# Frontier Forum: A new playbook for clean energy growth

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2025-10-06
- Length: 31m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-10-06-frontier-forum-a-new-playbook-for-clean-energy-growth

## Summary

Heather O’Neill, CEO of Advanced Energy United, explains how the trade group shifted its strategy from federal lobbying to state-level advocacy following the 2010 failure of the Waxman-Marries cap-and-trade bill. She outlines a new policy playbook centered on three principles: building clean energy infrastructure quickly, making the grid flexible through tools like virtual power plants (VPPs) and advanced transmission technologies, and ensuring affordability for consumers. O’Neill highlights specific state successes in Michigan, Virginia, and Indiana regarding permitting reform, and discusses the urgent need to address load growth driven by data centers and electrification while managing rising electricity costs.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-10-06-frontier-forum-a-new-playbook-for-clean-energy-growth#t=8) Introduction: The failure of federal climate legislation and the shift to states
- [4:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-10-06-frontier-forum-a-new-playbook-for-clean-energy-growth#t=271) The new playbook: Build it, make it flexible, and make it affordable
- [7:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-10-06-frontier-forum-a-new-playbook-for-clean-energy-growth#t=435) State-level urgency: Load growth, data centers, and affordability crises
- [11:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-10-06-frontier-forum-a-new-playbook-for-clean-energy-growth#t=664) Building it: Permitting reform, interconnection, and transmission in Michigan, Virginia, and Indiana
- [16:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-10-06-frontier-forum-a-new-playbook-for-clean-energy-growth#t=961) Making it flexible: Virtual power plants, EV fleets, and advanced transmission technologies
- [22:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-10-06-frontier-forum-a-new-playbook-for-clean-energy-growth#t=1353) Making it affordable: Rate design, utility incentives, and integrated planning
- [24:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-10-06-frontier-forum-a-new-playbook-for-clean-energy-growth#t=1499) Coalition building at the state level: Sustained engagement and agency dynamics

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Advanced Energy United (company)
- Virtual Power Plants (product)
- PJM (other)
- Waxman-Marries (other)
- Michigan (other)
- Virginia (other)
- Indiana (other)
- California (other)
- New Mexico (other)
- Connecticut (other)
- Massachusetts (other)
- New York (other)
- Colorado (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Renewable Energy Policy with Ari Gerstman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-05-02-renewable-energy-policy-with-ari-gerstman) (The Amp Hour)
- [Smart Grid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid) (EE Times Current)
- [Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-09-05-managing-energy-at-the-edge-navigating-the-modern-grid-with-itron) (Over the Air)
- [Ep. 24 | GE Renewables' VP & CTO Danielle Merfeld on Engineers in Power](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-05-11-ep-24-ge-renewables-vp-cto-danielle-merfeld-on-engineers-in-power) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Aligning Passion With Purpose: A Journey to Electrification and Sustainability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-06-17-aligning-passion-with-purpose-a-journey-to-electrification-and-sustainability) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

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