With the Inflation Reduction Act in place, SEMA eyes next steps to advance US solar manufacturing

SEMA formed to lobby for domestic content standards in the solar industry, but the IRA happened sooner than anyone thought possible, expanding the manufacturing coalition’s ambition and vision for the future.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 22, 2023

PJM to offer time-matched renewable energy certificates as demand for 24/7 coverage grows

Corporations looking to achieve 24/7 carbon-free energy will have more options next month when PJM begins offering time-matched certificates.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 21, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

New power system cybersecurity architectures can be ‘vaults’ against insider attacks, analysts say

Utility operations facing hackers now, and a future of minimally-protected distributed energy resources, will need smarter, more complex defenses, from control rooms to customer-owned devices, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2023

New York solar equipment maker Linton Crystal Technologies plans to reshore production

Linton’s plan follows multiple announcements by solar manufacturers, including First Solar and Q Cells, who have committed billions of dollars to establish or expand operations in the U.S.

By Megan Ruggles • Feb. 17, 2023

Renewables industry should engage community colleges to address labor shortage: development official

Renewable energy developers must meet registered apprenticeship requirements to qualify for certain Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, but they struggle to find workers, a labor and employment attorney said.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 16, 2023

EPA outlines $27B in clean energy grants as Biden administration remains open to national green bank

The funds will be available through a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act, with distribution focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2023

Canadian company cleared to build $6B green hydrogen facility with 2 GW wind farm

The project is the first of its kind in Canada, and similar projects are on their way in the U.S., according to an attorney familiar with upcoming hydrogen projects.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 14, 2023

Dominion stops pursuing ITCs for contracted solar, joining Duke in Q4 renewables impairment charge

Dominion CFO Steven Ridge said the company has decided to invest capital elsewhere after using the projects to develop solar expertise that it can use on the regulated side of its business.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 10, 2023

Renewables would provide cheaper energy than 99% of US coal plants and catalyze a just energy transition

Investment in lower-cost wind and solar resources is an economic opportunity worth up to $589 billion, providing jobs and tax base to coal communities.

By Michelle Solomon and Mike O’Boyle • Feb. 9, 2023

Watershed, Ever.green launch first fixed-price virtual PPA in US with planned 10-MW Texas solar farm

The firms will use a “unique financial structure” to assume frisk on their side, allowing smaller companies to participate in the VPPA.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 9, 2023

US microgrid market to grow 19% annually through 2027, Wood Mackenzie projects

Microgrids continue to add capacity as green initiatives spur development, but high costs associated with renewable technology remain a challenge, a Wood Mackenzie analyst said.

By Henrik Nilsson • Feb. 8, 2023

How utilities can prepare for Inflation Reduction Act impacts via bipartisan infrastructure law planning

There is potential for utilities to substantially boost their clean energy efforts, upgrade infrastructure, and improve customer satisfaction, but they must start by developing an integrated plan of action.

By Michael Jung • Feb. 8, 2023

Minnesota bill mandating 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 heads to governor’s desk

The bill also calls for utilities to generate at least 55% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2035.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 7, 2023

Solar will provide 54% of new US generating capacity in 2023, with 29.1 GW added, EIA forecasts

Solar projects that were delayed in 2022 are expected to come online this year, giving the industry a record-breaking capacity boost.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 7, 2023

Texas wind energy freeze-out shows need for better resource adequacy, says NRG VP

Renewable energy underperformed in Texas during the Feb. 1 winter storm but outperformed fossil fuels during December's winter storm Elliott, said NRG Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Travis Kavulla.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 6, 2023

New England policymakers have the tech and funds for energy security. They just need to act.

Distributed renewable energy — especially when paired with energy storage — can provide near-term relief to high power prices while improving reliability.

By Mike Judge • Feb. 3, 2023

Solar industry group expects some IRS guidance by Feb. 13 on renewable energy tax credits, with more later

The Solar Energy Industries Association has been daily urging the Biden administration to issue guidance on the tax credit provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, Director of Regulatory Affairs Ben Norris said.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 2, 2023

Gov. Hochul proposes allowing New York Power Authority to build, operate renewable energy projects

NYPA could capitalize on billions of dollars in the federal Inflation Reduction Act and help New York meet its renewable energy targets if the legislature acts on Hochul’s proposal, the governor said.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 2, 2023

ChargePoint, Stem strike EV charging and battery storage deal for highway corridor fast-charging networks

Combining charging, battery storage and AI-driven energy management will save money for EV site operators, the companies say.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 1, 2023

First Solar brings US manufacturing investment to $4B after selling out of panels through 2025

The company wants to bring its annual domestic manufacturing capacity to 10.6 GW by 2025.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 1, 2023

‘No regrets’ approach to big batteries, green hydrogen and grid reliability urgently needed, analysts say

Advanced batteries and green hydrogen promise long-duration energy storage solutions for “net zero” system reliability, but only regulatory policy and market support can fulfill that promise, industry stakeholders say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 31, 2023

Wind-based PPA prices drop for first time since early 2021 while solar prices continue to climb

The IRA has prompted developers to put more wind projects on the market, but solar remains mired in supply chain and interconnection delays, said renewable energy marketplace LevelTen Energy.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 31, 2023

NextEra charts path for renewables expansion, but campaign finance allegations loom in the background

Florida Power & Light CEO Eric Silagy announced plans to retire, triggering questions during NextEra’s Q4 earnings call about allegations that FPL violated state and federal campaign finance laws.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 30, 2023

Eversource, Equinor, RWE, others bid on New York’s 2-GW offshore wind solicitation

The state's third offshore wind solicitation will be paired with a $500 million investment in the offshore wind supply chain.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 30, 2023

An open letter to the Department of Energy: Enough with the technical assistance

Well-meaning as they may be, EPA and DOE, which are tasked with distributing the funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law, can be painfully oblivious to the needs of recipients.

By Alicia Brown • Jan. 30, 2023