Utility-scale solar roundup: PV-powered steel from Lightsource, Savion in Ohio and Michigan
Dean Solon, CEO of Shoals: “A lot of people thought that the 100 MW fields were all dead, but those suckers are coming back with a vengeance.”
Utility-scale solar powers through 2020 with action in Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Indiana
Here’s this week’s gigawatt of big solar project news.
Morning Brief: Energy secretary slams ‘radical environmentalists,’ touts gas and nuclear as California’s energy future
Also in the brief: $1 million fine at stake as Minnesota solar developers fault Xcel for project delays, more on interconnection.
State solar news: Net metering attacked in Vermont and Utah, Maine goes big in PV
In Vermont and Utah, net metering is under attack — in danger of being significantly devalued or eliminated. In Arizona, the state’s rooftop solar export rates have been saved for at least another year. Outside of policy, Maine has announced the winners of the state’s largest-ever renewable solicitation.
Morning Brief: Palladium Energy forms JV to develop 500MW of big solar projects, California orders phase out of gas vehicles
Also in the brief: Solar dominates Maine’s largest renewables procurement on record.
First Solar changes course: now selling its thin-film solar panels into the distributed generation market
The utility-scale solar pioneer and specialist is going small. After decades of avoiding distributed generation, its distributors will now offer First Solar’s series 6 modules to “projects and customers of all shapes and sizes.”
New reports detail cause of APS battery explosion that left 8 injured
Two reports released this week outline the series of failures that led to the McMicken battery thermal runaway and explosion and what needs to be done to prevent similar disasters in the future.
Morning Brief: Sol Systems to build 500 MW for Microsoft, Arizona regulators look to go 100% renewable
Also in the brief: Duke Energy Renewables has officially completed the 200 MW Rambler Solar project, Nikola Corporation has broken ground on its soon-to-be 1 million-square-foot manufacturing facility, Nelnet Renewable Energy will be managing services for 20 MW of community solar in New York.
Solar-plus-storage has a 99.8% capacity value in California
“The energy from solar can consistently charge a 4-hour storage device having the same installed capacity” prior to the hours of peak demand, says a new study. In Arizona and New Mexico the capacity value is 99%.
Discriminatory rooftop solar charges may violate antitrust law
The U.S. Department of Justice has argued that in Arizona, a utility’s discriminatory charges for rooftop solar owners can be “unlawful.” The Center for Biological Diversity also supported the four rooftop solar owners whose lawsuit has progressed, arguing the legal significance of Arizona’s renewables goals.
