North Carolina governor signs PURPA overhaul bill
The bill will move most of the state’s market for large-scale solar to a competitive procurement model, and allow for leasing of distributed PV systems, while restricting the availability of fixed-price contracts. It will also institute an 18-month wind moratorium.
Big Sky, small solar, smaller terms
A Montana solar project that would have quadrupled the state’s installed solar has been bushwhacked in the regulatory process, putting solar and even any power plant development in the state in question.
NextEra dives deeper into wind and solar
Despite the looming Section 201 case, the company’s development and IPP arm added another 438 MW of solar projects during the quarter, while construction is underway on 594 MW of solar for utility FPL.
11 California communities “opt up” for 100% renewable energy
The new sign-ups represent a surge of support that took place in just three months. The cities and counties will be enrolled in community choice aggregator Marin Clean Energy’s “Deep Green” option, which offers 100% wind and solar power produced in California.
China Titans swoops up Aquion for $9.2 million
The bankrupt saltwater battery company has a new owner, following a bankruptcy sale, and has re-started operations.
Turmoil in residential solar
After years of steady, relentless growth, the U.S. residential solar market is struggling with challenges on both the policy and customer acquisition fronts. And as the market diversifies away from California and the Northeast, the future is far from clear.
Wind and solar outstrip state renewable energy mandates (w/ charts)
A new report by Berkeley Lab also finds that solar is increasingly being used to meet state-level renewable energy requirements, while overall deployment of renewables is increasingly driven by other factors.
Court upholds strict scope for duties on Chinese, Taiwanese imports
A pair of court rulings has shot down challenges by a range of solar manufacturers related to the details of 2014 import duties on solar products from China and Taiwan.
Renovate America secures $200 million to expand HERO
The influx of cash is the latest progress for the nation’s largest PACE provider, which expanded to more communities in Missouri last week.
Illinois issues RFP for utility-scale and brownfield solar
An RFP due in August for solar larger than 2 MW plus brownfield solar projects of any size. Draft program rules for Illinois community solar programs are also expected in August.
