Hello Energy Enthusiasts!
Today, I present some commercial-scale solar PV considerations that could illuminate your understanding of solar arrays for homes and also provide insights to any budding solar companies out there. A recent release of BloombergNEF’s 1H 2024 US Clean Energy Market Outlook has revealed some intriguing patterns concerning renewable energy. I’m here to break it down and shed light on what this means for solar panels for your home.
It turns out, Texas promises to lead in solar, wind, and battery storage deployments from 2024 to 2035, closely followed by California – both states are flourishing grounds for solar companies. Combining utility-scale solar PV farms and grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), the report forecasts an almost 1 TW increase in new solar and wind capacity in the United States between this year and 2035.
This is a testament to the incredibly vibrant renewable energy industry thriving within the United States, a sector that’s becoming a catalyst for efforts towards clean energy transformation.
Solar for your home holds immense potential and is supported by these future trends, but it’s essential to consider local policy and its impact. This came to light during the RE+ Texas conference in a session called “Don’t Mess with Texas: Opportunities and Challenges in Local Policy”.
Interestingly, despite Texas’s favorable business climate and a regulatory regime that has attracted many renewable energy developers, solar companies in Texas had a near fall in 2023 due to a volley of unexpected legislative proposals. There is a palpable concern that this scene may recur in 2025.
For instance, one such critical stumbling block for solar companies was Senate Bill 624, which would significantly impact the operation of renewable energy projects. It emphasized a stringent permit acquisition process from the Public Utilities Commission that doesn’t currently regulate renewable energy development.
Such legislative actions have prompted solar industry professionals to emphasize the importance of sharing more about what solar companies contribute to communities and infrastructure in order to preemptively tackle such challenges.
Solar companies often take measures that protect wildlife, ensure landscape integrity, avert soil erosion, and even undertake specialized studies for projects involving sensitive sites like wetlands. The efforts to minimize the environmental impact while rapidly scaling up renewable installations have been lauded, and adopting best practices like these comes highly recommended.
More than ever, buyers and home-owners are eager to install solar panels for their homes from solar companies that have good standards of development, construction, and operations.
One compelling suggestion from Luke Metzger of Environment Texas was a closer alignment with The Nature Conservancy’s “Site Renewables Right” map. This tool identifies the most ecologically sensitive parts of the country, prior to targeting renewable energy developments.
The ongoing political scene and upcoming 2025 Texas legislature has placed solar companies on their toes. However, the rise of solar as a vital renewable resource isn’t dampened and continues to power the push toward greener, cleaner energy.
Whether you’re considering solar panels for your home or curiously researching about solar companies, this knowledge serves as a beacon guiding your solar ventures. Stay tuned for more tips, insights, and updates on the solar industry. Harness the sun with me—your solar insider!
Stay Sunny, [Your name]
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/05/24/solar-industry-panel-cautions-about-2025-texas-legislature/
