FLIPP, Inc., founded by Raye Elliott in Buckingham County, Virginia, provides training and support for individuals looking to enter the clean energy industry. Their flagship program, FACER, supported by a U.S. Department of Labor grant, serves formerly incarcerated individuals, veterans, women, rural residents, and people of color, addressing barriers such as transportation and child care. FLIPP offers a $1,600 stipend and operates initiatives like CREED and Trades Workforce Development Program to prepare workers and assist small employers in hiring and retaining them. With a focus on making training accessible to rural workers, FLIPP extends its reach beyond Buckingham County to regions like Charlottesville, Norfolk, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, emphasizing the importance of building a clean energy economy and empowering individuals in communities undergoing the transition.
Tag: Maryland
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6 States Leading the USA on Smart Energy Policy Halfway through 2026
In 2026, six states, including Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, and Colorado, have passed smart solar and storage policies to address rising electricity demand, lower power bills, and improve grid reliability. These policies, supported by SEIA, aim to deploy solar and storage, expand access to low-cost electricity, and save consumers billions of dollars over the next two decades. By investing in distributed energy resources and virtual power plant programs, these states are leading the way in modernizing their electric grids and demonstrating the effectiveness of clean energy solutions in meeting electricity demand, improving reliability, and reducing costs. Other states are also considering similar legislation to advance their clean energy goals.
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Maryland regulators weigh investor-owned utilities’ flexible load proposals
Maryland utilities are working to aggregate up to 440 MW of flexible load resources, such as residential thermostats, distributed batteries, and electric vehicles, to support state-mandated virtual power plants and load management programs. The Distributed Renewable Integration and Vehicle Electrification Act requires utilities to develop vehicle-to-grid charging and VPP plans. Utilities like BGE, Pepco, Delmarva, and Potomac Edison are implementing time-of-use tariff proposals and pilot programs to increase customer participation in grid flexibility initiatives. The Maryland Public Service Commission has accepted modified time-of-use tariffs but rejected pilot proposals, ordering utilities to refile them for further clarity. The goal is to integrate customer-owned devices into utility operations while providing incentives and maintaining customer control, ensuring the success of demand-side management programs and distributed energy resource integration efforts in reducing peak load in a locationally relevant manner.