New Law in Florida Provides Incentives for Solar
Considered by some as an initial step toward longer term energy goals in Florida, H.B. 7117 became law and requires the Public Service Commission to consider the amount of renewable energy that is produced or procured by electric utilities as part of generation planning. It also reinstates the sales tax exemption for renewable energy technologies, the renewable energy technologies investment corporate income tax credit, and the renewable energy production corporate income tax credit. More Info >
Congress Discusses Funding and Incentives for Solar Energy Programs
Multiple congressional hearings have been held over the past couple weeks to focus on renewable energy incentives as well as budgetary proposals in the U.S. House and Senate that fund federal programs targeting solar energy and other renewables. Specifically, a subcommittee of the House Committee on Science held a hearing on the "Impact of Tax Policies on the Commercial Application of Renewable Energy Technology;" the House Ways & Means Committee held a hearing on "Expiring Tax Provisions;" the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water marked up their FY 2013 funding legislation; and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee also marked up their Energy and Water funding bill. While the House bill reduces funding for a number of solar and other renewable energy programs, the Senate bill increases funding for many of the same programs, so a lot of work remains to be completed before the end of September. More Info >
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NY-Sun Initiative Officially Launched
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo formally kicked off his proposed initiative to quadruple the amount of customer-sited solar power in the state by 2013. A number of efforts are intended to work together to make this ambitious goal a reality, including increased incentives, additional funding for competitively bid solar projects, a balance-of-systems initiative, and standardization of permitting and interconnection procedures. More Info >
"Green Power" Program Available in Maine and Proposed in California
As of April 23, homes and businesses can participate in Maine Green Power, which provides an option for those interested in matching their electricity usage with an equivalent amount of local renewable energy. Participants choose an amount of 500 kW "blocks" to purchase for $7.50 per month - 1.5 cents kWh - on top of their normal bill. In California, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) has proposed a similar program to allow customers to match their electricity usage with "Green-e Energy" certified sources for approximately $6 per month. More Info >
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April 2012
Maryland Looks to Accelerate Solar Carve-Out Implementation
Newest FIT Program to Launch in Los Angeles
DOE Study Points to Job Growth and Economic Output from Renewables Receiving Treasury Grants
Issue Brief Rebuts Assumption that RPS Mandates Increased Electricity Prices
EPA Issues Rule to Regulate Carbon Emissions from New Power Plants
Sec. Chu Memo to PMAs on "Transforming the Grid" is Questioned
Preliminary Decision Issued on New Tariffs for Chinese PV Products
Increased Clarity for FIT Policies in Ontario, the UK, and Germany
March 2012
Renewable Energy Incentives "Break Even" in U.S. Senate
Palo Alto Launches New Feed-in Tariff Program
Congressional Hearings Examine DOE Loan Guarantees and Budget Requests for Renewable Energy (Another Link)
DOE Seeking Input on Transmission Permitting and Siting
Sen. Bingaman Introduces Clean Energy Standard Legislation
FERC Sets Timeframe for Response to SEIA Petition on Interconnection Procedures (Docket RM12-10)
BLM Issues Draft EIS for Solar Projects in Arizona
States Provide Unanimous Support for Advancing Clean Energy
February 2012
SEIA Petitions FERC for Change of Interconnection Screen
Obama Administration Increases Funding for Solar in Budget Proposal
Review of DOE Loan Guarantee Program Released
United Kingdom Charts "Sustainable" Feed-in Tariff Path
CA Energy Commission Issues Report on Energy Trends
Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing on "Tax Extenders"
FHFA Seeks Comments on PACE Programs
California ISO Issues Strategic Plan for "Tomorrow's Energy Network"
Solar PEIS Reaches Next Step in Process to Guide Utility-Scale Projects in Six States
President Obama Outlines Clean Energy Proposals in State of the Union Address
January 2012
CPUC Rebuffs "Network Use Charge" Proposal
Michigan Ballot Initiative Targets Higher Renewable Energy Requirement
New Jersey Legislation to Stabilize SREC Market Does Not Advance
DOI and State of California Expand Solar Partnership
"Normalization" Rule Changed for Grant-funded Projects
Vermont Advances Solar with Simplified Permitting Process and Revised State RPS Goal
Regulations on Air Emissions Remain in Flux
December 2011
New Report Advises Governments to Reform Support Policies for Renewable Energy
Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing on Renewable Energy Incentives
Durban Climate Change Conference Ends with Agreement on Platform
New Jersey Energy Master Plan Adopted
Collaborative Efforts Expand in States to Support Transmission for Renewables
CEC Releases 2011 Annual Report on Renewable Energy Programs
IEA Urges Countries to Deploy Renewable Energy
Spanish Government Reveals Newly Registered PV Projects and Tariffs (in Spanish)
EIA Analyzes Clean Energy Standard Options
Hawaii PUC Issues Order for FIT and Interconnection Rules
DOI Proposes Rule for Renewables on Indian Lands
New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Looking at Costs of Renewable Energy
"Solar Strategic Plan" Issued in Arizona to Grow Solar Industry
Hundreds of Stakeholders Ask for Extension of Treasury Grants for Renewable Energy Projects
November 2011
DOE Announces $7 Million to Reduce Non-Hardware Costs of Solar Energy Systems
IEA Releases its World Energy Outlook
Australia Passes Renewable Energy Legislation
UK Government Proposes 50 percent Cut to Solar Incentives
DOI Updates Solar Zones Proposal, Will Allow Development on Other Lands
Ontario Announces Review of Feed-in Tariff Program
Germany to Cut Feed-in Tariff Rates by 15 percent
Feed-in Tariffs Decrease in France (in French)
FERC Issues New Compensation Rules for Frequency Regulation Compensation
California Establishes Program Requirements for Cap-and-Trade System
Legislation Introduced in U.S. Senate for Expedited Permitting of Solar Projects
October 2011
DOE decides not to delegate transmission corridor responsibilities to FERC
Administration Announces Initiative to Expedite Transmission Projects
House Energy & Commerce Committee Focuses Attention on Electricity Transmission
Senate Committee Hearing Discusses "On-Bill Financing" Programs
Federal Spending Bill Sent to President Obama
Final DOE Loan Guarantees Support Solar Projects
New NEPA Rulemaking Seeks to Remove Barriers for Small Renewable Energy Projects
CA Governor Signs Bills to Support Solar
DOE Awards $156 Million for Groundbreaking Energy Research Projects
Defense Department Speeds Clean Energy Move: Report
