Sunrise brief: Congress passes solar ITC extension
Also on the rise: A simple safeguard for the growing danger of arc-fault events; EDF Renewables signs a PPA; Soltec will supply trackers to AES
Solar roundup: Lower export fees in Michigan and net metering takes a hit in Vermont
Consumers Energy cuts solar export fees in Michigan, while net metering takes a hit in Vermont. And TVA wants feedback on an environmental report for a planned 50 MW solar and 200 MWh storage project in Mississippi.
Six of the year’s most impactful solar policies, courtesy of SELC
The 2020 “Solar Makers” include states, regulators and utilities taking action to encourage rooftop solar. This year’s “Solar Brakers” include utility policies that SELC says undermine rooftop solar as a cost-effective choice.
IHS Markit forecasts a “wild” ride” for the global PV industry in 2021
The firm expects 158 GW of new PV to be installed worldwide in 2021, a jump over 2020, and the U.S. and China will still dominate.
Aggressive new fees for South Carolina solar customers draw fire
The proposed fees could end up costing the solar average homeowner more than $700 annually. Critics call the fees an attempt to take away consumer control over their power bills.
Program aims to add solar on new low-income housing in Minnesota
With enough property owners signing on to the program, developers should be able to install PV panels at group prices. At least some of the solar-equipped housing units must be rented to low-income people.
VC funding in solar 2020: perovskites, silicon and utility-scale foundations, plus lots of software
Here’s a list of solar firms that VCs funded during this pandemic year.
Is FERC Order 2222 enough to push virtual power plants into the energy mainstream?
Aggregating DERs via virtual power plants has customers, utilities and financiers all ready to buy in. With FERC Order 2222, the question for two California aggregators is whether their models will play in less DER-friendly markets.
Recovery takes hold as Q3 solar installations rose, SEIA says
U.S. solar companies installed 3.8 GW of new solar PV capacity in Q3 as the industry worked to recover from some of the worst impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Honolulu legislates faster, easier permitting for rooftop solar
Hawaii’s continued move to online permitting reduces red tape — and has the potential to grow Hawaiian solar when the state needs the revenue. The broader industry is aiming for a “fundamental reshaping of solar permitting at the federal, state, and local levels.”
