pvMB 1/14/19: Jolywood introduces a 420 watt module, hurdle cleared in Exxon climate lawsuit, rooftop solar so white

Michigan PSC approves the state’s first EV charging program – The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved PowerMiDrive, a $10 million, three-year pilot program which aims to support installations of EV charging infrastructure at homes and residences, workplaces, and other public locations. The program also includes guidelines for installing fast-chargers along highway corridors. The initiative was proposed by Consumers Energy, which worked in collaboration with Charge Up Midwest to develop the plan. Source: Environmental Law and Policy Center

U.S. Supreme Court allows lawsuit claiming Exxon misled the public on climate change – Massachusetts Attorney General Marla Healey’s office issued a civil investigative demand—similar to a subpoena—in 2016 seeking a trove of documents it said would shed light on what Exxon knew about the effects the burning of fossil fuels has on global warming and how regulatory efforts to slow the effect of climate change could impact the company’s bottom line. “The law is clear. The Attorney General’s Office has the authority to investigate Exxon’s conduct toward consumers and investors, and we are proceeding. The public deserves answers from this company about what it knew about the impacts of burning fossil fuels, and when,” Healey spokeswoman Chloe Gotsis wrote. Source – Inside Climate News.

Only white people are installing solar on their homes – A study carried out by Tufts University and the University of California, Berkeley found that black-majority neighborhoods have installed 69% less rooftop PV and Hispanic-majority neighborhoods have installed 30% less than neighborhoods with no racial or ethnic majority. These figures are accounted for after controlling for the same median household income. After controlling for home ownership, black- and Hispanic-majority neighborhoods have installed less rooftop PV compared to no-majority neighborhoods by 61% and 45%, respectively, while white-majority census tracts installed 37% more. Source: Eureka Alert, Tufts University

Wind and solar energy support Texas farmers and ranchers – A report supported by the Wind Solar Alliance, the American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association, carried out by TXP and IdeaSmiths analyzed the growing influence of renewable energy on Texas’ state economy. The report highlighted local government revenue associated with renewables reaching $210.4 million in 2017, landowners leasing renewable energy projects receiving an estimated $90.4 million in payments and the addition of 33,000 renewable energy jobs in the state since 2013. Source – TX Renewables

Jolywood’s bifacial ‘paving’ module boasts front power of 430W, efficiency of 20.5% – The high efficiency bifacial paving module boasts a front power of 430W, efficiency of 20.5%, integrated power of 530W with efficiency of 25.4%, as well as a rear power gain of 30%. The N-type monocrystalline high efficiency bifacial paving module developed by Jolywood uses flat ribbons to link up each cell, which is an innovative solution to avoid cells being covered by ribbons and narrows the distance between cells. Compared to modules with the same cells, the N-type monocrystalline high efficiency bifacial paving module enjoys a power gain of 15W to 20W, increasing the conversion efficiency by 1.5%. Source – Jolywood