The Morning Energy Show

#CoalToClean— Texas Coal Plant to Transition into Solar + Storage Facility 🔋 The San Miguel Electric Cooperative Inc. (SMECI) in South Texas, is set to lead a renewable energy transformation with the support of over $1.4 billion from the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service program. This funding, part of the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) initiative under the Inflation Reduction Act, will enable SMECI to convert its coal plant into a cutting-edge 400-MW solar and 200-MW battery storage facility. The project will provide clean, renewable energy to 47 rural counties in South Texas while drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “The USDA funding represents a new era for the San Miguel Electric Cooperative,” said Craig Courter, SMECI’s General Manager and CEO. “It will allow us to virtually eliminate our greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to provide affordable and reliable power to rural South Texans.” Scheduled for completion by 2027, the solar-plus-storage facility will continue to support the region’s energy needs through a new wholesale power contract with the South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC), which serves over 340,000 rural customers. #TheMorningEnergyShow #TrendingNews #News #SolarIndustry #ResidentialSolar #GoGreen #CoalToClean #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #EnergyStorage #CleanEnergy #GreenEnergy #USDAFunding #SolarRevolution #Sustainability #TexasSolar #InflationReductionAct #EnergyTransition #EcoFriendlyEnergy #SolarInnovation #CarbonNeutral #RuralEnergy

#PresidentCarter— Today, we mourn the loss of President Jimmy Carter, a true visionary in the realm of renewable energy. “The question is no longer whether solar energy works,” President Carter said. “We know it works. The only question is how to cut costs so that solar power can be used more widely and so that it will set a cap on rising oil prices.” He continued, “Nobody can embargo sunlight. No cartel controls the sun. Its energy will not run out. It will not pollute the air. It will not poison our waters. It’s free from stench and smog. The sun’s power needs only to be collected, stored, and used.” In June 1979, he installed 32 solar water-heating panels on the White House roof, declaring that “a generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people.” President Carter’s unwavering belief in the potential of solar energy was evident as he proposed measures to ensure that, by the year 2000, a fifth of the country’s energy would come from solar power. He called for significant investments in solar projects and research, offering tax credits to homeowners for installing solar panels or wind-energy systems. His foresight laid the foundation for the renewable energy advancements we pursue today. RIP President Carter 🙏🏼 #TheMorningEnergyShow #SolarPioneer #PresidentCarter #RenewableEnergy #CleanEnergy #SolarEnergy #JimmyCarter #PresidentialLegacy #News #GreenEnergy #SustainableFuture #EnergyIndependence #ClimateAction #SolarPower #EnvironmentalLeader #SolarInnovation #RenewableResources #EnergyVisionary Image from The New Yorker + Harvey Georges

Happy Holidays from all of us here at The Morning Energy Show. It’s truly an honor to be your source for your daily solar news. We wish you all a safe, joyful Merry Christmas with your loved ones🎄 #TheMorningEnergyShow #SolarIndustryNews #MerryChristmas #HappyHolidays

#Hoorah— Did you know the US government is the nation’s largest energy consumer? 🇺🇸 With more than 300,000 buildings and 600,000 vehicles to maintain, the government is constantly making moves to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. One prominent choice has been quickly ramping up use of solar energy at military bases. The US Army is currently working on two new solar installations. The projects include a 6.5 MW installation on the Fort Johnson US Army base, and a new 5 MW community solar project in collaboration with the state of New York. Go Army! #themorningenergyshow #trendingnews #solarnews #solarindustry #army #hoorah #goarmy #renewableenergy #solarindustrynews

#SunTrain— Solar energy is hitting the road, well tracks 🚂 SunTrain, a US-based energy transportation company, is leveraging existing railroad infrastructure to deliver solutions that accelerate renewable energy usage. Each train is battery-powered, and those batteries receive their power from a blend of solar and wind energy. Recently, the company tested a custom 750 KWH train car that was fully charged with solar energy. This car was based out of their San Francisco testbed and it transported over 6500 miles on the Union Pacific network in the state of California. Their goal is to utilize the existing network of over 100,000 miles of rail lines across the United States. We are all aboard the solar train here at the Morning Energy Show! 🚂 Be sure to share this post with a friend in the industry and follow us for your daily solar news. #themorningenergyshow #trendingnews #solarnews #solarindustry #renewableenergy #railroadtransportation #railroads #suntrain #solarinnovation

Did you hear? ☀️ Forbes released their Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs for 2025, and the solar industry secured two of the top ten spots. The research completed by Ladders, the job board for six-figure paying jobs, revealed solar sales representatives at #2 on the list and at #7-outside sales representatives. These roles demonstrate the lucrative opportunities in solar and the industry’s dominance with two key roles in the top 10 rankings. Forbes listed solar sales reps with an average salary range of $90,510 to $121,504 and outside sales representatives with an average salary range of $90,833 to $122,099 (Bonuses, commission, and the type of sales being made can influence the salary.) Be sure to share this with your community to celebrate our growing industry. #TheMorningEnergyShow #Forbes #TrendingNews #SolarSales #GreenEnergy #CareerGrowth #ForbesTopJobs #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower

