Rachel Metea

3 weeks ago | pv-magazine-usa.com | Rachel Metea

Community solar will be legal in Montana June 13 pending the governor’s approval. The revised solar energy policy laws would allow solar developers to build solar arrays between 50 kW and 5 MW, and sell shares of the electricity generated to subscribers, which would be used as credits on their electricity bill. The legislation authorizes the commission to establish the rules and the applicable bill credit rate for the subscribers, among other details.

3 weeks ago | pv-magazine-usa.com | Rachel Metea

Nevada passed two bills that aim to expand access to rooftop solar for low- and fixed-income renters, and lower energy costs for all ratepayers while providing accountability for utilities. AB 458 allows solar panel installations on low-income housing, allowing renters to participate in the savings. AB 458 requires the owner of solar-powered affordable housing systems to ensure the net metering credits are equitably allocated among the tenant units.

3 weeks ago | pv-magazine-usa.com | Rachel Metea

The New Jersey Assembly unanimously passed a bill to require automated solar permitting. The Senate Environment and Energy Committee advanced the Senate version the same day.

3 weeks ago | pv-magazine-usa.com | Rachel Metea

Vegetables can flourish when co-located with solar projects, said researchers at the Iowa State University. Their research is a year into a four-year study examining how varying heights and designs impact crop production in agrivoltaic farms, where solar installations and farmland are co-located on the same land. The study hopes to determine whether higher solar arrays create better growing conditions for horticultural crops and beekeeping production.

3 weeks ago | pv-magazine-usa.com | Rachel Metea

Throttling solar incentives could increase energy bills for people and businesses across the United States and result in 173 TWh less energy production by 2030, according to an analysis released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), America’s solar industry is under threat. Unless Congress makes changes to the bill, SEIA said America could face $286 billion in lost investment, 330,000 fewer jobs, and 331 factories will be closed or canceled.