Policy

Rhode Island governor signs bill to create new incentives for energy storage

Kelsey Misbrener — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 19:29:23 +0000

On June 26, Governor Daniel McKee signed the 2024 Energy Storage Systems Act into law, a landmark moment in Rhode Island’s journey to a 100% clean energy future. Led by State Senator Dawn Euer and State Representative Arthur Handy, the Act puts Rhode Island’s energy system in a strengthened position. “Energy storage is flexible, reliable,…

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NYSEIA asks Gov. Hochul to double distributed solar goal

Kelsey Misbrener — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:47:24 +0000

The New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) released “20 Gigawatts by 2035: Raising New York’s Distributed Solar Goal (The Roadmap),” a detailed policy report that calls on New York state lawmakers, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, to raise the state’s distributed solar goal to 20 GW by 2035. Under New York’s current climate and energy…

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Final IRS prevailing wage rules encourage project labor agreements

Kelsey Misbrener — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:42:59 +0000

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released final rules today on prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship (PWA) requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act. As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the final rules will help build a strong pipeline of highly skilled workers to support the growth…

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NYSERDA offering $5 million for agrivoltaic demo projects

Kelsey Misbrener — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:08:16 +0000

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority today announced $5 million is now available for demonstration projects that co-locate solar siting and agricultural operations in New York State. Through the Environmental Research Program, this funding will support researchers, solar developers, farmers, non-profit organizations and local governments interested in demonstrating the use of the…

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DOE to study public attitudes toward siting large-scale solar projects

Kelsey Misbrener — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 19:25:37 +0000

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today invested $9.5 million in four new projects supporting social science research that examines the ways that siting practices can influence public attitudes toward and permitting of large-scale solar facilities. The research will generate actionable insights that improve outcomes for host communities — particularly those that are underserved —…

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The Solar Policy Scoop: June 2024 A guide to recent legislation and research throughout the country.

Kelsey Misbrener — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 12:00:52 +0000

Bifacial solar panels lose tariff exemption after Biden reverses course Washington, D.C. The Biden Administration placed imported bifacial solar panels back under Sec. 201 tariffs after the specialty solar panels enjoyed a two-year exemption from extra duties first initiated by President Joe Biden in 2022. The exemption caused more bifacial modules to be imported into the United…

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A guide to recent legislation and research throughout the country. appeared first on Solar Power World.

Vermont slightly lowers net-metering rate during biennial update

Kelsey Misbrener — Fri, 31 May 2024 15:43:34 +0000

The Vermont Public Utility Commission has issued its required update of the state’s net-metering program. As a result of the adjustments, future net-metering systems that apply for permits on or after August 1, 2024, will see a small net decrease in compensation — less than three-fourths of a cent — compared to what existing systems…

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CPUC approves utility-backed community solar decision

Kelsey Misbrener — Thu, 30 May 2024 19:57:55 +0000

The California Public Utilities Commission voted to approve a revised proposed decision on the state’s community solar program on May 30 that solar advocates warned would not correct course for a failing sector. The approved decision was supported by the state’s major investor-owned utilities. The CPUC rejected a different proposal by a coalition including the…

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Treasury is asking for comments on updated ITC and PTC rules

Kelly Pickerel — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:40:06 +0000

The Dept. of the Treasury and IRS will soon release proposed guidance on the updated production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC). The Inflation Reduction Act sunsets the existing PTC (Sec. 45 of the tax code) and ITC (Sec. 48) by limiting their availability to projects beginning construction before 2025. They will instead…

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Solar industry admonishes CPUC’s revised proposal on community solar

Kelsey Misbrener — Wed, 29 May 2024 12:58:26 +0000

The California Public Utilities Commission released a revised proposed decision on the state’s community solar program on May 28 after tabling a vote on the previous proposal multiple times. The CPUC is set to vote on the new PD this Thursday, May 30. A diverse group of organizations, including the Coalition for Community Solar Access,…

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Colorado bill to optimize electrical grid for clean energy signed into law

Kelsey Misbrener — Wed, 22 May 2024 17:37:13 +0000

Today, Governor Polis will sign into law SB24-218 — The Modernize Energy Distribution Systems Act (Powering Up Colorado), marking a significant milestone in the state’s transition to clean energy. This comprehensive legislation introduces a suite of policy changes aimed at modernizing our local electric grid, ensuring proactive investments and fostering the adoption of clean energy…

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S12 releases model policy for automated rooftop solar permitting software

Kelsey Misbrener — Wed, 22 May 2024 16:27:58 +0000

Today, the Solar and Storage Industries Institute (SI2) released model policy that encourages the adoption of automated rooftop solar permitting software. This release comes as the U.S. hits 5 million solar installations, over 97% of which are on residential rooftops, and looks poised to double that total in the next six years. The model…

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DOE opens 48C manufacturing tax credit portal for Round 2

Kelsey Misbrener — Wed, 22 May 2024 13:27:19 +0000

The Dept. of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service and Dept. of Energy (DOE) announced today that the DOE Qualified Advanced Energy Project Credit Program Applicant Portal (48C Portal) is now open for any interested applicants to register for a new round of allocations. Interested manufacturers must submit their concept papers by Friday, June 21, at 5…

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Colorado governor signs bill to help localities site utility-scale solar projects

Kelsey Misbrener — Tue, 21 May 2024 18:58:25 +0000

The Colorado Renewable Energy Siting Coalition today celebrated the signing of Senate Bill 24-212 (Local Govs Renewable Energy Projects) by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. This bill provides resources to local governments to assess, site and permit utility-scale renewable energy projects, while considering community values, including impacts to lands and wildlife. Colorado has long been a…

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Minnesota advances legislation to improve large-scale solar + storage permitting

Kelsey Misbrener — Tue, 21 May 2024 11:51:11 +0000

An essential package of permitting reform provisions that just passed the Minnesota Legislature — now on its way to be signed into law by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — is the culmination of a nine-month effort by clean energy businesses, utilities, state agencies, regulatory staff and environmental nonprofits to improve the state’s energy permitting process.…

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