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California's New Solar Public Works Law (AB 2143): An Example of California’s Recent Leadership Failures on Solar and the Climate Posted on Jun 18, 2024
It appears that California’s prior solar policies were too successful. California's policymakers have been rushing to stop a solar industry that they helped create. The solar industry that California helped to create through policies supporting pr...
Powering the Future: Treasury and IRS New Guidance Could Supercharge American Clean Energy Manufacturing Posted on May 18, 2024
The U.S. Department of the Treasury, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), recently issued additional guidance aimed at bolstering American clean energy manufacturing. This move is a significant step towards achieving climate go...
Grid-Connected Blinders Removed from California's Distributed Energy Racehorse Posted on Dec 29, 2023
Guest Blog Post By Angela Lipanovich, Attorney & Founder of Estriatus Law There can be no doubt – California is, and has been, the world’s leader among states and countries in distributed clean energy. This leadership role is thanks to grassro...
Solar + Storage + Energy Controller = Microgrid Posted on Oct 10, 2023
The U.S. military understands the importance of microgrids. That’s why the official Department of Defense policy’s stated goal is that all bases be "power resilient." The need to have resilience in the case of a disaster that impacts the power gr...
Independently Owned Microgrids are Critical in the Era of Climate Change Posted on Apr 28, 2023
Biden’s climate agenda cannot be met unless policy approaches to energy supplies start dramatically supporting independently owned clean energy supplies. Our country is built around outdated methods of energy supplies dependent upon over 160,000 m...
Get Involved to Help Grow Solar in the U.S. Posted on Apr 13, 2023
Looking for ideas on how to help grow your business and the solar industry even faster? Check out the action items, education and award opportunities below. Join a solar trade association like the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Americ...
Staff Opinion: NEM 3 Decision Could be Our Carpe Diem Posted on Dec 16, 2022
California energy regulators have the power to make, kill and stifle energy markets, and consumer choices. At a time when individual energy resiliency has never been more important, and will become increasingly so, that is what the California Publ...
Overview of Federal Solar Tax Credits in the IRA Posted on Oct 20, 2022
There are two tax credits available for businesses that purchase solar energy systems (see the Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics for information for individuals): The investment tax credit (ITC) is a tax credit ...
The IRA Passed - Now What? Posted on Sep 22, 2022
The RE+ solar and storage cleantech conference happening right now in Anaheim, California is the largest cleantech event ever to occur in United States history. Over 26,000 people are registered for RE+. The conference sessions, meetings and buzz...
Could Texas Take the Solar Lead? Posted on Apr 22, 2022
Texas is a powerhouse in distributed PV, and could become the number one state in the U.S., especially depending on how California’s NEM-3 proceeding turns out. In Q1 to Q3 of 2021, distributed PV in Texas grew by 23% compared to California’s 14%...
The Fight for California Solar is at a Boiling Point Posted on Jan 17, 2022
Guest Blog Post By Angela Lipanovich, Attorney & Founder of Estriatus Law On January 13, 2022, the largest solar demonstration in U.S. history occurred in California. Approximately 3,000 people rallied to save Californians’ rights to own sola...
The Public Does Not Understand How Distributed Solar in California Works, or Is About to Change Posted on Dec 27, 2021
Guest Blog Post By Angela Lipanovich, Attorney & Founder of Estriatus Law Right now, a lot of misinformation and, simply a lack of understanding, exists among the public about distributed solar (often simply referred to as, "rooftop solar")....
New California Contracting Laws Come into Play January 1, 2022 Posted on Dec 21, 2021
AB 569 (Grayson)This bill increases from $5,000 to $8,000 the maximum administrative civil penalty CSLB can assess against a licensed contractor for most violations, and from $15,000 to $30,000 for the most serious violations relating to un...
Opinion - STAFF ESSAY Posted on Dec 14, 2021
What is Politics? Recently, a person asked us whether we think wind turbines are “a good technology.” The person had seen a video claiming that wind turbines cause massive amounts of wildlife deaths and was adamant that the video was not “pol...
Delivered: 128,000 public comments and 1 human billboard message Posted on Dec 10, 2021
Delivered: 128,000 public comments and 1 human billboard message These individuals made inspiring statements to the crowd and led the public comment delivery: Esperanza Vielma, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water Rev. Jason Bense, Luthera...
Solar Ready Vets Program Posted on Nov 11, 2021
The Solar Ready Vets Network is a group of solar workforce development programs funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) that connect veterans and transitioning military service members with career trai...
