Bifacial exemptions are back (briefly)
Invenergy has been awarded a temporary restraining order on the basis that the removal of the bifacial exemption was done without allowance for notice or comment prior to pulling the exclusion. With the decision going before the courts and the Section 201 mid-term review underway, tensions are at an all-time high.
California sees solar+storage domination by 2030 with 11 GW / 44 GWh of batteries
The state’s 2019 IRP sees just over 11 GW solar power, and at least 11 GW – with up to 19 GW – of energy storage necessary to meet resource adequacy as part of the state’s legally required 60% renewable portfolio standard by 2030 as prices have fallen 50% since 2017.
Two programs launched to get veterans working in solar
The Solar Foundation has partnered with other high-profile groups to create two workforce development programs for transitioning military service members and veterans. The initiatives show an increased commitment by an industry which already hires more veterans than the national average.
WalMart and Tesla settle, $462 billion for EVs: pvMB 11/7/19
Hello happy people and welcome to the pvMB. Today we’ve got on the menu a big PPA between Georgia Power and RWE, the First University Energy Institute Summit, Long Isalnd residents up in arms over the devaluation of community solar and more!
Saving water with solar and wind
Scientists at Princeton have found solar and wind energy offer the added environmental benefit of reducing water usage, by comparison with hydroelectric dams. Their findings, say the researchers, could have a positive impact on groundwater sustainability in drought-prone regions such as California, where they conducted a case study.
Big gas to blow, powerline tax credit, Trump dumps Paris, and more: pvMB 11/6/19
This is your midweek pv magazine USA morning brief. A report in Colorado shows how adding electric vehicles and building electrification can clean the state, SEIA highlights an additional 70 groups supporting the ITC extension, and more!
Montana utility wants gas units; Sierra Club suspects biased modeling
In developing its resource plan, NorthWestern Energy apparently used modeling assumptions that favor gas-fired generation, says the Sierra Club. The group has filed a legal motion requesting access to the modeling inputs, and to the model itself.
PG&E, but run by the people
California Governor Gavin Newsom, in expressing his dissatisfaction with PG&E, has proposed that it is not out of the question that the state could intervene in the restructuring of the utility. But what would this kind of government intervention look like and what would it mean for solar?
Sacramento utility proposes eschewing rooftop mandate with community solar
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District has created a proposal which would allow homeowners to opt-into community solar programs in lieu of installing systems on their roofs.
Utility barriers to rooftop solar in Georgia
In this op-ed for pv magazine, Cesar Prieto and Seth Gunning of Creative Solar USA explore the barriers to rooftop solar put up by utilities in Georgia, a state with top-15 solar capacity, but a lagging residential market.
