Solar Energy News
Utility-scale development, rooftop solar policy, and manufacturing trends
Solar is now one of the lowest-cost sources of new electricity in much of the country. Utility-scale projects are moving through interconnection queues. Rooftop solar policy is changing as utilities and regulators revisit net metering rules. The IRA accelerated domestic manufacturing. Here's what to watch.
Key Issues
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Net Metering Wars
California's NEM 3.0 slashed rooftop solar economics by 75%. Other states are watching, and utilities are pushing similar changes nationwide.
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Interconnection Backlog
200+ GW of solar stuck in queue. Average wait: 5 years. FERC Order 2023 aims to speed things up, but implementation is slow.
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Domestic Manufacturing
IRA incentives are bringing solar manufacturing back to the US. First Solar, Qcells, and others are building gigawatt-scale factories.
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Trade & Tariffs
AD/CVD duties on Chinese panels. Southeast Asia tariff pause ending. Supply chain uncertainty as policy shifts.
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Utility-Scale Growth
Massive projects across the Sun Belt. Solar + storage increasingly paired. Corporate PPAs driving demand.
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Permitting & Siting
Local opposition to large solar farms growing. Agricultural land debates. Setback requirements tightening in some states.
Key Players
Key States
Related Topics
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Tracking utility-scale projects, rooftop policy, net metering changes, and IRA manufacturing