Focus on Energy的动态

"In the U.S., more than 800 K-12 schools added new solar arrays in 2022-23, and over the last 10 years, the amount of solar capacity at K-12 schools has more than quadrupled, according to a report by Generation180." Energy cost is one of the highest expenses for school districts in Pennsylvania, and state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Philadelphia, prime sponsor of Solar for Schools – a bill that passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro – said on-site solar can save school districts millions of dollars in energy bills over the life of the project, while lowering costs for taxpayers, creating good-paying jobs, and contributing to a healthier planet. https://hubs.ly/Q02Nb2WX0

Government Solar Programs It is great that the government is giving tax breaks to homeowners who put solar panels on their roofs. I would suggest that governments give tax breaks to companies who cover parking lots with solar panels. 1. Power would be generated in parking areas for electric cars where they need it. 2. Businesses could give away the power at a reduced rate to lure in customers. 3. The excess power could go for the businesses’ needs. 4. It doesn’t take up new land that could be better utilized for other purposes. 5. It provides shade to lower temperatures and provides shelter from snow and rain for customers. Think how almost all gas stations have covered their gas pumps. 6. No need for long transmission lines from large solar farms that need to be protected and lose power over distances. If you don’t think it can be done in the Northeast, check out what Rutgers University has done. https://lnkd.in/eZXvRgBe How about the parking lots around all the pro and college stadiums in the country? I challenge universities, shopping centers, box stores and gas stations to install solar on their parking lots. Schools with solar energy can invest cost savings back into what matters: students & teachers. in Pennsylvania show your support for HB1032.

Renewables are a large, and growing, source of tax payments and revenue for landowners across Texas, particularly in rural Texas. "By their very nature, rural counties tend to be more agriculturally based and have fewer people and less industry per area than other regions. This arrangement is desirable for many Texans, but smaller tax bases often put strains on the budgets of rural counties. This strain is compounded by the fact that rural counties are often large in land area and have many miles of roads to maintain to be able to provide essential services to their residents. In Texas, these areas have recently become the focus for renewable energy and energy storage development given their abundant resources and available space." Oldham county (pop. 2,112) stands on the border between Texas and New Mexico and the border between ERCOT and SPP where the two grids share the same transmission poles. Oldham’s Spinning Spur 1 wind farm sends power to SPP on one side while the wires on the other side carry power from Spinning Spur 2 & 3 to ERCOT. "Today, about 50% of Oldham counties’ revenues come from wind. And, because of the agreements that school districts can make with wind farms, three out of the four school districts in the county were able to hold bond elections and build new facilities. Three-quarters of the cost of the new school facilities can be attributed directly to the wind industry."

If your organization is investing in clean energy, there may be an opportunity to take a "direct pay" credit - claiming cash directly from the IRS! The Inflation Reduction Act has created new opportunities for exempt organizations to monetize these investments through new credits and incentives. This is an interesting article about higher education institutions leading the way on clean energy. https://lnkd.in/eRuF4B4Q

The good????news just keeps coming from my home state of #WestVirginia when it comes to the continued growth of #solar????. In the latest example of how the industry can transform even the deepest recesses of #coalcountry, the Wayne County Public School????district, with some help from my friends at Solar Holler, are going to move the entire county school system to solar power by 2025.? ? U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, III touted the development as transformational and said it was the direct result of President Biden's landmark #climate legislation,????the #InflationReductionAct. This kind of investment????will improve the lives of all involved and will bring well-paying jobs to this struggling area of the country. Well done, everyone - and let's get more of this moving forward. The The Associated Press has the full story:? https://lnkd.in/etYcQSHX?? #Deliveringacleanenergyfuture #commercialsolar #communitysolar

I suggest everyone living and/or doing business in upstate and western New York read this important message from the president of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation!

California Governor Gavin Newsom's commitment to an income-based electricity billing plan has caused a rift among Democratic lawmakers in the state. The plan, which has been praised as an "equitable" boost for the state's transition to zero-emission electricity, has faced opposition from tenants' advocates, environmental groups, and even supporters of solar energy. These groups argue that the extra fees will add to renters' already high living costs and punish conservation-minded households while subjecting everyone to invasive income checks. The growing public pressure over the issue may signal that Californians have hit a limit to their tolerance for Sacramento's energy policies. Electricity rates have risen nearly 70 percent since 2010, when the state started to break from fossil fuels, and California households pay nearly 83 percent more than the average for homes elsewhere in the United States. This emerging rift over a policy that was initially supported by Democratic lawmakers is a rare hiccup in the party's typically lockstep approach to energy mandates. It remains to be seen how Governor Newsom and the state's lawmakers will address this issue and balance the competing interests of tenants, environmental groups, and the state's transition to zero-emission electricity. #sustainability #future #innovation #sior #realestate #texas #florida #california Steve Conrad Andrew Donna Steve Mark Doug Christopher Eric Gerald Todd Greg Alex David Todd John Edward Doug John

Race is a determining factor in who struggles to pay their energy bills in Georgia. That’s according to a new study from researchers at Georgia Tech who found that the energy burdens of Black households are higher than other races and that gap persists even when accounting for other factors like wealth. Energy burden, or how much a household pays from its income to cover gas and electricity, has become more salient in public policy discussions as the nation confronts the twin problems of rising temperatures and aging infrastructure. Utilities are under pressure to bring new renewable energy sources online while also meeting the energy demand from a surge in manufacturing and new data centers. Over the past year or so, Georgia Power, the largest utility in the state by number of customers, has bumped its rates by about 10%, an increase of roughly $14.38 to most ratepayer’s monthly bills. More: https://lnkd.in/emzmqN4k

Josh Becker, California state senator, and Marc Berman, California state assemblymember, critique Income Graduated Fixed Charges Quote: "Last year, California passed Assembly Bill 205. We supported the legislation due to the critical clean energy reliability and permitting streamlining provisions, as well as the creation of a financial relief program for utility bills incurred throughout the pandemic. "However, tucked into the bill was a provision that required the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to modify a portion of electricity rates to make them dependent on a household's income. "There are real concerns and real risks to this approach. "Most of the proposals that have been submitted would create additional financial burdens for low- and middle-income customers in the Bay Area, since the income thresholds are tied to federal and statewide income thresholds. .... "In addition, this change would disincentivize energy conservation and efficiency, as well as rooftop solar and battery use, as it would increase the fixed costs for many households relative to what they pay per kilowatt of electricity used. "Undermining our energy conservation and efficiency goals, especially in this moment when the Bay Area is looking to electrify buildings and the cost of a kilowatt of electricity can make-or-break the financial decision to switch a home appliance to electric, is a huge problem." #cpuc #igfc #ratedesign #fixedcharges #california #incometax Read the rest of this article at the link below.

The Inflation Reduction Act has expanded clean energy credits and implemented the elective pay option for tax-exempt organizations, making it an important opportunity for many institutions. As seen in the Treasury's report linked below, colleges and universities are already utilizing this legislation to undertake clean energy projects. These projects not only promote clean energy adoption, but also allow institutions to take advantage of the favorable provisions. If your organization is actively involved in clean energy construction projects or planning to undertake such projects soon, reach out to Crowe to see how your organization can benefit from this legislation as well. #inflationreductionact #taxexempt #highereducation