Tag Archives: policy
The DOE’s Sunshot Vision Study
The DOE‘s Sunshot Vision Study provides an in-depth assessment of the potential for solar technologies to share a significant portion of electricity demand in the United States in the coming decades. Using NREL‘s Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) and Solar Deployment System (SolarDS) models, the SunShot Vision Study provides least-cost geographical deployment of solar technologies, among other [...]
U.S Solar: Worried By The Recent China Solar Tariffs
Last week’s decision by the Commerce Department to impose stiff tariffs on Chinese silicon photovoltaic manufacturers was applauded by SolarWorld and the members of the Coalition for Solar Manufacturing (CASM). Other U.S. companies, including project developers, materials suppliers and manufacturers took a much more wary approach to the news, contending that such fees could negatively [...]
U.S Renewable Energy Policy Discussed at WREF
Closing the World Renewable Energy Forum (WREF) last week was a panel led by former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (D) discussing how state policies in the U.S. are leading the country’s charge for adding solar into the grid. The panel was comprised of energy policy experts from Colorado, Maryland and Washington state. Each state has [...]
The Costs of Subsidizing Energy
Last year, the top six U.S. oil companies made $148.7 billion in profits. That works out to about $407 million a day, $17 million an hour, or $283,000 per minute. At that pace, in roughly the amount of time it will take to read this commentary, just these six oil companies will have earned about [...]
Why Tariffs on Chinese Solar Hurt Everyone
The United States Department of Commerce yesterday, and of all things at the behest of a German-owned company, SolarWorld AG, imposed extreme tariffs on China-made solar panels and modules of between 31% and 250%, making them much less affordable for U.S. consumers. Commerce took the additional extraordinary step of making the tariffs retroactive for 90 [...]
New Solar Tariffs: Hurting American Jobs?
Well, it happened. . . Chinese solar modules are now expected to be hit with huge tariffs. Here’s what the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (pretty much the most vocal and rational voice on this issue) had to say. . . Leaders and member companies of the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) today responded [...]
The California Energy Commission Invests $100M in Alternative Transportation
The California Energy Commission recently adopted a 2012-2013 Investment Plan Update that would pony up $100 million to bolster the use of alternative fuels and alternative energy-fueled vehicles. Here’s the breakdown of the $100 million: $20 million to aid in the development and production of biofuels from sources ranging from waste to algae. $11 million [...]
In Focus: The LA Solar Incentive and FiT Programs
For those of you who may not know, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has developed a Solar Incentive Program (SIP) to support solar energy in Los Angeles. This Solar Incentive Program can help you with the cost of installing a new solar system. The Solar Feed-in Tariff Program, which allows owners of large-scale on-grid solar systems [...]
In Focus: Arizona’s Solar Hot Water Subsidies
Free Hot Water often highlights California’s generous subsidies for solar hot water installations, but it’s not the only state committed to solar water heating. Arizona’s utilities all offer different—but valuable—solar hot water incentives for both residential and commercial installations. Of course, these are in addition to the Federal government’s 30% Investment Tax Credit. APS – [...]