U.S. surpasses 5 million solar installations

SOLAR: The U.S. has surpassed 5 million solar installations, with more than half of those coming online since 2020, according to a new industry report. (Power Magazine)

ALSO:

• The Biden administration is expected to announce today that it will end a tariff exemption for double-sided solar panels, with a White House official saying the tariffs are needed to ensure a secure supply chain. (The Hill)
• A 110 MW solar farm for customers of a Tennessee electric cooperative establishes a bulwark for community-driven solar in the heart of the largely renewables-reluctant Tennessee Valley Authority’s service area. (Canary Media)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Honda says it will invest $65 billion developing electric vehicles over the next several years, with the first North American models to arrive in 2026. (Associated Press)
• Copper isn’t being mined quickly enough to keep up with U.S. policies for transitioning to electric vehicles and clean energy, creating a potential bottleneck for automakers, a University of Michigan researcher says. (Bridge)
• GM holds an event in California to showcase electric vehicles’ ability to provide backup power for homes. (The Verge)

OIL & GAS:

• Senate Republicans introduce a resolution to overturn Interior Department rules that would increase costs for drilling on public lands. (E&E News, subscription)
• Republican lawmakers urge FERC to move forward on applications for liquified natural gas export projects. (Reuters)
• An environmental group says the oil industry would gain a $110 billion windfall from policy concessions offered by former President Donald Trump as he encouraged executives to donate $1 billion to his campaign. (The Guardian)

CLIMATE:

• A new report says industrial carbon emissions will decline only 5-10% by 2040 under current policies, with the sector on track to surpass transportation as having the largest carbon footprint by the end of the decade. (Canary Media)
• A coalition of power companies has joined a lawsuit filed last week to limit heat-trapping emissions from power plants. (E&E News, subscription)
• Portland, Maine is considering a novel program to fund climate initiatives with proceeds from renewable energy credits from city-owned solar arrays. (Energy News Network)

WIND: The developers behind the 704 MW Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island install the first foundation needed for the facility’s 65 turbines. (Providence Journal)

TRANSMISSION: Nevada advocates criticize the federal Bureau of Land Management for proposing that the Greenlink West transmission line run through a national monument while avoiding a mining site. (Nevada Independent)

JOBS: Community colleges around the country are offering training programs in clean energy technology, in response to a surge in job demand since the passage of federal climate legislation. (Associated Press)