California’s largest floating solar, OpenSolar.com goes live, Ohio shuts wind+solar out of coal bailout, more!: pvMB 5/24/19
The sun is out, the stories are out! Sunworks is installing solar +storage for schools, pricing in the solar module supply chain is stable, EIA is offering up new data formats, more!
Oregon further limits use of prime farmland for solar development
The new rules by state land use authorities make it harder to put mid-to-large-scale solar on an estimated 6% of the state’s land, and raise the question of whether the state is engaging in land conservation or indulging NIMBYism.
BEST bill seeks $300 million for long-term energy storage projects
Starting with $60 million in 2020 and with contracts to be signed by the end of 2023, the “BEST Act” seeks five grid-tied energy storage projects with 6-100 hours of duration, which can run for twenty years.
The tricky tide of renewables in Maryland
Maryland’s 50% by 2030 renewable energy mandate is set to become law, as Governor Larry Hogan has stated that he will not veto the measure. However, rumblings are arising that the popular GOP everyman will have a clean energy mandate of his own coming in the next calendar year.
State regulators: The next lobbying front in the solar revolution
In this op-ed for pv magazine Tony Clifford explains the key role that state public service commissions have in shaping policy for solar, and why it is necessary for the solar industry to have an effective presence there.
The Solar Bill of Rights has been gutted
What was once a landmark bill to establish rights for owners of PV systems has made it to the floor of the California Senate in a dramatically reduced version.
The U.S. energy storage market will nearly double this year
The combination of solar plus storage is super-charging the deployment of batteries across the country, and IHS Markit says that the United States will become the largest market for grid-tied energy storage this year.
California prevents utility from paying EEI dues with ratepayer funds
The decision shows regulators pushing back against allowing utilities to force their ratepayers to fund lobbying including anti-solar efforts.
Peaker envy, veto proof net metering, and utility scale solar growth in New Hampshire
Legislation calling for 15% of peak demand to be met by energy storage is moving through the House; a veto-proof increase in system sizes under net metering goes to the governor; and 215 MWac of large-scale solar projects are seeking various approvals.
Wyoming’s first solar trade association, EV chargers encroaching on gas stations: pvMB 5/21/19
We’ve got a jam-packed MB for you this morning. Today we’ll be looking at the formation of the American Solar Grazing Association, a community solar bill in Maine, the winners of the 17th Solar Cup and much much more!
