New York Governor unveils strategy to achieve a minimum of 10 GW of distributed solar by 2030
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan that is expected to generate enough clean electricity per year to power nearly 700,000 additional New York homes, including those in disadvantaged communities.
California first state to require solar power and batteries in commercial structures
The state has updated its Build Energy Efficiency Standards to include requirements for solar plus storage on all commercial and multifamily homes, while also requiring that all new residential construction – which already requires solar – to be energy storage ready.
U.S. House unanimously passes forced labor bill for Xinjiang region
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act would ban all imports from the Chinese region, unless the U.S. government determines the products were not made with forced labor. The region supplies 50% of the world’s polysilicon, an essential material in solar PV.
USDA grant program provides funds for rural agricultural solar projects
Two potato farmers in Maine are set to receive grant funding as part of more than $24 million designated for decarbonized energy infrastructure projects in rural communities in the state. The program is available in eligible rural communities countrywide.
Domestic manufacture of solar modules, trackers, inverters incentivized in Build Back Better
In a draft of the Build Back Better infrastructure plan released by the Senate Finance Committee, domestic manufacturing of solar PV and balance-of-system components would qualify for incentives.
How to balance Oahu’s renewable energy and agricultural needs
The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Dr. Matthias Fripp has released a white paper outlining what different land use scenarios would mean for the island in terms of land availability, total electric generation costs, and the overall design of the electric system on Oahu.
U.S. Trade Commission recommends extension of Section 201 solar tariffs
SEIA responds that a new round of tariffs will hamper U.S. solar development and forestall this administration’s vision of becoming a world leader in clean energy.
Record solar numbers expected this year but IEA highlights pricing concern
The Paris-based body expects the world will have installed almost 160 GW of solar this year, a record number, but still not enough to keep the prospect of a net zero global economy by mid century in sight.
Duke Energy and clean energy advocates come to terms on new net metering rates in North Carolina
The new rates, which include minimum monthly bills, non-bypassable charges, and grid access fees for larger systems, will now go before state regulators for approval.
Sunrise brief: ACORE report finds room for improvement in how renewables are valued
Also on the rise: NextEra Energy sells a 50% stake in a renewables portfolio for almost $850 million, and a discovery may lead to a big jump in perovskite solar cell efficiency.
