Travis Lawson’s Post

🌞 The state just reopened its $1M Automated Solar Permitting Grant program. Faster permits = more solar energy + job creation. 🌍💡 Local and Tribal governments, apply now before funds run out! ⚡️ #gosolar #cleanenergy #colorado #sustainability #solarpower #renewableenergy

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨: The California Supreme Court has agreed to review the state's NEM 3.0 net metering scheme, following significant backlash and legal challenges from environmental groups. This decision could be a game-changer for the future of renewable energy in California. 🔆 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞:   - 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬: 𝐈𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑, the NEM 3.0 program heavily reduced compensation for surplus solar energy returned to the grid by 80%, heavily affecting the state's solar industry. - 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲: this has resulted in a severe downturn in the industry, and some estimate over 17k solar jobs lost, bankruptcies, and worries about the state's ability to meet its clean energy targets. 🌍 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞:   - 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬: reduction in net metering rates under NEM 3.0 affects both solar adoption rates and California’s climate goals. Rooftop solar = less reliance on non-renewable power + more grid resilience. - 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥: there are also questions on whether the CPUC failed to acknowledge the broader societal benefits of rooftop solar, focusing narrowly on economic factors. 💬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:   Some see the Supreme Court’s review as an opportunity to reassess the value of distributed solar energy i.e., going beyond economics, highlighting the environmental benefits and necessity for a sustainable future. 📊 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭:   𝟏. 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: post-NEM 3.0 implementation has seen a huge drop in solar installations and economic stability in the sector. 𝟐. 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: to meet the 2045 clean energy target, California needs to build 6 GW of solar-plus-storage annually, this policy may lead to missed targets. 📣 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤?:   What impact do you think the Supreme Court’s decision will have on the future of solar energy in California? Can innovative solutions help reconcile the needs of utilities and the solar industry? Ref: https://lnkd.in/eJNwrA7w #SolarEnergy #Sustainability #CaliforniaLaw #RenewableEnergy #NetMetering #EnergyPolicy

Discover how the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is planning to expand solar energy development in 11 western states, including Nevada. Learn about the revised Western Solar Plan and its aim to promote responsible solar development while preserving environmental resources. #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/esRZVbGq #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #GreenTech #SustainableLiving #EcoFriendlyInnovation

The community solar landscape is rapidly evolving, with New Mexico and Hawaii recently enacting community solar legislation, positioning them to rise in prominence. While most states without existing community solar laws have seen legislative efforts, many, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Alaska, and Montana, have not yet passed such measures. California and Minnesota are making legislative changes to enhance community solar viability. Additionally, the federal government's Solar for All initiative is funding 60 grantees to expand community solar across the U.S., focusing on low-income and underserved communities. EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe highlighted that this funding will enable thousands of new projects nationwide, bringing clean, affordable solar energy to homes (CNet). Credit to: CNet Photo by Department of Energy All images are copyright of their respective holders. https://lnkd.in/dgsYAAcP #climatechange #sustainability #earth #nature #renewablenergy #renewables #renewableresource #renewablepower #decarbonization #cleanenergy #cleanpower #greenhousegases #ghg #windpower #windenergy #communitysolar

**🌞 Powering Progress: How Massachusetts Is Revolutionizing Solar Energy with Senate Bill 2967** - ✅ **Simplified Permitting for Faster Solar Installations**: Senate Bill 2967 streamlines permitting processes, eliminating delays that have historically slowed solar projects for homes, businesses, and community initiatives. - ✅ **Expanding Solar Access to Underserved Communities**: The legislation prioritizes equitable access, ensuring that low-income neighborhoods and marginalized communities benefit from clean energy opportunities. - ✅ **Boost to Renewable Energy Infrastructure**: A focus on grid upgrades and community solar programs means long-term sustainability and resilience for Massachusetts' clean energy future. --- Massachusetts is paving the way for a brighter, greener tomorrow with the passage of Senate Bill 2967. This new legislation, signed into action by Governor Maura Healey, targets key pain points in the solar sector, including cumbersome permitting processes that have slowed solar array projects across the state. Streamlining these requirements means solar installations can proceed more efficiently, benefiting both businesses and homeowners. More importantly, SB 2967 ensures that clean energy solutions reach communities often left out of the renewable revolution. From affordable solar options for low-income neighborhoods to expanded community solar projects, the bill

