Sunrise brief: GOP bill aims to ban federal funds to buy solar equipment made in China
Also on the rise: Concentric Power builds a microgrid, research pegs smoke’s impact on 2020 solar output, SolRiver buys a Carolinas development portfolio, jobs growth could signal good times for solar installations, and Plug Power plans another green hydrogen plant.
Vote Solar begins work in Pennsylvania, pushes for greater renewable commitment
March is turning into one of the busiest months ever for solar in Pennsylvania, at least legislation-wise. The latest bill would lift the state’s renewable energy goal from 8% by 2026 to 18%, with a 5.5% solar carveout.
California adds more layers to its summer 2021 electric reliability effort
The regulatory orders were the latest in a series since last November and came in response to a mid-August 2020 heat wave that forced the CAISO to impose rotating power outages across California.
Sunrise brief: Innovative Portland program is poised to approve clean energy portfolio
Also on the rise: Jeep installs EV chargers at three trailheads with plans for more, worldwide wind grew at a record clip in 2020, a net metering bill fizzles, a pension fund eyes Spanish solar, and Enphase Energy enters South Africa’s solar market.
Senate bill would give clean energy companies direct access to tax credits
The bill aims to thaw frozen tax-equity markets and help the solar and clean energy sectors recover from the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sunrise brief: DOE sets a goal to cut solar costs by 60% in 10 years
The Energy Department set a goal of achieving 2 cents/kWh by 2030, and announced an initial $128 million in funding to support technology development.
Agilitas Energy starts work on its third SMART solar + storage project
The 10 MW installation makes the company one of the biggest community solar developers in Massachusetts.
Arkansas legislators consider bill to slash solar net metering value
House Bill 1787 would change the state’s net metering so that solar customers would lose roughly two-thirds of their current benefit.
Renewable energy growth is being slowed by current transmission planning, ACORE study says
The report warns that because of long lead times, the window “may be closing” on transmission upgrades needed to support a range of renewable energy goals.
Sunrise brief: LADWP can reach 100% renewable energy as early as 2035, NREL study says
Also on the rise: Watch a YouTube overview of the LA100 study, solar had a strong start to 2021, and energy storage could reach almost 60 GW by mid-century.
