Policy

The proposal, which came under fire from industry leaders, environmentalists, and working Californians, was called a rooftop solar-killing measure. Meanwhile, a new state board granted PG&E a provision to raise electric rates to recover its losses from the wildfires for which it was found liable.

Also on the rise: CommonBond to finance solar. Aurora Solar updates sales software. SolarApp+ found to cut project times by about 12 days. SunCommon offers zero up-front financing to VT Organic Valley farmers. PJM proposes to pause solar project review to get out from under backlog. Kansas Senator Mike Thompson supporting bills that may slow solar in his state.

Kansas state Sen. Mike Thompson (R) is supporting new bills that may slow the rate of renewable energy growth in the state.

With a backlog of over 1,200 energy projects, the nation’s largest electrical grid operator is proposing a review process that it claims will better prioritize construction-ready projects, and streamline and speed up interconnection as a whole.

“Relatively minor” changes are needed in distribution planning and operations before owners of distributed solar and distributed storage may earn money from participating in wholesale markets through an aggregator, says a report from the Energy Systems Integration Group.

Also on the rise: Solid-state battery start-up Sparks opened a pilot plant for its patented lithium battery technology based on zero cobalt cathodes. Hyperion will invest in a new facility in Ohio to manufacture its hydrogen fuel cell. Pennsylvania may have to sell RECs and use the cash to cap abandoned oil and gas wells. Sol Systems acquires 540MW Illinois solar portfolio. Greenskies moves agrivoltaics forward in Connecticut. FranklinWH chief sales officer shares views on distributed storage.

Legislation has been submitted in Pennsylvania that would force the State to sell the renewable energy certificates it purchased from solar projects to third parties, and use the cash to pay for the capping of abandoned oil and gas wells in the state.

Greater accountability is needed in the interconnection process as outdated and cumbersome policies put the brakes on clean energy development, hindering market growth and the rapid action needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Also on the rise: Nova Scotia utility proposes net-metering fee. Research into how rooftop PV systems may affect air and building temperature in urban environments vice versa. Vanadium redox flow battery in microgrid project. Important step for Indiana solar: Utility’s net metering calculation overturned in court. Maxeon to offer IBC solar panels in the US.