Your local power company pays big bucks to buy political influence at the state and federal level. Its interests do not always align with yours, but in almost every state, utilities are a major political force to be reckoned with. Beyond their own lobbying efforts, they often pay even more to have … [continued]
The Investment Tax Credit may be America’s most important solar policy, so why does a solar CEO want to end it? Economics are key to avoiding uncertainty.
Yes, you did hear that right. For the first time ever, the annual API energy report is including the solar energy resource. It ranks among the top four …
A couple of big solar records were set in Q1 2013 in the US. For one, 49% of all new US electricity generation capacity came form solar, the most ever for a first quarter. Secondly, 723 MW of solar power capacity were installed and put online, again a Q1 record for … [continued]
Last year was a record-breaking year for U.S. solar energy, as the PV industry grew by 76% in 2012 compared to 2011. The U.S. Solar Market Insight Report: Year In Review, co-authored by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association, said that 2012 PV solar installations were 3.31 GW, more … [continued]
Editor’s note: While we here at CleanTechnica have focused on the ‘soft costs’ of solar making German much cheaper than U.S. solar, one of the world’s leading solar and climate change solutions entrepreneurs and investors, Jigar Shah, contends that the cost differences are actually largely due to another factor — … [continued]
News of new unfair trade actions against China and Chinese PV manufacturers announced in the EU, US, and India add to the embattled industry’s woes, as well as international trade tensions and protectionism. Illegal subsidies petitions were filed in the EU; India’s PV manufacturers are lobbying to bring a WTO case; and two protectionist bills were introduced in the US Senate. […]
The US market for solar PV will double in 2011 despite the hard economic times, as plunging prices and policy incentives underpin growth. A strong project pipeline, and growing demand from utilities, driven by the need to meet Renewable Portfolio Standard targets, will result in constant annual growth rates of 47% out to 2015, according to research from Solarbuzz.
Solar leasing has offered thousands of homeowners a “no money down” route to go solar, broadening participation in the distributed generation revolution. Unfortunately, this revolution has been co-opted by high finance. Big banks have been able to write off millions in taxes by over-reporting the cost of financed solar PV projects in what may be the country’s next banking scandal.
