Right Direction The Clean Energy Future Is a Battle for Hearts and Minds. A broad, and sometimes quixotic, retail effort to win the fight against global warming is playing out one person at a time, with nary a mention of climate change – New York Times. Michigan Democrats call for the swift passage of a bill package that aims to improve residents’ access to solar, including through community solar projects and lifting caps on utility distributed generation programs – Michigan Advance. Also in Michigan, Detroit representatives proposes ban on secret money from DTE, other utilities to politicians. The bills are aimed at curbing the special interest influence of secret money from the state’s utilities – Fox News Detroit. The Texas PUC approves two Tesla virtual power plants for Powerwall owners in the Houston and Dallas areas. The pilot project aims to test the use of consumer-owned energy devices to strengthen grid reliability – Electrek. Clean energy officials say a Western regional transmission organization will keep costs in check, facilitate wind and solar deployment and help the grid withstand extreme heat – Utility Dive. A West Virginia solar installer and three Arizona battery factories are among many examples of states benefiting from the federal climate law despite opposition from Republican elected officials – NPR, Arizona Daily Star. Prince William County, Virginia, has had some of the region’s highest fees and longest delays for solar panel permits, but that’s starting to change after frustrated stakeholders confronted officials – Energy News Network. Wrong Direction Idaho advocates urge regulators to reject a utility’s proposal to slash compensation for rooftop solar, saying it would disincentivize residents from installing it – Idaho Capital Sun. FirstEnergy customers say the small payments they’re receiving as part of a bribery settlement with the utility come with significant restrictions on how they’re spent – ABC 5. Wyoming Lawmakers use power bill increase to targetrenewable energy. Fossil fuels are the primary culprit behind rising electrical costs, utility says, yet lawmakers will consider measures to limit renewables, preserve gas and coal – WyoFile. California solar installers say new net metering policies render rooftop solar financially infeasible without energy storage – Los Angeles Times. A proposal to drastically cut solar’s value for apartments, schools and farms could undermine California’s climate and energy equity pledges, opponents say – Canary Media. Biden admin slaps more tariffs on several Chinese solar manufacturers. The Commerce Department has concluded its probe of Chinese solar firms’ tariff evasion. The ruling could derail the rapidly growing, import-dependent U.S. solar industry – Canary Media. In an op-ed in In Georgia’s Newnan-Times Herald, R Street’s Marc Hayden writes that Georgia’s new nuclear reactors are a cautionary tale for the energy transition. “Mega projects subsidized by the government and underwritten by electric monopolies’ captive ratepayers are fraught with problems,” Hayden writes. “Rather than rushing to help finance massively wealthy energy companies’ nuclear ambitions, the government should reassess whether the actual—not estimated—costs and delays are worth it” – Newnan-Times Herald. A proposed ERCOT rule in Texas would require renewable energy generators to upgrade tech or disconnect by 2025 for grid stability during issues. Concerns arise about resource retirements due to the timeline. The ERCOT subcommittee delayed the vote as developers sought grid reliability and industry adaptability revisions – E&E News. |