Clean Energy Legislative Academy celebrates 10 years of bipartisan energy policy leadership
Colorado State University's Center for the New Energy Economy hosted its 10th Clean Energy Legislative Academy in Golden, Colorado. The bipartisan workshop brought together state legislators to discuss energy policy, including grid modernization, energy costs, and the rapidly growing electricity demand from data centers and other large energy users. Experts led sessions on balancing affordability, economic development, and energy security.
The Clean Energy Legislative Academy (CELA), hosted by Colorado State University's Center for the New Energy Economy, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in Golden, Colorado. The four-day workshop gathered a bipartisan group of state legislators from across the nation to engage with experts on practical, nonpartisan approaches to state energy policy.
Key discussions at this year's Academy focused on the rapidly evolving energy landscape, including how states can balance affordability, economic development, and energy security amidst growing nationwide demand. Topics included increasing energy costs, grid modernization, emerging clean energy technologies, and utility regulation.
A significant theme was the rapidly growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence-driven data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities. Experts like Rachel Gold of RMI and Melissa Birchard of the Georgetown Climate Center led sessions examining the policy implications of this large load growth and strategies for maintaining grid reliability while meeting demand.
CELA provides lawmakers with a bipartisan network, access to national experts, and year-round research support, aiming to equip them with the knowledge and resources to navigate complex energy challenges and identify solutions for their respective states.