The latest in local and national renewable energy policy: DC council reviews climate bills, extending a solar pilot program in Maryland, a solar setback in Virginia, and the federal government's latest actions around the Inflation Reduction Act.
GRID Alternatives is deeply disappointed in the initial guidance released by the Biden Administration regarding its implementation of the new Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). With little explanation, the Treasury Department rejected program design recommendations developed through intensive collaboration with clean energy industry, environmental nonprofit, affordable housing, and social, economic, and racial justice advocate leaders.
As the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer, GRID was pleased to participate in the Community Solar Power Summit in San Diego, CA on January 18-19, 2023 and host a “Developer & Contractor Diversity Networking Fair,” on January 19. With more than 50 participants in the room, this event provided a dedicated space for a diverse network of contractors to connect with national and regional community solar developers.
GRID Alternatives believes that the final decision is gambling on a complicated incentive structure that uses a conservative estimate of project installation costs in order to achieve a targeted nine-year payback. It remains to be seen whether this approach will truly achieve more environmental and economic justice through clean energy.
The CPUC’s proposal falls short of what is needed to help millions of California households access distributed solar and storage and it must be revised.
With President Biden's signature on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), we've finally made federal progress in the effort to create a better, healthier future for people and the planet.
If enacted, the Inflation Reduction Act would be a massive step forward to protect our environment—transforming our energy system and helping all communities respond to climate change.
We’ve long said that climate change affects marginalized communities first and most. Similarly, attacks on reproductive rights threaten to keep marginalized communities marginalized. Bodily autonomy and environmental justice are two sides of the same coin.
