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The Virginia Clean Economy Act, narrowly passed by both chambers of the state legislature, sets one of the largest energy storage targets in the country at 2.4 GW by 2035 and pushes state regulators to devise a carbon dioxide cap and trade program that complies with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Solar growth from the Virginia Clean Economy Act could create 29,500 direct solar jobs in Virginia, and tens of thousands of indirect jobs, according to a new study released today by a coalition of rooftop and shared solar companies and advocates.

Seven states – Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina, and Vermont – have enacted legislation to promote pollinator-friendly solar development. A new white paper by the Clean Energy States Alliance provides an overview of these state efforts and offers suggestions for what other states can do to promote solar while also creating or preserving healthy habitats for pollinators.

Rocky Mountain Power contends that rooftop-generated power is not worth much, while clean-power advocates and the solar industry counter that rooftop systems provide broad benefits to the public at large and to the utility in the form of reduced stress on the electrical grid and power-generation needs.

A major rain and wind storm struck the state at the close of October, knocking out power to some 115,000 customers. Among those affected, 1,100 homes managed to keep the lights on thanks to pilot programs specifically designed to promote resilient backup power with energy storage.

North Carolina has emerged as the epicenter of the region’s fight over wood pellets, a popular substitute for coal in European power plants that critics say is making climate catastrophe worse, not better. Pressure from activists has garnered rhetorical gestures from Governor Roy Cooper against the international biomass trade, but state officials have continued to grant requests from Enviva, the world’s largest pellet maker, to expand production.

Soleil Lofts, an under-construction luxury apartment complex in the Utah city of Herriman, announced that it will host the largest renewable energy setup of its kind. The 600-unit complex will feature five megawatts of solar panels. Each unit will also host a Sonnen EcoLinx battery to store the energy, combining together to offer 12.6 megawatt-hours of storage.

Governor Ralph Northam’s administration is exploring a possible alliance with the New York to finance projects.

Clean Energy Finance Forum

Virginia Approves 100% Clean Energy Legislation, Pushing State Toward 2.4 GW Storage, RGGI

Study Shows Virginia Clean Economy Act Could Create 29,500 Local Solar Jobs

State Pollinator-Friendly Solar Initiatives

How Much Is Rooftop Solar Worth? Advocates Seek Utah Data to Counter Utility’s ‘Lowballing'

Batteries vs. Blackouts: 1,100 Homes Powered Through Vermont Outage With Storage

With Looming Loss of European Subsidy, Wood Pellet Industry Faces Turning Point

Solar Energy: World's First Virtual Power Plant of Its Kind Coming to Utah

Virginia Looks to New York Green Bank for Possible Clean Energy Financing