SunCast Podcast’s Post

Massachusetts has secured a $156 million federal grant from the U.S. EPA’s Solar for All program to boost solar programs for low-income residents. The grant will provide zero-interest loans, financial subsidies, and technical assistance to help install solar panels on affordable housing and public housing facilities. The initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create energy savings for overburdened households, and support renewable energy businesses. This transformative investment is expected to impact low-income and disadvantaged communities in Massachusetts significantly. #SolarForAll #CleanEnergy #Massachusetts Link to the full story below: https://bit.ly/3V7fa8d ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neeeco increases energy savings by making your homes energy-efficient. 🏠 ✅

Many thanks to national #communitysolar champ U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján for his leadership in introducing the Community Solar Consumer Choice Act. Power prices continue to rise across the country due to capacity constraints, rising and volatile fossil fuel costs, and increasing system costs. Community solar and other distributed energy resources offer us the opportunity to (1) build reliable and affordable power NOW, (2) lower overall grid costs by building a smarter, more distributed, efficient electricity system, and (3) provide every American energy consumer the power to choose local solar.  The Community Solar Choice Act, if passed, could unlock the full potential of the $7 billion EPA Solar for All program, and deploy tens of billions in private capital to provide access to affordable local solar for millions of working families across the country. The bill cuts the red tape that limits competition, access, and freedom for consumers to choose where they get their power, and enables every state in the country the ability to create their own community program. Join us in supporting the Community Solar Choice Act today! Read our statement here: https://lnkd.in/gvbm52tY #CommunitySolar #CleanEnergyAccess #SolarForAll #Sustainability #CCSA #RenewableEnergy

If enacted, this legislation would truly bring the benefits of solar to everyone. And (indirectly) result in an immense amount of upgrades to our nation's distribution grid, paid for by each solar project! Plus benefits for LMI folks, plus tax revenue for municipalities, plus diversification of revenue for struggling farms...the list goes on.

Yesterday, Sunrgy Solar Distribution attended the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC - The Reliable One) public hearing on proposed rate hikes. Every citizen who spoke was infuriated by the proposal, and there is still time to push back. Here's what you need to know: OUC is proposing to: 1) Slash net metering 2) Increase rates during peak periods 3) Add a $5 to $15 fixed charge to ratepayers 4) Develop solar farms under their own solar business (SunChoice) The event was recorded and can be watched here: https://lnkd.in/gV-eGxmu This proposal would be a huge blow to rooftop solar progress in Orlando. We encourage you to unite and push back against their suggested changes. Join the next workshop on July 6th! Consider standing up to speak about how this would affect you or your business. Encourage your customers to attend—homeowners have an important voice in this decision! OUC's misleading proposal can be seen here: https://lnkd.in/gTNVAzue #OUC #NetMetering #Regression

🚨 CPUC’s Decision on Community Solar: A Setback 🚨 The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has sided with the utilities they regulate, reshaping the community solar landscape and raising concerns in the renewable energy industry. 🔍 Key Points: In a 3-1 vote, CPUC adopted changes to the Green Access Program tariffs, moving away from a community solar model that aimed to increase access to clean energy for low-income Californians. This decision could undermine years of progress and limit clean energy benefits to those who need it most. 🌟 Aspen Power’s Take: Aspen Power sees this decision as a setback. The original community solar approach sought to democratize clean energy access and support California’s climate goals. We believe that the new direction favors utilities over equitable clean energy distribution. 🚀 Moving Forward: We call on Governor Newsom and state leaders to reassess this decision to ensure a sustainable and inclusive energy future. Let’s work together to make community solar thrive and deliver affordable, clean energy for all Californians. #CleanEnergy #CommunitySolar #CPUC #EnergyEquity #AspenPower

Investing in a better energy future for all Australian homes and small businesses is a no-brainer.

It’s great to have the strong support of Solar Energy Industries Association at the federal level. At $1.5 billion / year, the net metered Puerto Rico solar+storage is signifant on the national stage too. In fact Ohm Analytics, a premier solar market tracking and projection firm, predicts the Puerto Rico market will grow to comprise 10% of the entire market of the USA in the next few years - if and only if the island’s Net Metering law continues uninterrupted. Thank you Abby Hopper, Colin Silver, Kevin Lucas, Charles Bolden, Gil Hough, Meghan Nutting, Amy Heart, Robin Dutta, Erika Symmonds, Angela Crowley-Koch, Logan O'Grady, Esq., Sterling Clifford, Glen Brand, Karla Loeb, Julia Pyper and everyone else with SEIA staff, on the SEIA board at stalwart solar stewards Mike Casey and Dr. MK Dorsey who met with with me, Javier Rúa-Jovet and Laura C. this week to strategize about how to support SESA Puerto Rico’s efforts to lead Puerto Rico’s solar+storage continued growth, in the face of an precedented federal government overthrow of the democratically (unanimously) passed law to protect Net Metering, the backbone policy of distributed solar+storage, until 2030 in Puerto Rico. I feel an extremely strong national commitment to Puerto Rico’s continued growth of solar+storage. It’s way too important for you or me to let fail now. https://lnkd.in/eab6HPtJ

☀️Here are three compelling reasons to go solar in Massachusetts: 1. Generous Financial Incentives: Massachusetts offers some of the best solar incentives in the U.S., including net metering, the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program, and the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). These programs reduce upfront costs, provide ongoing payments for the energy produced, and allow solar customers to sell excess energy back to the grid. 2. High Electricity Rates: Massachusetts has some of the highest electricity rates in the country, which means going solar can lead to significant savings. By generating your own electricity, you reduce your reliance on the grid and shield yourself from fluctuating energy prices. 3. Environmental Benefits and State Goals: Massachusetts is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has set ambitious climate goals, like reaching net-zero by 2050. By going solar, you contribute to a cleaner environment, support local renewable energy initiatives, and align with the state’s sustainability targets. #RenewableEnergyForAll #CleanEnergyForAll #transparency #gosolar #instagood #solarenergy #savemoney #Massachusetts #instagram #opportunities

As legislators head back to Washington, D.C., they need to remember that renewable energy has been a powerful driver of economic development and job creation for the past 14+ years. Thanks to key programs and policies like the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (ITC) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the sector has expanded rapidly, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and boosting economic growth, especially in underserved regions. Any cuts to investment tax credits or renewable energy programs would reverse these gains, risking job loss, economic slowdowns, and impacting small businesses that rely on these investments.   For example, studies show that renewable energy initiatives have created over 415,000 jobs in solar and wind alone, while the IRA is estimated to generate 1.5 million new jobs in clean energy over the next decade. This trajectory is vital to sustaining American innovation, supporting local economies, and ensuring we remain competitive globally. The U.S. needs to push forward on renewables, not back!

Today, the Energy Markets & Policy group with the Berkeley Lab released research on the benefits that #CommunitySolar can bring to households unable to access traditional forms of solar. The findings? Community solar subscribers are 6x more likely to live in multifamily housing and 4x more likely to rent. This reaffirms what we have known to be true for years — community solar is one of the best ways to increase equity in our energy system. Check out the study and our full statement below. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eS7FN9Y2