Local opposition threatens clean energy transition
Unprecedented local opposition and anti-solar local ordinances, along with softened federal support from the Trump administration, is driving a need for a new generation of state solar rights statutes, researchers conclude in a forthcoming paper from Arizona State University’s College of Law.
Corning to expand solar wafer manufacturing in Michigan
With an investment of $1.5 billion, Corning reported it will add 400 jobs and contribute domestically produced wafers to the U.S. solar supply chain.
RFP Alert: Michigan Solar for All seeks low-income residential and community solar
Michigan is distributing nearly $9 million in grants for pilot projects for rooftop solar and residential-serving community solar projects 5 MW or under.
Michigan House eyes repeal of state authority over clean energy siting
Five months after Michigan began allowing developers to directly petition the state for constructing large renewable projects, a heavily supported bill in the House of Representatives aims to give local governments back their control in preventing clean energy projects.
History breaks ground with Ford, DTE Energy project underway
Ford’s 650 MW power purchase agreement remains the largest renewable energy purchase from a utility in the country to date.
Experimental EV battery charges in 10 minutes in sub-zero temperatures
U.S. scientists have developed a lithium-ion battery for electric vehicles that enables high range and fast charging in cold weather. The battery uses a single-ion conducting glassy solid electrolyte coating and does not require changes to chemistries or production processes.
RFP: Michigan utility DTE Energy seeks 450 MW of standalone energy storage
DTE Energy issued a request for proposals for MISO-interconnected grid-scale storage projects.
Anti-solar backlash in Michigan stymies solar expansion
Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources offered a 420-acre parcel of “less than pristine” land to a solar developer to expand a nearby project. This sparked backlash from local politicians, who called the land management department “rotten to its core,” and prompted the developer to back away from the expansion.
Hemlock Semiconductor receives $325 million U.S. government funding for polysilicon production
The Michigan-based manufacturer supplies solar-grade polysilicon used in the manufacturing of mono-crystalline ingots and wafers used in solar cells.
U.S. sees a 22% drop in land available for solar sites
Available land in the U.S. for renewable energy sites is continuing to shrink, found a new report by Paces, a renewable-energy project-planning software developer.
