1970s-Era Statute Emerges as Major Diver for Solar Capacity as Project Costs Tumble

A 40-year-old U.S. statute designed to encourage energy diversity and conservation helped drive 2 gigawatts of solar capacity in 2017, representing just under half of all new utility-scale solar projects added to the grid that year, according to a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Over the last decade the federal mandate, called the…

Maine Court Rejects Appeal of Solar Compensation Rule in Blow to Renewable Advocates

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Aug. 16 dismissed a lawsuit by renewable advocates against a rule that cuts credits for solar power exported to the grid, finding that the challenges need to be brought to the lower Superior Court. Solar and environmental advocates, led by the Conservation Law Foundation, sought to overturn the rule,…