Illinois will switch to a new net solar billing structure on January 1, 2025.
Trade to impose tariffs on solar energy imports from Southeast Asia, some by as much as 300%
Washington, DC
Following an affirmative determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission in June that the U.S. solar panel industry is materially harmed by imports of silicon solar cells and panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, Commerce released its preliminary tariff amounts. These range from less than 1% to almost 300% and are expected to increase further in the final determination.
The Treasury Department is updating the proposed rules for low-income IRA bonus credits
Washington, DC
The Treasury Department has released updated rules for the Low-Income Solar IRA Bonus Credit, including additional selection criteria to ensure that at least 50% of allocations in each category support projects owned by tax-exempt entities. A recent Treasury report shows that the bonus credit will trigger 800 solar energy projects for affordable housing projects by 2023.
The Senate bill would expand low-income access to community solar
Washington, DC
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico introduced the Community Solar Consumer Choice Act to make community solar more accessible to low-income residents. The bill would expand existing grant, loan, and financing programs to include community solar programs and require each electric utility to offer a community solar program that provides equal access to all ratepayers.
Colorado revives automated solar subsidy program
Denver, Colorado
The Colorado Energy Office announced it will reopen its Automated Permit Processing for Solar (APPS) grant program and award $1 million in funding, with Alamosa County and Boulder County receiving the first round of grants. Depending on the population of the applicant’s jurisdiction, they can apply for maximum awards between $40,000 and $100,000.
Illinois will switch to ‘Smart Solar Billing’ in 2025
Springfield, Illinois
Smart Solar Billing will launch in Illinois on January 1, 2025, and the solar industry has launched a new website where consumers and businesses can learn more about the new billing system. Energy credits from excess energy will now be applied to the supply portion of a customer’s energy bill rather than to the entire bill, as is currently the case with full retail net metering.
Democrats in Illinois are introducing a bill to set a new energy storage goal of 8.5 GW
Springfield, Illinois
On the three-year anniversary of the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, Democrat state representatives introduced a bill to set a goal of 8.5 GW of energy storage. A recent study found that to achieve CEJA’s goals, Illinois must build at least as much energy storage to avoid an energy capacity shortage starting in the 2030s.
Licensing rule for California storage facilities suspended as trial continues
Sacramento, California
A California court ruled in favor of a solar and storage coalition to strike down the Contractors State License Board’s new rule requiring contractors to have C-10 Electrical Contractor licenses to work on certain energy storage systems. The new requirement was supposed to go into effect Oct. 1, but will now be put on hold as the process to determine whether it violates state law continues.
Gov. Newsom vetoes a bill that would have reversed the CPUC’s multimeter solar rules
Sacramento, California
Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation that would have allowed California schools and apartment buildings to use solar energy they generate on site, instead of having to buy it back from utilities. SB 1374 would have restored rights that the California Public Utilities Commission took away in 2023 from properties with multiple electric meters.