John Fitzgerald Weaver
Trump orders pause to IRA funding
An executive order released by the White House states, “All agencies shall immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022”.
Section 179D energy efficiency tax deduction tools updated
The DOE has launched a web portal to enable faster tax deduction calculations for energy efficiency upgrades that drive 25% savings in lighting, HVAC, water heating, and building envelopes (but not solar).
Solar-wrapped Tesla Cybertruck using flexible modules and a battery
Solarflare CIGS flexible solar panels, plus a battery, are integrated into a Tesla Cybertruck on display at CES in Las Vegas.
Anti-solar backlash in Michigan stymies solar expansion
Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources offered a 420-acre parcel of “less than pristine” land to a solar developer to expand a nearby project. This sparked backlash from local politicians, who called the land management department “rotten to its core,” and prompted the developer to back away from the expansion.
Oversized solar farm keeps lights on until midnight
A massive 2.4 GW solar power plant with a 2:1 DC-to-AC ratio, coupled with six hours of energy storage, is approved in northern Oregon.
All I want for Christmas is an orchestra of energy storage
Chemical battery storage, led by lithium, has made such significant strides in terms of cost, capacity and technology that batteries are now positioned to accelerate our already exponential solar growth.
Perovskite-silicon solar cell achieves 28.6% efficiency, ready for mass production
South Korean manufacturer Qcells has developed a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with a 28.6% efficiency, noting that it was “fabricated by exclusively using processes that are feasible for mass production.”
$10 billion in government loans announced for EV companies
The DOE announced a $1.25 billion loan for EVgo to build fast chargers, along with $9.6 billion for Ford and battery manufacturer SK to construct three battery factories.
U.S. targets 50 gigawatts of solar in 2024
With projections of greater than 8 GW of distributed solar being installed, and more than 40 GW of utility scale solar, the country is projected to grow its solar fleet greater than 25% from its 2023 deployments.
New York state’s self-developed 3.5 GW portfolio under due diligence
Under pressure to achieve its 100% clean energy goals by 2040, the NYPA, operating under enhanced authority granted in 2023, is advancing its first 40 self-developed clean energy projects.
