WASHINGTON, D.C. — [This week] nearly 200 solar and storage companies sent a letter to congressional leaders calling for legislation to improve permitting, project siting, transmission, and public lands access for solar and solar plus storage projects. Market forecasts show that a range of policy and economic outcomes will determine the volume … [continued]
In order to reach our climate goals of 100 percent carbon-free electricity generation by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by 2050, the United States must build renewable energy generators and transmission infrastructure at a rapid rate. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) contains significant federal investments that could … [continued]
Clean energy and transmission projects can bring benefits to the communities that host them. Inviting local interests to the planning table helps ensure that.
Yesterday’s news about the Paris Climate Accords has provoked a groundswell of commitments for local action on climate change. But what can cities actually do in the absence of federal support?
Originally published on ilsr.org. Below is part three of our City Power Play report, a report released in October 2013 (and still relevant today) about the types of policy solutions cities can enact to increase their ownership of renewable energy. Read part 1 and part 2, published last week. Permitting One authority … [continued]
Following the news that the United States’ first offshore development, the Cape Wind Project, may never happen has led to much discussion leading to the conclusion that US offshore wind policy simply isn’t working. A new report by Clean Energy Group and Navigant Consulting attempts to prove that the problems … [continued]
The Obama administration is pushing power plant regulations to reduce carbon emissions and most states have some sort of renewable energy policy. But there’s plenty of opportunity left for action at the local level; action that can also boost the local economy. The following presentation by ILSR’s Director of Democratic … [continued]
From outdated technical rules to local permitting to incentive policies, there are opportunities to increase the potential for local solar power. This is the fourth of five parts of ILSR’s Rooftop Revolution report being published in serial. Read Part 1 or Part 2 or Part 3. Download the entire report … [continued]
Last week’s graphic on the impact of local permitting on the cost of solar power was a big hit, so here’s a follow-up on “soft costs,” the expenses in a solar installation (including permitting) that are not the solar module. The chart compares the soft costs in the US to … [continued]
This post originally appeared on ILSR’s Energy Self-Reliant States blog Going solar keeps getting cheaper, but most of the cost savings have come from less expensive solar panels. “Soft costs,” like permitting and inspections, are a rising share of the cost of a solar installation. Several years ago, these permits could increase … [continued]
