Policy

The bill would significantly cut net metering rates paid to rooftop solar customers, and also revise long-term rates and other protections that were promised to existing rooftop solar customers.

Horse trading was needed to reverse an earlier vote that rejected a package of clean energy goals. The new goal goes back into the rulemaking process and a final vote.

Data show that the U.S. has more than 750 GWac of electricity generation capacity in interconnection queues, with 90% of that clean energy-related. But how much actually will be built?

J.B. Pritzker’s Consumers and Climate First Act has taken center stage, with renewable advocates desperately trying to pass some sort of legislation before the state’s solar market is damaged beyond repair.

Also on the rise: Duke Energy starts work on Speedway Solar near Charlotte, a Connecticut energy storage bill advances, and Guzman Energy signs a PPA for a Colorado solar plant.

The resources will help the state respond to more extreme weather events and replace generation from 3,700 MW of retiring natural gas plants and 2,200 MW from a retiring nuke.

Both Hawaiian Electric and its regulators expressed frustration over a decision approving an energy storage system that will be critical to retiring a coal-fired power plant by September 2022.

Also on the rise: Cummins and Iberdrola plan a $60 million green hydrogen plant, natural gas falls to renewables (and coal), and Aurora Solar closes a $250 million financing round.

Also on the rise: Supply chain costs hit Maxeon Solar’s Q1 results, Kentucky regulators set a new net metering rate, and Distributed Solar closes financing deal with Bank of America.

Regulators approved a multi-party stipulation that caps solar applications through the end of 2021 at 1.2 MW for Duke Energy Carolinas and 300 kW for Duke Energy Progress each month.