30:02–30:51 – Practical use of the playbook for companies and organizations

Final Takeaway

The state level holds the most promise for clean energy progress during a turbulent federal moment. Success hinges on speed, flexibility, and affordability—messaged in clear, pragmatic terms and pushed by sustained, coalition-based advocacy. The Advanced Energy United playbook offers a framework for anyone seeking to engage in today’s complex clean energy policy environment.