Community solar for a dime in Minnesota
Minnesota regulators have approved a 1.5¢/kWh incentive for residential customers of “solar gardens”, as they seek to boost the residential to commercial customer wattage ratio from the current 1:9.
Choice to cost a little more in California
California regulators voted 5-0 to implement higher priced exit fees for CCAs, as requested by investor-owned utilities. The fees will increase residential bills for members of CCAs by 1.7-5.2%.
SolarEdge charges into storage market with Kokam acquisition
The power electronics maker will buy 75% of Kokam’s shares for $88 million, with an intent to acquire the remainder thereafter. Strategic company acquisitions and close partnerships are characterizing this year’s inverter market, as companies seek to diversify and integrate storage systems and other technologies.
Spatial and temporal specificity: the new high bar for 100% renewables
Google, already 100% renewable powered via PPAs offsets of fossil fuels, is now aiming to make sure they’re clean energy powered 24/7 – even as the sun sets, and winds die down.
Solar maps to the golden state back in four days
California’s Integration Capacity Analysis (ICA) maps were ordered returned to public availability by a judge before October 14. As parties fine tune the updated broad ICA 2.0 release in December, the 1.0 version was temporarily removed for security reasons.
Duke forgets to bring the sauce to the energy storage BBQ
Duke Energy has announced plans to invest $500 million to build 300 MWh of energy storage in the Carolinas over the next eight years, which breaks down to an average of 37.5 MWh per year.
Hawaii’s march to 100% adds 260 MW solar + 1 GWh storage
Hawaii’s investor-owned utilities are in negotiations with developers to build seven solar projects across three islands.
Michigan rules on five solar programs: three move forward
State regulators have authorized two Consumers Energy green pricing programs, while telling a third – by DTE Energy – to do a bit more cost calculations. Additionally, Consumers’ Solar Gardens program was approved.
Con Edison absorbs Johnson Controls’ battery management solutions
Under what is being described as a JV, Con Edison will offer Johnson Controls’ systems for control and management of batteries to a wider audience, and give ConEd another arrow in its quiver of clean energy solutions.
SunPower makes good on its promise to manufacture in America
The high-efficiency PV maker has closed on SolarWorld’s Oregon factory, which will transition from SolarWorld products to SunPower’s P-type shingled modules.
