Policy

Here’s this week’s gigawatt of big solar project news.

New generation of entrepreneurs aim to commercialize an advanced fission micro-reactor to compete against diesel gensets in remote and island communities. Technological and regulatory challenges abound.

Also in the brief: $1 million fine at stake as Minnesota solar developers fault Xcel for project delays, more on interconnection.

Solar from customer roofs in Utah is worth somewhere between 1.5 cents/kWh and 22.6 cents/kWh, depending on your calculations and who you ask — a ridiculously wide range.

Order 2222 raises the stakes — distributed resources are already starting to have material impacts on utilities’ planning efforts, and higher penetrations of distributed resources will amplify the need for better forecasts.

In Vermont and Utah, net metering is under attack — in danger of being significantly devalued or eliminated. In Arizona, the state’s rooftop solar export rates have been saved for at least another year. Outside of policy, Maine has announced the winners of the state’s largest-ever renewable solicitation.

New report calls out BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, Vanguard and other investment managers for slow-walking on commitments to hold corporate boards accountable for real progress on climate goals and the transition to clean energy.

Also in the brief: Solar dominates Maine’s largest renewables procurement on record.

Also in the brief: China claims world’s largest solar ‘rooftop’ at 200 MW. And Midwest energy companies pledge to build nation’s largest interstate electric vehicle charging network.

As the state looks to achieve its its 70% by 2030 renewable electricity goal, community solar is taking center stage, with the announcement of New York’s first community solar-plus-storage project and a municipal opt-out community solar pilot.