U.S. House unanimously passes forced labor bill for Xinjiang region
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act would ban all imports from the Chinese region, unless the U.S. government determines the products were not made with forced labor. The region supplies 50% of the world’s polysilicon, an essential material in solar PV.
Domestic manufacture of solar modules, trackers, inverters incentivized in Build Back Better
In a draft of the Build Back Better infrastructure plan released by the Senate Finance Committee, domestic manufacturing of solar PV and balance-of-system components would qualify for incentives.
Ossoff bill would address rooftop solar’s cost burden on LMI people
The Clean Energy for All Homes Act would reduce the cost burden of installing PV and energy efficiency devices by allowing more taxpayers to receive a refund on qualified purchases.
New Columbia Solar raises $75 million, looks to develop 50 projects in D.C.
The company closed a tax equity deal with Franklin Park Infrastructure that will help it add solar capacity in a challenging urban environment.
Morning Brief: Solar roadway in Georgia, Oakland bans natural gas in new buildings, DC gets solar to the people
Also in the brief: Ohio bill would ban new large solar and wind projects for up to three years
DC citizen wins increase in rooftop solar limit to 200% of past usage
States like California whose laws say residential rooftop solar must be “intended primarily” for self-consumption could join Washington, D.C. in increasing their limit, says D.C. resident David Roodman. Generation in excess of consumption will be compensated at the wholesale rate in Washington.
Neighborhood solar equity: community solar project splits benefits three ways
A 497-kW project on five roofs at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. uses SREC sales to provide $1.50 in community benefits for every dollar of power generated. Call it community solar-plus.
DC’s Solar For All forges new pathways for solar in low-income communities
The nation’s capital has created a program that combines ambitious targets for clean energy, social equity and innovation.
New Columbia Solar closes the biggest-ever tax equity deal for D.C.-based solar
$40 million is coming down the pipeline via an agreement between New Columbia Solar and Franklin Park Infrastructure. The money will not only help New Columbia to expand its team, but also bring 30 MW of distributed solar to the area with the nation’s most aggressive renewable energy standard.
US solar industry cut 65,000 workers due to Covid-19, erasing five years of solar job growth
New York, New Jersey, Pennsyvania, and Washington are among the states hit the hardest. SEIA’s analysis shows that vast majority of renewable energy job losses come from the solar energy industry.
