By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Here we are again, discussing the future of coal – this time as it relates to CO2 emissions and the fact that emissions have fallen in the United States. And as usual, President Trump finds himself in the middle trying to take credit. So here is what’s really happening. Despite having pulled out of the Paris Climate Accord, a report from the Environmental Protection Agency (as reported by Reuters) suggests that CO2 levels have fallen in the United States by 2.7% in 2017, even more than the 2% it fell in 2016. [wds id=”3″] Interim … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Just when you think Michigan is finally getting its solar act together, utilities like DTE Energy hatch plans to destroy rooftop solar in the state, at least according to the advocates that talked to our friends at Inside Climate News. Becky Standfield, the Midwest director for Vote Solar, isn’t one for hyperbole. She’s one of the most level-headed solar activists I’ve known. So to see her say this to ICC was both startling and arresting: “It is very clear that DTE is trying to put a dagger in the heart of rooftop solar in Michigan.” … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent In case you’ve been living under a rock, there are elections coming up in a little less than a month. In nine states, there are contested races for governor. If you’ve been wondering how your candidate stacks up on clean energy issues, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) launched online scorecards to help you out this election season. AEE will update candidates’ policy stands based on public statements and policy platforms adopted by Republican and Democratic nominees leading up to Election Day on Nov. 6. The project will be supported by targeted digital advertising … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent It’s been an article of faith among President Donald Trump supporters that he was going to – come hell or high water – “save” the coal industry. As part of that plan, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and his merry team have been working for months on a bailout plan that would use taxpayer money to support failing coal and nuclear plants. The solar industry has been living with this sword of Damocles this entire time, just waiting for the inevitable announcement of a policy that seemed set in stone. Well hold up – that … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent As the tax incentives begin to wind down, it’s even more important than ever to be able to identify investors who can afford to take on sufficient tax equity to consummate solar projects. To do the due diligence to figure out who is currently interested in using equity to fund the project, however, can often increase costs and render deals undoable. Which is why having a company like kWh Analytics, a solar risk manager, do some portion of the work for you is such a boon. This morning, the company released its Solar Lendscape for … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Even the most experienced tax advisers may not know how to navigate the complex matter of solar tax incentives and credits. That’s why it’s important to have solar-specific experts weigh in on projects. In particular, with the investment tax credits starting to phase out, understanding tax incentives becomes all the more critical. Oh, if only there were a guide of some sort that people could use to figure it out. Enter the Solar Energy Industries Association, which has been putting together various versions of a guide for the last 20 years. Now they’ve released Version … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent In the wake of a Minnesota Public Utilities Commission decision to add an incentive to attract residential customers to the state’s booming community solar program, neither side – the utility or solar advocates – were particularly happy. On the one hand, the utility argued the incentive was too generous, shifting costs (there’s that mythical cost-shift argument raising its ugly head again) to non-community solar customers. On the other hand, solar advocates argued the incentive wasn’t generous enough, saying it won’t be enough to encourage more residential customers to subscribe to what are called in Minnesota … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent In the ever-competitive microinverter business, even the slighest innovation or acquisition can tip the scales in favor of one company or another. SolarEdge is hoping its acquisition of a majority stake in a South Korean lithium-ion battery maker will give it just such an edge. SolarEdge announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a major stake in Kokam Co., Ltd. Headquartered in South Korea, Kokam is a provider of Lithium-ion battery cells, batteries and energy storage solutions. [wds id=”3″] “Our technological innovation combined with Kokam’s world-class team and renowned battery storage solutions, … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Massachusetts is still working out its solar future, but at least for residents of Boston and the eastern part of the state, community solar has become much easier to access, thanks to the efforts of a company called Ampion. Under a new agreement with Eversource, the area’s primary utility, residents living in the eastern half of Massachusetts will now be able to purchase solar electricity from community solar farms in the western part of the state. Prior to this agreement, the two segments of Eversource’s customer base were considered separately, severely hindering the spread of … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent It may not seem like much. After all, it only works out to 37.5 MWh per year. But Duke Energy’s decision to invest $500 million for energy storage in conjunction with its solar portfolio in the Carolinas is still big, given the utility’s ongoing love/hate relationship with solar energy. The investment will take place over 15 years and will increase battery capacity in North Carolina from its current 15 MW capacity and in South Carolina, well – right now you need a microscope to see its battery storage, so any increase would be immense. [wds … Read More →