Archive for year: 2020

The Mass Solar Loan Program, launched by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources in 2015, combines strategic incentives and partnerships with local banks and credit unions to increase access to solar PV financing, while creating a robust solar lending market.

The results are in from a new wind and solar study commissioned by California’s three big investor owned utilities. The main takeaway: solar paired with battery storage is just as reliable as conventional fossil fuel power plants when it comes to delivering power when the grid needs it most.

If utilities are to address increasing renewable penetration and 100% clean energy state policy goals, as well as calls for increased resiliency, distributed storage must be brought to scale and harnessed to provide real grid benefits.

Last year, with technical support from Clean Energy Group, Massachusetts became the first state to officially incorporate behind-the-meter battery storage into its energy efficiency plan, and utilities began enrolling customers across the state in a groundbreaking pay-for-performance program.

This morning, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit upheld a major federal rule (FERC Order 841) that should lead to significantly expanded battery storage use in wholesale markets across America.

Wildfire and hurricane season is here and with it comes an influx of weather-related power outages. The health implications of power outages this summer are further compounded this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 State Leadership in Clean Energy Award winners are tackling major clean energy challenges, including bringing the benefits of clean energy to low- and moderate-income communities, paving the way for large-scale offshore wind development, reducing emissions in the agricultural sector, and developing new business models for emerging technologies like energy storage.

Clean Energy Group stands in solidarity with the national movement to fight racism across the country.

As we look forward to an uncertain future with COVID-19 and energy security, it is important to develop new solutions that will put resilient solar and storage within reach for everyone, including those most vulnerable to power outages and the health impacts that could result from them.

As we evaluate and re-evaluate the undoubtedly substantial and lasting impacts COVID-19 will have on our work and the work of our partners across the country moving forward, it is more evident than ever that resilient power is a critical component to improving health outcomes in the event of a crisis like the world is currently experiencing.