#MadeInTheUSA— The U.S. government is seeking public comments on a proposed waiver to the Build America, Buy America Act, which mandates the use of domestically produced materials in federally funded infrastructure projects. The issue? The government announced they simply aren’t enough US solar panels being made to meet their needs. The Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency have proposed a one-year waiver for the requirement that solar panels used in federal projects be manufactured with U.S.-sourced components. This proposal is driven by the current shortage of domestically produced solar panels and components, such as solar cells and metal frames, which are largely sourced from foreign markets like China. The waiver, if granted, would extend until December 31, 2025. There is opposition from industry advocates, like the Solar Energy Manufacturers for America Coalition, who argue the government should focus on boosting domestic manufacturing capacity to avoid foreign companies benefiting from U.S. taxpayer funds. 📝 The public can submit comments on this proposal until December 28, 2024. #TheMorningEnergyShow #SolarEnergy #SolarManufacturing #CleanEnergy #InfrastructureDevelopment #RenewableEnergy #BuyAmerican #SolarPanels #EnergyPolicy #U.S.Manufacturing #CleanEnergyTransition

🚨 The following stats may shock you. 🚨 Over 1/3 of Americans are making sacrifices to keep the lights on. A recent study done by LendingTree found a staggering 34.3% of Americans are making lifestyle sacrifices just to pay their utility bills. Over the past 12 months: -34.3% of Americans have said they’ve cut back on or skipped necessary expenses (like medicine or food) to afford their utility bills -23.4% have been unable to pay part or all of their energy bill during the same period -22.8% kept their home at an unhealthy or unsafe temperature due to rising rates According to the study, the top 10 states with the highest percentage of residents who couldn’t pay an energy bill were: 1. Mississippi: 33.4% 2. Connecticut: 29.6% 3. Alabama: 29.4% 4. Louisiana: 28.5% 5. New Jersey: 28.2% 6. Wyoming: 27.1% 7. New Mexico: 26.9% 8. West Virginia: 26.5% 9. California: 26.3% 10. Michigan: 25.9% While these numbers are saddening, this is a call to the residential solar industry to rise up and make 2025 a better year for Americans who are struggling. Solar is the solution ☀️ #TheMorningEnergyShow #TrendingNews #SolarSavings #EnergyCrisis #AffordableEnergy #GoSolar #RenewableEnergySolutions #UtilityCosts #CleanEnergyFuture #SolarPowerNow #SustainableLiving #EnergyIndependence #SolarIndustryNews

The Awareness Group (TAG) has introduced a 30-year loan option to its TAG Financial Services (TFS) portfolio. Designed specifically for residential solar projects, this financing solution is set to empower solar sales organizations, lead generation companies, and EPCs across 26 states. The new product, available through TAG GRID, offers extensive financing flexibility to cover not only solar installations but also essential project elements such as new roofs, ground mounts, inverters, tree trimming, carports with solar installations, EV chargers, and more. This 30-year residential solar loan is now available in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia. Pablo Diaz, CEO and Founder of The Awareness Group Commented: “This likely industry-first loan significantly broadens the TFS portfolio, delivering another highly compelling product for TAG GRID members to offer their customers. With no dealer fees, above-industry-average payouts that should drive enhanced customer service, and flexible terms, this financing solution is designed to increase sales velocity, attract new members to our platform, and position TAG as a leader in solar financing. And the timing couldn’t be better. According to SEIA, the U.S. residential solar market is forecasted to grow at an average annual rate of 10% from 2025 to 2028, driven by strong consumer demand for clean energy solutions, declining technology costs and supportive federal policies. . .” #TheMorningEnergyShow #SolarIndustryNews #SolarFinancing #SolarEnergySolutions #RenewableEnergy #TAGGrid #CleanEnergyFuture #ResidentialSolar #SolarLoans #SustainableLiving #GreenEnergy #SolarPower #FreedomHoldings #SolarIndustry #RenewableSolutions #HomeSolar #EVChargers #CleanTech #SolarInstallation #GoGreen #SolarGrowth #EnergyIndependence

❄️ Tis’ the season of giving ❄️ #FusionPower, an Arizona-headquartered EPC, hosted their annual Service Day this holiday season— packing 175 meals in collaboration with Feed My Starving Children. Fusion staff and volunteers showed up to pack meals and contribute to their community; the 175 meals will equate to 37,800 meals and feed 104 children for the next year! Well done, Fusion! We spoke with Fusion’s founder, Tyler McAllister, and he shared, “I take immense pride in being part of an organization where our foremost core value is ‘family first.’ At Fusion Power, we are driven by a profound commitment to positively impact the lives of others. Our dedicated team embodies this passion, ensuring that everything we do is rooted in the desire to uplift and inspire those around us.” Fusion is well-known for their core values and their annual give back campaigns such as their Globe Aware trips, Service Days, and more. The Morning Energy team would love to hear about your holiday give back contributions. Feel free to tag us or submit your story on our website today. #TheMorningEnergyShow #ArizonaSolarCompany #FusionPower #GiveBackCampaigns #FeedMyStarvingChildren #SolarIndustryNews #TrendingNews