MA is seeking to mimic CA’s mandate regarding requiring rooftop solar on new residential and commercial buildings. A bill was introduced in the state House and Senate stating that all new buildings would need to be built “solar-ready” with certain minimum production requirements.
GreenBiz has made a list of 25 “badass women” impacting climate change this year. The list includes the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Director of Consumer Health at EDF+ Business, and a NM Congresswoman and Nominee for Secretary of the Department of the Interior.
Trina Solar rolled out the next iteration of the Vertex module. It has a single panel power of 670 W and non-destructive cutting, high-density interconnection, multi-busbar, low-voltage, and high string power. It means improved module efficiency by up to 21.6%.
On average, from 2016-19 solar assets underperformed their target weather-adjusted production by 6.3%. Three ways to improve this are more accurate modeling, guaranteeing a quality project using high-performance material via EPC improvements, and investing in quality O&M.
Michael Regan, NC’s top environmental regulator, has been confirmed as EPA head. He’s the first black man in the position and will be implementing key elements of Biden’s agenda on climate change. Previously he served at the EPA and the Environmental Defense Fund.
Last year FERC allowed aggregations of DERs to tap into wholesale electricity markets through participation in demand response as well as capacity and ancillary services markets. But to make true virtual power plants a reality distribution system operators need to monitor and operate local grids.
Aurora surveyed 600 installers and found that delaying or canceling payment is the biggest risk but that selling remotely and virtually, streamlining internal processes to cut soft costs via tech like CRMs, and outsourcing help (with tight quality control) mitigate the impact of this risk.
Tariffs are why solar panels are 45% more expensive in the US than in Europe. Last year SEIA challenged Trump’s modification to the tariff as failing to follow the requirements of safeguard laws, but under Biden the DOJ dismissed the complaint and rejected a reduction or termination of the tariffs.
Unbound Solar has a robust and recently updated solar guide on their site that includes pros, cons and costs (with a cost calculator); planning (with info on net metering and permitting); system design (including battery storage); installation; and monitoring and maintenance.
U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry is in talks with financial sector leaders regarding mobilizing capital for green tech and clean energy. These include the biggest asset managers and largest banks. Kerry seeks a working partnership between the private sector and the fed government.