Minnesota expands community solar program to allow more LMI customers, projects to 5 MW
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed HF 2310 into law, which opens up the state’s community solar program to more residential subscribers, specifically low-to-moderate income (LMI) households, and expands the project sites from 1 MW to 5 MW community gardens.
U.S. Government eyes $9 billion liftoff for long duration energy storage by 2030
The U.S. DOE has published a report outlining the requirements for LDES to achieve technical and financial self-sustainability by the end of decade. An estimated $6 billion to $9 billion dollars in capital investment would be necessary, potentially leading to 6 GW to 10 GW of project deployments.
Solar energy in New York state covered record 20% of state power demand
During the noon hour on May 18, 2023, NYISO reported that consumer and utility-side solar resources generated 3.33 GW of clean energy output, while the behind-the-meter portion of 3.2 GW and utility-operated 130 MW accounted for 20% of the state’s electricity demand.
Toyota to procure 100 MW of solar from reclaimed Kentucky coal mine site
Toyota Motor North America signed a VPPA this week with Savion for the offtake of a 100 MW brownfield solar project located on a reclaimed coal mine in Martin County, Kentucky. When completed, Toyota will have in excess of 150 MW of U.S. solar generation facilities.
Sunrise brief: PVEL names Top Performers in ninth edition of PV Module Reliability Scorecard
Also on the rise: Indoor cannabis growing facility runs on solar. New Jersey gears up to release agrivoltaic blueprint. And more.
New Jersey’s agrivoltaic program moving forward, fighting interconnection
With a 200 MW solar pilot program and three Rutgers-based R&D initiatives, New Jersey is gearing up to unveil an agrivoltaic blueprint for public deliberation this summer.
PVEL releases ninth edition of PV Module Reliability Scorecard
2023 Scorecard names 250 types of solar modules from 35 manufacturers as Top Performers.
CAISO transmission plan to support 17 GW of solar within a decade
The California grid operator said that interconnection requests for projects in the zones specified in its transmission plan would receive priority in its interconnection study process.
Sunrise brief: Polar Racking adds two U.S. solar mount manufacturing facilities
Also on the rise: Automated solar permitting speeds approval process. PJM’s pace of interconnection will not meet demand through 2028, says NRDC. And more.
Automated solar permitting speeds approval process
In 2022, the recently launched SolarAPP+ processed more than 11,000 residential solar power permits, accelerating projects by 13 business days compared to traditionally permitted projects. This boost coincided with a 29% reduction in inspection failures.
