Trump appoints uncontroversial energy lawyer to head FERC
Kevin McIntyre has a lot of experience with federal energy cases but has made few waves, and so far the solar industry is taking a wait-and-see approach.
Trump now says SOLAR will pay for the Mexican wall
First it was Mexico. Then it was the U.S. taxpayer (reimbursed by Mexico). Now President Trump says he’s going to cover the wall in solar panels – generating energy and paying for itself.
14 industry heavyweights beg Congress not to slash research (Letter attached)
President Donald J. Trump has proposed devastating cuts to the Department of Energy and its related research arms. Leaders from multiple industries – including names you’ll know – are begging Congress not to implement them.
Trump keeps digging coal, but wants solar on the wall with Mexico
President Trump suggested paying for the construction of his border wall with Mexico through the sale of power from solar installations.
OPIC under investigation for loans to Chilean solar projects
An internal U.S. government watchdog is looking at the loans which kick-started large-scale solar in Chile, after at least three of five solar projects have made moves to restructure these loans.
Trump budget guts solar research at NREL and Berkeley (14 essential documents embedded)
The president’s federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018 includes the expected cuts to renewable energy within the DOE’s walls, but the cuts to prominent national labs – including the elimination of energy-storage research funding at both – could have unforeseen long-term effects on the industry.
Trump budget calls for 70% reduction in renewable energy spending
A leaked copy of U.S. President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal calls for a 70% reduction at the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), after these programs survived proposed 2017 cuts.
Trump tax cuts could hit solar project finance
A proposed cut in the corporate tax rate to 15% could sharply reduce the flow of tax equity into solar projects.
Potential disaster: Jigar Shah on Suniva’s Section 201 petition
Yesterday Suniva filed for “relief” under a little-known legal provision that would allow the president to take action normally not permitted to protect a domestic industry from imports. pv magazine sought Jigar Shah’s perspective on this case and possible outcomes, and it frankly doesn’t look good.
BREAKING: Suniva petition could start new global solar trade war
Today Suniva filed for relief under a little-known act that could exempt the United States from global trade agreements and allow President Trump to take trade action against solar imports from multiple nations. Suniva is asking for a minimum import price of $0.78 per watt for modules and $0.40 for cells.
