Policy

Assembly Bill 2316 would create a community solar program that leverages distributed solar and storage aggregation and extend benefits to Californians who have not yet been able to directly take advantage of the clean energy transition.

PV ICE uses the latest data from the solar industry to model the flow of PV materials over the next several decades, helping to predict the effects of different market trends, technological developments, and government policies.

Also on the rise: Governor Whitmer announces Michigan Healthy Climate Plan. Polar Racking provides foundations and racking for solar plus storage project on Prince Edward Island. Catalyze collaborates with Stream Realty Partners to deploy 450 MW of renewable energy. Ontario amends net metering policy to allow third-party ownership.

Prior to these amendments, Ontario’s net metering regulation required the customer to own or operate the renewable generation system to qualify as an eligible generator.

Reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 requires immediate action, starting with six steps to take by 2030 that include more clean energy and an emphasis on clean transportation and charging infrastructure.

Also on the rise: Rooftop solar at LaGuardia Airport advances Port Authority’s net zero commitment. Salient Energy develops Zinc-ion battery for residential applications. Solar plus storage microgrid spares remote Alaskan community on diesel expenses, boosts resilience. Department of Energy looks to integrate Vehicle-to-Everything bi-directional charging into US infrastructure. Dynamic Energy solar project to power manufacturing facility in Central Maine. Texas solar is booming, but batteries are not included.

The decision has been lauded as one that could lead to much-needed upgrades to the nation’s electrical grids, updates that would enable higher penetrations of renewable resources.

Also on the rise: Broad Reach Power procures 900 MWh of battery systems from CATL for solar portfolio in Texas. Job moves at Maxeon Solar Technologies, PowerMarket, Ulteig and more. Sunrun says better policy is needed to add “vast” amounts of distributed solar and storage. Ohio regulators to review two massive renewable energy project proposals. California utility SDG&E sees utility scale solar growing greater than 10X by 2045. New JM Steel manufacturing plant will have a Nextracker tracker production line.

In a survey of solar project developers, the American Clean Power Association found that 47% of the 81 GW needed to be deployed in 2022-2023 to achieve national clean energy and climate goals is impacted by the Department of Commerce’s actions.

“Given our climate crisis, state utility commissions must act with urgency and prioritize innovation in the way utilities are regulated,” says the Sunrun policy team in a paper. Noting great progress by Hawaii and Vermont, they also call for state regulators to “rethink” how utilities make money.