John Fitzgerald Weaver
Federal pause to solar permitting and wetland approvals
Multiple agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Secretary of the Interior, which oversees the Bureau of Land Management, have halted approvals for wind and solar projects on federal land and in federally regulated areas.
Wyoming legislation attacks net metering, small-scale solar
Wyoming Senator Case has yet again submitted legislation to limit net metering, jeopardizing the grassroots growth of small-scale solar power.
Massachusetts considers five-day residential solar permits, 20% distributed energy and more
Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing forward a slate of clean energy bills aimed at accelerating the state’s transition to 100% renewable power.
Agrivoltaics business model analysis shows 16% to 43% return on investment
An analysis of sheep-raising and grazing costs indicates that breeding flocks yield higher overall profits, while purchasing and reselling a new flock each year may result in a higher return on investment due to reduced off-season upkeep costs.
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.
