In 2024, MAREC Action collaborated with our members, policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders to advance clean energy opportunities in the PJM region. We are excited to share this year’s highlights, showcasing the tangible legislative and regulatory progress we achieved to expand wind, solar, and energy storage opportunities. We will also highlight some of our 2025 goals.
Membership Changes
Throughout the year, we welcomed new associate members CEP Solar, Solunesco, Sun Tribe Development, Hexagon Energy, New Leaf Energy, First Solar, Atlantic Shoes Offshore Wind, Bluepoint Wind, Vineyard Offshore, Walden Renewables, and Linea Energy. In 2025, we are excited to have Zenobe and Form Energy joining as associate members and REV Renewables has become a board member. We are pleased to have so many companies join us in our work.
Organizational Changes
This year we are saying a fond farewell to Sari Fink, our Director for PJM Affairs. Sari has been instrumental to our PJM advocacy program, and we will miss her and wish her a happy retirement. We welcomed Paulina O’Connor as the Executive Director of the New Jersey Offshore Wind Alliance. Finally, Diane Cherry joined us as the Deputy Director of MAREC.
In mid-2024 we were pleased to welcome Brittany West (AES) as our newest Board Chair.
Policy Work
Wind
Several highlights stand out for our work in onshore and offshore wind. Briefly these include:
- Passage of DE SB 265, legislation that sets an offshore wind procurement target in Delaware, signed into law by Governor Carney;
- Creation of the New Jersey Offshore Wind Alliance (NJOWA) as the voice of the offshore wind industry in the Garden State; and,
- Successful defense of onshore wind projects in West Virginia against bills that would have unfairly taxed wind projects and enact an unreasonable 2-mile setback for projects.
Utility Scale Solar
- MAREC Action began a yearlong concerted effort for solar siting reform in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We have successfully defended the need for solar siting standard legislation. This remains our number one organizational priority.
Transmission and PJM
- MAREC Action and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) commissioned a study that highlights how proactive transmission planning will help states achieve clean energy goals, including offshore wind timelines.
- MAREC Action submitted comments to PJM on the transmission needed for the incoming GWs to reliably serve the incoming load needs as part of their Reliability Resource Initiative (RRI) package.
Administrative Considerations
- We held our first member retreat in Asheville in June, developing our strategic priorities and we gave an update on our progress at our November member meeting in Washington D.C.
- Finally, MAREC Action created a Political Action Committee (PAC), which will be another tool in our advocacy toolbox in the coming years.
Looking Ahead
Looking to 2025, MAREC Action is well positioned to take on issues such as the multiple state dockets for energy storage deployments, and work to pass Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) expansion legislation (PRESS) in Pennsylvania. Solar siting reform in Virginia will remain our top organizational priority.
Best wishes for a restful holiday season. We look forward to the coming year in partnership with our members.