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Our work on energy affordability

Energy demand is rising around the country, putting huge pressure on businesses and everyday consumers. Addressing higher power costs is central to Ceres’ policy work because it directly impacts companies’ bottom lines and their ability to electrify and expand clean energy investments. 

Clean energy is the fastest and cheapest way to meet rising power demand and address affordability, but the U.S. power grid is constrained by aging infrastructure, affecting both businesses and consumers. That’s why  XXX major companies working with Ceres came together to call on policymakers around the country to modernize the system and tackle rising prices. 

Ceres is working in state legislatures around the country to advocate for policies that will address affordability challenges by expanding clean energy and keeping costs in check. , We’re working with investors and companies to help pass legislation that includes:  

  • Wider deployment of clean, affordable power sources like wind, solar, and batteries 

  • Expanding emerging technologies that make the grid more efficient without building new power lines 

  • Faster, more efficient regulatory processes for getting new power projects hooked up to the grid 

  • Expanding energy efficiency and demand response programs that reduce peak demand and generate long-term savings for businesses and residential consumers 

States that modernize their energy systems around these solutions will be better positioned to grow their economies and attract business investment. 

The energy sector is at a critical juncture. Businesses and consumers will shoulder the burden of higher energy prices if policymakers don’t act. We need commonsense policy from states to modernize the power grid and continue deploying cheap clean energy.

Headshot of Hugh Welsh

Hugh Welsh

President and General Counsel

dsm-firmenich North America

How businesses can get involved

Join more than a dozen leading businesses calling for a commonsense suite of policies to address energy affordability across the country.

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Learn more about the policy solutions that can keep energy price hikes in check and build the power grid we need for the future.

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News and updates

Stay informed on energy policy developments.

Maryland’s new energy affordability law, urges greater investment in efficiency program

Ceres commends Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s focus on energy affordability after he signed a sweeping energy bill in May that includes critical measures to shore up the power grid and cut red tape for solar projects

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North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and business community showcase leadership in advancing a competitive, clean economy

Ceres applauds Gov. Josh Stein of North Carolina and business leaders from across the state for coming together to discuss opportunities to strengthen the state’s clean energy economy and expand access to affordable, reliable, homegrown energy.

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Arizona Energy Taskforce to advance a cleaner, more competitive economy

Ceres applauds Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Governor’s Office of Resiliency for their leadership in releasing a series of reports today from the Arizona Energy Promise Taskforce to map a path toward a cleaner, fairer, and more competitive economy.

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Strengthened Massachusetts energy bill

Ceres applauds Massachusetts House lawmakers for passing strengthened legislation designed to lower electricity costs for residents and businesses and urges further negotiations to ensure the state’s nation-leading energy efficiency program Mass Save is fully funded in the final package.

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Virginia's move to rejoin RGGI signals a commitment to affordable energy solutions

Ceres joins leading businesses in Virginia to commend Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and the Virginia General Assembly for affirming a commitment to lower energy costs by initiating the Commonwealth’s re-entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

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Ceres and businesses in Illinois applaud landmark energy law to cut costs and modernize infrastructure

Ceres joins businesses with employees and operations across Illinois to applaud state legislators and Gov. JB Pritzker for coming together to pass and sign into law the nation-leading Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act to reduce electricity costs, modernize infrastructure, and position Illinois to better compete for business and investment.

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A critical moment for affordability

Energy demand is growing for the first time in years, as AI data centers, new manufacturing, and electrified transportation options all vie for space on the grid. That’s not an inherently bad thing, but without a well-rounded response from policymakers, new demand will continue driving higher costs. 

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U.S. electricity prices are up nearly 30% over the past decade.

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In 2025, national electricity and natural gas prices increased at rates 2.5 and 4 times higher than inflation, respectively.

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With electricity demand expected to increase another 25% by 2030 and 78% by 2050, prices will continue to rise unless policymakers act.

Energy affordability is top of mind for ski areas. The industry is working hard to electrify operations and deploy more clean energy to do our part to address the risks of climate change, but rising electricity costs and constraints on the grid are making those investments harder to afford and scale. Policymakers have a huge opportunity to enact policies to modernize the power grid, bring more low-cost clean energy online faster, and make our energy systems more efficient so businesses can continue cutting emissions while keeping energy reliable and affordable.

Michael Reitzell

President & CEO, National Ski Areas Association

The policy solutions

Deploy clean, cost-effective energy resources

Wind and solar are among the most cost-effective ways to meet rising electricity demand, in part because they have no fuel costs. Batteries are also cheaper and more advanced than ever, which makes it easier to integrate renewables onto the power grid so that they are available when demand spikes.

States have taken many different approaches to deploying clean energy, and those efforts are only becoming more important.

Optimize Grid Capacity

The U.S. electric grid is aging, and it generally operates at roughly half its potential capacity. Policymakers can those problems with a suite of emerging technologies that expand the grid without building costly new power lines:

- Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs)
- Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs)
- Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)

Accelerate the Interconnection of Advanced Energy Resources

Companies attempting to bring new clean energy to the grid often have their projects bogged down with outdated red tape.

Policymakers around the country should streamline permitting and siting processes for interconnection and set clear timelines for projects.

Expand Energy Efficiency and Demand Flexibility Solutions

Over the long term, energy efficiency programs can save ratepayers and businesses billions of dollars. Strengthening building codes and weatherization programs and integrating new smart technologies that reduce peak power demand will add to those savings.

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