All Eyes On Omnibus. Senator Shelby gives you today’s update on what is going on in Congress. Like every year, legislators are juggling several issues with the addition of COVID this year. In 2020, the Government runs out of money on December 11th if Congress doesn’t agree on a spending bill or a continuing resolution. Senator Shelby says that staff is working on the actual spending bill but acknowledges that the White House isn’t involved in that. The omnibus would be the likely bill to carry tax extenders including possible the ITC. I am expecting Congress to punt on the spending bill, here’s why. On December 11th, California certifies its vote and will officially put Biden over 270 electoral votes and December 14th the electoral college will vote in DC to certify the election. Twitter may go crazy during that 3 day period and I don’t see Trump signing anything, including a trillion dollar budget at this point.
Getting Back To Even. Before Biden can start on the plan to decarbonize electricity generation his administration will have to undo 100s of environmental deregulations before being able to save more carbon going forward. On the positive, it seems that people have been keeping track on what that Trump team has done and prepared the counterpunch.
ZETA 94.9. This was the classic rock station when I was growing up and today ZETA is the Zero Emission Transportation Association (zeta2030.org). 28 big companies are the founding members including the EV manufacturers as well as utilities like SCE, ConEdison, PG&E and Southern. Missing is NextEra, Ford, General Motors and any of the oil majors. If anyone knows their membership dues structure, let me know.
The Office Of Clean Energy. Ernest Moniz is being floated as the Secretary of Energy, returning to the post from the Obama era. Progressives are not enthused by this name and I think they could be missing the bigger picture. DOE manages America’s nuclear arsenal, waste, power generation and cleanups so having a nuclear scientist in charge makes sense. On the other hand, I think it buries the lead that Biden is going to create a new department, office or administration in charge of climate change and an obvious spot for Governor Inslee while also being important enough of a position for the recently re-elected Governor.
Policy Priorities. A week after you heard it on SolarWakeup, SEIA’s policy priorities hit the mainstream media outlets. Tax credits and trade will rule the day in the public forum because they require legislative and voter support. Interconnection will be a quiet fight in the administration and FERC but not without big impact.
Spotlight On Community Clinic. This 412 kW-DC solar carport installation at Vista Community Clinic (VCC) will provide long term renewable energy for the sustainability-driven healthcare facility. M Bar C Construction, CollectiveSun, and VCC leadership joined together in bringing this system from funding to design to installation. Solar energy produced from the installation will free up facility resources allowing VCC to continue to serve their patients and the surrounding community while setting a powerful example of their commitment to renewable energy.
- Politico: Appropriators aim for agreement on government funding totals by week’s end
- Grist: Trump gutted environmental protections. How quickly can Biden restore them?
- Axios: Corporate heavyweights ramp up electric vehicle lobbying push
- Los Angeles Times: The ‘war on coal’ is over. The next climate battle has just begun
- Reuters: U.S. solar group pushing Biden to end tariffs, extend subsidies
- Utility Dive: California begins to shape vehicle-grid integration strategy, considers using EVs during power shut-offs
- Solar Power World: New Jersey bill to establish Office of Clean Energy Equity passes state Senate
- Greentech Media: In a Year of Turmoil, Residential Solar Assets Are a Safe-Haven Investment
Opinion
Best, Yann