House’s $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill packed with pro-solar, pro-storage provisions
In addition to making the stand-alone energy storage investment tax credit (ITC) eligible and extending a 30% solar ITC through 2025, the House bill creates a direct pay mechanism that can be used in lieu of the ITC.
Global demise of coal-fired generation driven by idle and unprofitable plants
China grapples with overcapacity by slowing coal plant construction while more U.S. plants have closed during the first three years of the Trump administration than in Obama’s two terms.
Morning Brief: SEIA pushes for solar inclusion in infrastructure bill, 5% of global pv projects are nearing inverter end of life
Also in the brief: a letter calling for electric grid infrastructure, transportation and equity and environmental justice has been delivered to key members of the House, Clir Renewables has secured a $1.25 million loan with Silicon Valley Bank, 580 businesses call on congress to include clean energy in a the next stimulus package and more.
Advocates seek solar on all new houses in ten states
“The most efficient time to install solar panels is when the builders are on the roof in the first place,” said Bronte Payne with Environment America.
New York regulators, NYSERDA, release white paper on how to better achieve 70% renewables by 2030
In pursuit of the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the two entities have outlined a plan to rewrite current procurement procedures, expand the role of offshore wind and establish a new tier of eligible generation resources.
Morning Brief: Renewable-energy spending will edge oil and gas for the first time ever in 2021
Also in the brief: Repowering older wind and solar plants is big business and getting bigger, Xcel accelerates $3 billion in spending, particularly on large renewable-energy projects, Highview gets more funding for long-duration energy storage.
Morning Brief: Navajo Transitional Energy proposes 200 MW of solar, Lyft joins EV 100
Also in the brief, SunPower provides a Maxeon update, Solar Support, DEPCOM Power and Power Factor partner on disaster recovery, KB home is the first builder to offer OneRoof and more.
Bringing solar to the heart of coal country
The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia, spurred on by Virginia’s pro-solar legislative spring, has released a request for qualifications, seeking a partner to co-develop commercial-scale solar projects in seven coal counties.
Solar opportunities ‘ignored’ across 100 million acres in the Southwest
The Bureau of Land Management “has ignored most possibilities” for utility-scale solar “on its vast land holdings across the solar-rich Southwest,” says a paper. Renewable energy development accounts for less than 1% of economic activity on BLM lands, while oil and gas account for 70%, according to BLM data.
Morning Brief: Sunrun launches residential energy storage virtual power plant, Panasonic expands its panel warranty
Also in the brief: Verizon is back at the bottom of Green America’s Clean Energy Wireless Scorecard, Solar United Neighbors and Vote Solar have submitted over 20,000 public comments against NERA, an early coal plant retirement and more.