Five Reasons Why Governor Newsom Should Stand Up to the Utility Attack on Solar Posted on Nov 10, 2021
The following is a guest post from Cinnamon Energy Systems: The battle between rich monopoly utilities and the “behind the meter” solar industry is coming to a head right now in California. The three biggest utilities are lobbying the Public Utili...
The $1 Trillion U.S. Infrastructure Bill Paves the Way to Net-Zero Emissions Economy Posted on Nov 09, 2021
Some of the key funding allocations in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal include: $50 billion for programs and technologies that improve resilience $65 billion for grid improvements $7.5 billion to build a national network of EV chargers ...
Intersolar/Energy Storage North America Conference 13-15 January 2022 (Long Beach, CA) Posted on Nov 08, 2021
The Intersolar/Energy Storage North America Conference will take place at the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. As the first major solar + storage event of the year in North America, #isnaesna22 highlights the latest energy technologies,...
Homeowners in Common Interest Developments Have Solar Rights Posted on Nov 01, 2021
California, Florida and other homeowners living in common interest developments have the right to install solar systems according to state law. Yet, a large number of common interest developments and their governing associations think they can st...
Oregon Solar + Storage Conference - November 2-4, 2021 | Portland, Oregon Posted on Oct 20, 2021
We'll be going to the Oregon Solar + Storage Conference happening this November 2 - 4, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. Attendees can earn NABCEP credits from the conference educational sessions. Check out the full agenda here
Texas Law to Protect Firearm Ownership Could Impact Renewable Energy Projects Posted on Sep 22, 2021
A new Texas law, SB 19, could be interpreted as applying to tax equity investors in renewable energy; and thus, ban those entities from doing any government solar projects if they have internal policies that prohibit firearms on the worksite or at...
Recommended podcast by David Roberts of Volts with Adam Browning Posted on Sep 17, 2021
As many of you know by now, Adam Browning decided to step back from running Vote Solar and move into an advisory role for the group. Adam is definitely worthy of holding a place among those in top leadership positions who have helped the solar ind...
Solar Industry: Report Shows California Government Changes May Risk Solar Growth Posted on Jul 30, 2021
Sharply reducing net metering payments and imposing high, solar-only fixed charges could slow the growth of rooftop solar installations – and, in the most extreme cases, could cause installations to plummet – according to a new report from Enviro...
DOE Announces New $60 Million Investment to Increase Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Posted on Jul 26, 2021
32 Universities Across 28 States Will Conduct Industrial Assessments to Help Local Manufacturers Reduce Carbon Footprint, Lower Costs, and Train Energy Workforce of Tomorrow WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $...
U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office: American-Made Solar Prize Round 5 is Open Posted on Jul 23, 2021
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is launching the American-Made Solar Prize Round 5 Software Track, a part of the American-Made Challenges, to accelerate the development, validation, and commercializatio...
Solar APP+ Is a Step Forward for CleanTech Posted on Jul 23, 2021
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has launched a collaborative effort with key code officials, authorities having jurisdiction, and the solar industry to develop standardized plan review software that can run compliance checks and process ...
List of the Worlds Leading CO2 Contributors Posted on Jul 15, 2021
Time for individual and government action. According to current data, China is the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide and growing emissions; the U.S. leads the world in cutting carbon emissions, but is the second largest carbon dioxide em...
Excellent New Podcast from Cinnamon Energy: Stop the Utility Profit Grab Posted on Jul 07, 2021
6/30/21 News Story: “PG&E just asked regulators for a $3.6b rate hike to reduce fires from their own power lines.” Listen to the Cinnamon Energy weekly Energy Show to learn more about the specific changes monopoly utilities want, the falsehoo...
California Contractor Update: Public Utility Commission Approves Public List for Contractors Violating Consumer Protection Rules Posted on Jul 01, 2021
For all contractors selling solar, storage and other cleantech installation products and services in California, please be aware that the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) voted in June 2021 to maintain a public list of contractors foun...
Industry Leaders Launch Group to Create a Coordinated Industry Voice for Microgrids in the U.S. Posted on Jun 10, 2021
More than a dozen companies, including HOMER Energy by UL, are leading the way to improve electric reliability with microgrids in the U.S. through a new coalition to represent the industry at the state and federal level.Called “Think Microgrid,” t...