🎉🎉In 2004, GRID Alternatives completed its first two solar installations on residential homes—what was once just an idea had become a reality. People were excited and talking about something that simply did not exist– people-first solutions in the renewable energy space. The State of California was abuzz but unsure how and where to reach underserved communities that could benefit from solar installations. Through our first partnership with Habitat for Humanity, we put solar panels on the roofs of homes being built for and with local families. This also started to grow a diverse volunteer program that attracted participants from various professions and interests, all eager to participate in how GRID was changing the renewable energy industry. By 2006, GRID’s momentum got the attention of the California Public Utilities Commission to help fulfill California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative, which had set a goal of building one million solar energy systems on homes, schools, farms, and businesses throughout California. This opportunity took GRID across California, allowing us to open six offices to serve regional needs. It also provided years of experience in renewable energy programming, leading to federal and state grants and expanding GRID to Colorado and Washington, D.C. Now, 20 years and over 31,000 solar installations later, GRID received another monumental opportunity, the Solar for All grants from the Environmental Protection Agency. These grants will provide us with the funding to create Good Energy in communities across the country and reach over twenty states in the coming years. As we celebrate this 20-year journey, click the link below to join GRID’s legacy, and together, we can build a sustainable future for years to come. 🎉🎉 https://lnkd.in/e8QRmNTP #RenewableEnergy #CommunityFirst #CleanEnergyForAll #GRIDAlternatives #BIPOCCommunities #GoodEnergy #20YearsOfImpact #SustainableFuture #EnergyJustice #VolunteerPower

Maryland Shines Brighter with New Law to Advance Solar Energy Great news for Maryland! Governor Wes Moore has signed the Brighter Tomorrow Act into law, making it significantly easier for residents to embrace solar energy. The act streamlines the permitting process, increases net metering caps, and provides financial assistance for low- and moderate-income households looking to go solar. This is a major step forward for Maryland's ambitious goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035. By making solar more accessible and affordable, the Brighter Tomorrow Act paves the way for a brighter future powered by renewable energy. Do you think laws like the Brighter Tomorrow Act are an effective way to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources? Why or why not? https://lnkd.in/gcnyBibh #SolarEnergy #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #Maryland

A very informative article from the #BostonGlobe on #communitysolar #netmetering. The opportunity for low- to moderate-income households to not only access renewable energy, but also lower their monthly electric bills. This approach is also clearly beneficial to #Massachusetts Housing Authorities. Some do already, but many do not. We would love to assist anyone in this opportunity. #environmentaljusticecommunities #housingauthority #renewableenergy https://lnkd.in/evbt8zKc

" The Critical Role of Fieldwork in Solar Farm and Power Plant Planning " Fieldwork is the foundation of successful planning and implementation for renewable energy projects like solar farms or power plants. While desktop research and data modeling provide valuable insights, boots-on-the-ground field research uncovers the critical, real-world factors that can make or break a project. Here are just a few reasons why fieldwork is essential: * Site Assessment: Understanding local geography, climate, and terrain firsthand ensures optimal panel placement, accessibility, and long-term sustainability. * Environmental Impact: Field studies help evaluate the potential effects on local ecosystems, water resources, and wildlife, which is crucial for regulatory compliance and minimizing disruption. * Grid Connection: Analyzing proximity to existing infrastructure, like substations or transmission lines, is vital for reducing energy loss and ensuring efficient power distribution. * Community and Land Use: Engaging with local communities and stakeholders early in the process ensures smoother development and alignment with local needs and concerns. Every successful solar project starts with thorough, informed field research. It’s not just about identifying a location—it's about understanding the land, the community, and the environment to create sustainable and efficient projects for decades to come. #RenewableEnergy #SolarFarms #FieldResearch #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #SolarEnergy #PowerPlants

Check out the latest update on the legal battle over solar panel fees in Alabama! A federal judge's decision to allow a lawsuit challenging fees imposed on solar panel users could have significant implications for the state's renewable energy landscape. Find out how this case is shaping the future of solar power and environmental sustainability in Alabama. #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #LegalBattle #AlabamaSustainability https://lnkd.in/dbqPJrNb #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #GreenTech #SustainableLiving #EcoFriendlyInnovation