In case you missed it: Six big solar stories in the news this week
pv magazine USA spotlights news of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.
Budgetary hurdles stall progress, equity on New York solar incentives
With New York’s budget in overtime, Gov. Hochul will soon decide whether to make the state’s solar tax credits more progressive.
Space-to-earth solar transmission startup Aetherflux raises $50 million
The California-based company plans to transmit energy from satellites to ground stations.
U.S. South and Midwest enjoy up to 30% more irradiance in March
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that solar irradiance surged far above the March norm in the U.S. South and Midwest, while parts of the US West and Canada were impacted by lower-than-average irradiance levels.
Idaho Power proposes to gut rooftop solar grid export payments
The utility proposed a 60% cut to net metering rates, extending cuts that took place last year, and dropping the rate to about 2 cents per kWh.
Clean electricity could surpass 50% of generation this April
Solar growth bolsters other clean energy sources after 90 GW of new solar capacity was deployed over the last two years. Big solar generation grew by more than 58% in January versus last year, with all types of photovoltaics delivering just over 5% of the nation’s electricity.
Fourteen rooftop community solar projects come online in Maryland
Solar Landscape completed 6.6 MW of community solar projects that are part of a 57 project development plan.
U.S. reshapes the non-China solar supply chain
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) revised antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVDs) on Vietnamese and Malaysian solar products in December 2024. The move has reshaped the non-Chinese supply chain, with further use of tariffs likely under the new administration, explains InfoLink’s Corrine Lin.
Sunrun, PG&E launch virtual power plant program to strengthen California’s grid
The partnership will support the development of new long-term programs to meet the California Energy Commission’s load-shifting goals.
Mississippi lifts suspension on solar incentives for schools, low-income homes
The Mississippi Public Service Commission unanimously voted to lift the stay after the state government did not receive any Solar for All funding from the federal government.