Full Conference Registration is Open! SPI, ESI, and Smart Energy Week September 20-23, 2021 Posted on Jun 10, 2021
Early bird pricing ends next week on June 17th! SPI, ESI & Smart Energy Week is the most comprehensive event in North America for the renewable energy industry, including solar, storage, smart energy, wind, hydrogen & fuel cells, geothe...
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Prize to Accelerate More Equitable Solar Deployment and a New Matchmaking Tool for Clean Tech Innovators Posted on Jun 10, 2021
Tool Connects Makers with Resources to Help Them Address Challenges to Solar Deployment Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $5 million for the American-Made Solar Prize Round 5, a competition designed to accel...
Vote NO on AB 1139! Live rally at the capital in Sacramento to OPPOSE AB 1139! Posted on May 19, 2021
Vote NO on AB 1139! https://fb.watch/5B2voIFy87/ via @FacebookWatch
Community Choice Aggregators (“CCAs”) and the California Solar Rights Act Posted on May 18, 2021
This guest blog by Angela Lipanovich, President of Estriatus Law, PC, is also posted on Estriatus Law’s Legal Review. Does the California Solar Rights Act (“Act”) limit actions that can be taken by Community Choice Aggregators (“CCAs”)? Argua...Utility Business Models Are Outdated; Public Utility Commissions Should Update Them Posted on Mar 25, 2021
Our public utility commissions should support the private cleantech industry demanded by voters in the form of laws that protect the right to own private clean energy sources, such as solar and microgrids (“Distributed Energy Resources” or “DERs...
Funding Opportunity Announcement: Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2021 Systems Integration and Hardware Incubator Funding Program Posted on Jan 22, 2021
Office: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office Funding Number: DE-FOA-0002437 Funding Amount: $45 million Description On December 16, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Solar Ene...
Summary of New California Contracting Laws that Take Effect January 1, 2021 Posted on Dec 10, 2020
Brush-Up on New Contracting Laws that Come into PlayJanuary 1, 2021 SACRAMENTO – As we make our way into the new year, CSLB would like to highlight some construction-related laws that will go into effect January 1. Pay close attention to these cha...
Globally and Locally, California Energizes Energy Storage Market Posted on Nov 25, 2020
Linda F. Hersey Senior Contributor* The U.S. clean tech sector is on pace in 2020 to regain its status as the world’s largest energy storage market. California, which has surpassed a half-million jobs in the clean tech economy, leads the nation i...
Biden’s Clean Energy Plan for Economic Recovery and Job Growth Will Make History Posted on Nov 10, 2020
By Linda F. Hersey The amount of funding about to be injected into the cleantech industry in what President-elect Biden calls the “Clean Energy Revolution” is unprecedented. A historic investment in energy and climate research and innovation, as w...
Our Conversation with a Climate Change Denier, Lessons Learned Posted on Oct 05, 2020
This article was co-authored by Angela Lipanovich, Esq., Founder of Estriatus Law, PC and Jan Freiwald, PhD, Executive Director of Reef Check. Ms. Lipanovich is a cleantech attorney with decades of experience in the renewable energy industry. D...
Federal Guidance on Essential Services Identifies Renewable Energy Workers as Essential, And They Are Posted on Mar 30, 2020
Over the weekend, the federal Cypersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an updated “Coronavirus Guidance for America” memo to further clarify essential critical infrastructure workers during COVID-19. The guidance specifically ident...
Event Alert: 2020 Cleantech Forum Europe Posted on Feb 22, 2020
Cleantech Group is putting on an interesting event in Luxembourg from May 18th to 20th. Check it out here: Cleantech Forum Europe. This will be a good chance to network with people and companies that are in the cleantech space. We like the broad ...
New California Contracting Laws Go into Effect January 1, 2020 Posted on Dec 16, 2019
The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) has summarized the new laws that will go into effect this January. Take note of these laws as they may change the way cleantech contractors need to do business in California. Assembly Bill...
GREENTECH 2019 | OCTOBER 2-3, 2019 | SEATTLE, WA Posted on Jul 16, 2019
Join leaders from some of the world's most innovative companies engaging with policymakers, lawmakers, technologists and NGOs to explore environmental protection in an era of transformative technological change. The inaugural Greentech Conferenc...
Sign-on Letter Regarding Chinese Tariffs Posted on Jun 11, 2019
The Clean Energy Business Network through its parent organization, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, invites all cleantech businesses to sign-on to a broad energy industry letter to the Office of the United States Trade Representative ...- Page 1 of 2
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