First Solar sells 10 GW solar pipeline for $261 million
The deal includes the Rabbitbrush, Madison, Oak Trail, Horizon, and Ridgely projects, which are expected to start construction in the next two years, and the 30 MW Barilla Solar project, which is operational.
Puerto Rico awaits first procurements to add 3.75 GW solar, 1.5 GW storage
Puerto Rico regulators ordered the utility PREPA to procure solar and storage, although the utility’s board chairman says the island’s grid can support only a fraction of the mandated amount.
5 takeaways from a new NREL report on electrification’s future
The report looks at the potential impacts of widespread electrification on the U.S. electricity system—specifically, generation and transmission infrastructure investments, fuel use, system costs, and emissions.
Renewables to dominate new U.S. capacity in 2021, with solar leading the way
The U.S. Energy Information Administration also expects utility-scale battery storage capacity to more than quadruple.
California’s solar power record setting season is here
California’s grid operator reported breaking 11 GW of instantaneous power from large-scale solar power on Saturday at 1:50 PM. Twenty minutes beforehand, the CAISO grid was exporting a record 1.5 GW of electricity, and last Wednesday it hit 93% clean electricity for a moment.
Four Members of Congress back movement calling for 100% renewables by 2030, Green New Deal
The 100% renewable energy movement is gaining steam, even in the U.S. Congress.
Puerto Rico utility favors LNG over solar in Siemens plan
The Puerto Rico utility’s favored generation plan, in a report prepared by Siemens, involves an LNG terminal at San Juan and would achieve only 55% renewables by 2038. A scenario without LNG would reach 79% renewables by 2038 at comparable cost, based on undisclosed cost assumptions.
Wind + solar make up more than 20% of generation in 10 states – more on the way
A recent analysis from the U.S. Department of Energy shows the Midwest and Plains States in the lead, but the coasts are on a track to catch up thanks to mandates.
Joint U.S. House-Senate committee quietly maintains funding for renewable energy, ARPA-E in FY2019
After an attempt to cut EERE and ARPA-E funding by the House, the conference committee has retained funding for both programs at roughly 2018 levels.
Massachusetts committee produces weaker energy bill
The bill will increase Massachusetts’ RPS to 40% by 2030 and increase energy storage procurement, but does not lift caps on net metering. The Sierra Club called the bill “half measures and timidity.”
