Mississippi

A new report from ACORE, the American Clean Power Association, and SEIA explores the benefits of instituting real-time, wholesale energy markets across the 12 Southeast states as a way to accelerate renewable resource adoption.

The fourth edition of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy’s Solar in the Southeast report shows that Florida has passed North Carolina in total installed capacity, while South Carolina has passed its northern neighbor in the context of a solar watts per customer ratio.

The group called on regulators to reject the plan and asked why solar — at a near-term cost of $20 per MWh — was not selected over an existing fossil generator at $51.70 per MWh.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy identified two pathways that the Southeast’s big utilities could follow to achieve 100% renewable generation against the backdrop of a possible federal mandate.

The 200 MW solar project will be one of the largest in the state but will help Knoxville, Tennessee, reach its renewable goals.

Consumers Energy cuts solar export fees in Michigan, while net metering takes a hit in Vermont. And TVA wants feedback on an environmental report for a planned 50 MW solar and 200 MWh storage project in Mississippi.

The projects will each be among the largest installations in their respective states and advance Cubico’s expansion into the American solar market.

A lower-cost grid would reach 22% renewable generation in 2040, compared to the 5% currently planned by Southeastern utilities, says a study from Energy Innovation and Vibrant Clean Energy. Wholesale power trading through an independent system operator would also help reduce costs.

In their first interview with the press, Ojjo CEO Helena Kimball and CTO Jack West talk about the “scaling moment” for utility-scale solar and the drive to innovate.

Also in the brief: Peabody to write down value of largest U.S. coal mine by $1.42 billion, First Solar joins RE100