New Jersey legislation would expand solar access for low-income communities.
Conservative clean energy group asks Congress to prioritize clean energy to stabilize economy
Washington, D.C.
The conservative advocacy group Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions sent a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to pass the American Energy Innovation Act (AEIA), introduced by Senators Joe Manchin (D) and Lisa Murkowski (R) in February, to help grow the economy through clean energy investment. The group also supports safe harbor extensions and a direct payment option for the ITC during the pandemic.
Solar appears to be included in Phase 1 of New York’s reopening
Albany, New York
New York’s phased reopening process began in mid-May. NYSEIA said that although no specific guidance for solar construction has been released, the group interprets that solar construction for all segments can resume immediately in Phase 1 as the state reopens regionally.
COVID-19 expected to reduce solar workforce to 2014 levels
The U.S.
A new analysis by SEIA estimates the solar workforce will be reduced to 2014 levels of around only 188,000 people due to COVID-19 by June 2020. Pre-COVID estimates showed the solar industry employing 302,000 Americans by that time. All 50 states show solar job losses.
Treasury confirms safe harbor provisions for solar ITC will be extended until Oct. 15
Washington, D.C.
In new guidance, the Department of the Treasury confirmed safe harbor provisions for the solar ITC will be extended until Oct. 15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Treasury’s decision was in response to a request from a bipartisan group of senators including Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
New report outlines policy strategies to increase C&I solar development
Washington, D.C.
A report by the REBA Institute outlined policy strategies to increase C&I sector renewable procurement, including advancing state renewable portfolio standards, expanding utilities’ renewable energy purchasing programs and giving the C&I sector more energy supply choice.
New Jersey legislators introduce Clean Energy Equity Act
Trenton, New Jersey
New Jersey Senator Troy Singleton (D) introduced the Clean Energy Equity Act to help low-income New Jersey families benefit from solar, storage and energy efficiency. The bill would instruct the Department of Labor to fund solar training for at least 2,500 people from low-income communities by 2025, among other things.
CALSSA releases plan to support California solar jobs during pandemic
Sacramento, California
The California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA) released an economic stimulus plan to expand solar + storage access and support the state’s solar installers during the pandemic. The group’s policy priorities include extending the federal ITC, transitioning to online solar permitting and more.
State of Virginia partners with SolSmart to help more local governments improve solar access
Richmond, Virginia
The State of Virginia and University of Virginia have partnered with SolSmart to improve solar access in local governments throughout the state. SolSmart advisors from the two institutions will help municipalities streamline the solar permitting and inspection processes and remove other barriers to solar development.
This time in our history is showing the ugliness of so called lobbying entities for the national “good”. We “should” define alternative energy and its construction as “essential” and “we” should extend tax incentives, blah, blah, blah…. Take that money spent on mouth pieces and spend it on local and regional testing for those folks for anti-bodies to Covid-19 within the solar PV and wind construction and supply operations workers. IF you have tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies, then it is O.K. to go back to work (now). No need to cry about the “possibility” of losing 500,000 jobs in the alternative energy work force. DO the testing now and get those who have antibody defenses from the Pandemic back to work now.
Oh, yeah, that’s right it’s all Trump’s fault. Unfortunately, it’s not. The bloated bureaucracies of the CDC, WHO, FDA, DHS are all to blame in their ignorant dilatory response to this Pandemic, these same entities have been “operating” long before Donald Trump took office. Long term policies and mandates without philosophy or legal “teeth” have brought this country to the point of “essential” health care products are by and large not manufactured here in this country, (until) a national emergency is declared using the “wars act”. IF you deep dive into what “National Security” really entails from services to goods, just where are we in the scheme of things? This country’s and many other countries devices for electrical, water, gas have been farmed out decades ago. When countries get into “old wars’, real conflicts and embargo each other in the scale of manufacturing, then will we every really be safe or nationally secure?