Advanced Energy United (AEU), formerly ''Advanced Energy Economy,'' is a national

trade association A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific Industry (economics), industry. Through collabor ...

representing the advanced energy industry. In 2025, AEU reported over 76 member companies. AEU states that it is the only industry association in the U.S. that represents the full range of advanced energy technologies and services, both grid-scale and distributed. AEU's stated mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. AEU defines advanced energy technologies and services as included

energy efficiency Energy efficiency may refer to: * Energy efficiency (physics), the ratio between the useful output and input of an energy conversion process ** Electrical efficiency, useful power output per electrical power consumed ** Mechanical efficiency, a rat ...

demand response Demand response is a change in the power consumption of an electric utility customer to better match the demand for power with the supply. Until the 21st century decrease in the cost of pumped storage and batteries, electric energy could not b ...

energy storage Energy storage is the capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time to reduce imbalances between energy demand and energy production. A device that stores energy is generally called an Accumulator (energy), accumulator or Batte ...

solar Solar may refer to: Astronomy * Of or relating to the Sun ** Solar telescope, a special purpose telescope used to observe the Sun ** A device that utilizes solar energy (e.g. "solar panels") ** Solar calendar, a calendar whose dates indicate t ...

wind Wind is the natural movement of atmosphere of Earth, air or other gases relative to a planetary surface, planet's surface. Winds occur on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heatin ...

hydro Hydro (from ) may refer to: Energy technologies * Water-derived power or energy: ** Hydropower, derived from water ** Hydroelectricity, in electrical form * "Hydro", AC mains electricity in parts of Canada * Micro hydro, a type of hydroelect ...

nuclear Nuclear may refer to: Physics Relating to the nucleus of the atom: *Nuclear engineering *Nuclear physics *Nuclear power *Nuclear reactor *Nuclear weapon *Nuclear medicine *Radiation therapy *Nuclear warfare Mathematics * Nuclear space *Nuclear ...

electric vehicle An electric vehicle (EV) is a motor vehicle whose propulsion is powered fully or mostly by electricity. EVs encompass a wide range of transportation modes, including road vehicle, road and rail vehicles, electric boats and Submersible, submer ...

biofuels Biofuel is a fuel that is produced over a short time span from biomass, rather than by the very slow natural processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels such as oil. Biofuel can be produced from plants or from agricultural, domestic ...

and

smart grid The smart grid is an enhancement of the 20th century electrical grid, using two-way communications and distributed so-called intelligent devices. Two-way flows of electricity and information could improve the delivery network. Research is main ...

. AEU is associated wit
Advanced Energy Institute
a

501 (c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 5 ...

nonprofit organization. In Texas, AEU operates as th
Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance
AEU is the developer of Inisight Engine, formerly ''PowerSuite'', a software platform that enables users to search, track, and collaborate on energy policy.

Founding and leadership

AEU, at the time known as Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), was founded in 2011 by

Tom Steyer Thomas Fahr Steyer (; born June 27, 1957) is an American climate investor, businessman, hedge fund manager, philanthropist, environmentalist, political candidate and liberal activist. Steyer is the founder and former co-senior-managing-partner ...

, 2020 American Presidential candidate, asset manager and philanthropist, and Hemant Taneja, an Indian-born American venture capitalist. George P. Shultz, an American economist, statesman, and businessman, was also instrumental in AEE's creation. In 2011, Graham Richard, an American politician and entrepreneur, was named CEO of the group. In 2018, Nat Kreamer became CEO of AEE. An entrepreneur and investor, Kreamer was previously president and CEO of Spruce Finance and its predecessor Clean Power Finance, as well as co-founder, president, and COO of rooftop solar company

SunRun Sunrun Inc. is an American provider of photovoltaic systems and battery energy storage products, primarily for residential customers. The company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Since its inception, ...

. AEE rebranded to Advanced Energy United (AEU) in January 2023. In February 2023, Heather O'Neill was named President and CEO of the organization. O'Neill previously served as President, Interim CEO, and SVP of Strategic Partnerships. Kreamer remains a member of the Advanced Energy Institute Board. Today, AEU's highest-level members include CTC Global,

Enel Enel S.p.A. is an Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas. Enel was first established as a public body at the end of 1962, and then transformed into a limited company in 1992. In 1999, following the liberali ...

, EnergyHub, Highland,

Landis+Gyr Landis+Gyr AG is a publicly listed, multinational corporation operating in over 30 countries and headquartered in Cham, Switzerland. Landis+Gyr makes meters and related software for electricity, gas and water utilities. History Landis+Gyr was f ...

, LS Power,

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...

, NRG,

Pattern A pattern is a regularity in the world, in human-made design, or in abstract ideas. As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner. A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes and typically repeated l ...

, Renew Home,

Sunrun Sunrun Inc. is an American provider of photovoltaic systems and battery energy storage products, primarily for residential customers. The company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Since its inception, ...

, Uplight, and Wilson Sonsini.

Publications

AEU commissions and publishes reports and other publications to educate policymakers and the public about the industry. These include ''This Is Advanced Energy'', a catalogue of technologies and services, and ''Advanced Energy Now Market Report'', which quantifies U.S. and global advanced energy revenue. AEU also issues annual fact sheets on advanced energy employment in the United States and in several states. Other AEU reports highlight economic opportunities associated with advanced energy investment and growth. These include ''Electrifying California: Economic Potential of Growing Electric Transportation'' and ''Opportunities for Meeting Commercial & Industrial Demand for Renewable Energy in Indiana.''

State Engagement

AEU provides information to governors, legislators, and Public Utility Commissioners (PUCs) on advanced energy technologies for consumers and the grid. AEU also works with environmental, labor, and justice groups at the state level in support of policies that promote the adoption of advanced energy and remove legislative and regulatory barriers to advanced energy. * In 2020, AEU was involved in efforts to pass the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which was signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam. The Act mandates that

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

will have 100% clean electricity by 2045. * Advanced Energy United's influence in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

led to Governor Gavin Newsom's executive order to phase out sale of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. * The organization worked with Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) on a plan for the utility to achieve 100% clean energy. * AEU raised $701 million in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

for electric vehicle infrastructure programs through regulatory engagement. * Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance worked with

Public Utility Commission of Texas The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC or PUCT) is a state agency that regulates the state’s electric, water and telecommunication utilities, implements respective legislation, and offers customer assistance in resolving consumer complain ...

to open proceedings on electrifying transportation.

Federal and Wholesale Market Engagement

AEU has been engaged with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and has testified before

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

around stimulus for the advanced energy industry and the impact it has on the

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

economic recovery. AEU filed in support of maintaining FERC Order 841 requiring that regional grid operators allow energy storage to compete in their wholesale markets.

References

{{Reflist, 30em Trade associations based in the United States