SOLAR POWER

CAISO Opens Wholesale Electricity Market to PacifiCorp Service Areas

Starting October 1, CAISO will open its subhourly wholesale electricity market to PacifiCorp’s service areas, marking the first time that CAISO will dispatch electricity to regions outside its footprint. On September 30, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report on the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) effort to open subhourly wholesale electricity markets to…...

Massachusetts Clean Energy Sector Report Highlights $10B Industry

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry has grown by 47 percent from 2010-2014 with significant growth in energy efficiency and solar deployment. On September 29, 2014, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center released the 2014 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report.  The fourth annual report highlights that the Massachusetts clean energy sector has grown by 47 percent since…...

[Report] Lawmakers Consider Energy Tax Reform as December Deadline Nears for Extending Expired Provisions

On September 17, 2014, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing entitled “Reforming America’s Outdated Energy Tax Code.” Retroactively extending tax provisions has significant impact on financial accounting for multiple energy industries, including wind and solar, and also small and mid-sized businesses such as commercial building owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and design-construction companies…....

Massachusetts Grants $7.4M for Municipal Resiliency Projects

Massachusetts has awarded the first round of grants under the Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative for six municipal resiliency projects. On September 25, 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) awarded $7.4M in the first round of project implementation grants under the Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative.  The funding will support six projects designed…...

Draft Renewable Energy Conservation Plan for California Desert

An innovative landscape-level renewable energy and conservation plan proposed for the California desert provides a roadmap to develop 20,000 MW on more than 22 million acres over the next 25 years. On September 23, 2014, the Department of Interior (DOI) and the California Natural Resources Agency released the draft Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), an…...

New York Breaks Ground on Solar “GigaFactory”

Governor Cuomo officially broke ground for the Western Hemisphere’s largest solar panel manufacturing facility at a one million-square-foot site in RiverBend. On September 23, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a one-million-square-foot site for the proposed SolarCity GigaFactory Facility at RiverBend in South Buffalo.  The SolarCity facility will be the largest solar manufacturing…...

Massachusetts’ Second Green Bond Sale Shows Strong Demand

Massachusetts’ second Green Bond sale resulted in orders exceeding $1B for $350M worth of bonds and $429M in refinancing transaction that will save taxpayers $45M. On September 22, 2014, Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman announced that the Commonwealth’s second Green Bond sale generated more than $1B in buy orders for a $350M bond offering.  Retail investors placed…...

NY Climate Week Highlights Clean Energy and Climate Preparedness Efforts

Governor Cuomo has designated September 22-28 as Climate Week, highlighting the state’s transformational clean energy accomplishments and proactive climate preparedness efforts. On September 22, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo designated the week of September 22-28 as Climate Week to increase climate awareness and highlight New York’s ongoing efforts to meet climate challenges.  Governor…...

Massachusetts Completes 1.8 MW Solar Installation on Superfund Site

SunEdison has completed a 1.8 MW solar power plant on a remediated Superfund site in New Bedford, Massachusetts. On September 19, 2014, global solar technology manufacturer SunEdison Inc. announced the completion of a 1.8 MW DC solar photovoltaic installation on the remediated Sullivan’s Ledge landfill site – and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site –…...

New York City Launches Building Retrofit Plan to Reduce Emissions

NYC has committed to reduce emissions to 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050, beginning with a comprehensive plan to retrofit all public buildings by 2025 and set target reductions and mandates for private buildings. On September 21, 2014, New York City (NYC) Mayor de Blasio announced a new goal of reducing emissions to 80…...