Diane Cardwell reports on the creative ways in which solar installers are taking advantage of government subsidies, creative financing, and cheap Chinese-made panels to make solar power accessible to the mass market.
With the number of residential and commercial solar installations more than doubling over the last two years, it seems as though solar power installation companies have found the right blend of economics and marketing to beging to penetrate the mass market. While the manufacturing side of the industry in the United States has struggled, due mainly to competition from Chinese firms, "Major players in the installation business, like SolarCity, Sunrun and Sungevity, are thriving," writes Cardwell.
"The structure of the deals varies by company and state, but the overall
approach is generally the same: Customers agree to pay a fixed monthly
charge or rate for all the solar power produced, and the companies that
finance the systems pay for the installation and take the value of any
tax breaks or renewable energy credits for which the customer would
ordinarily be eligible. Some companies concentrate on financing and use
local contractors for sales and installation, while others do everything
themselves."
"Through such arrangements, industry executives say, customers can lower
their power bills, escape the uncertainty of fluctuating energy costs,
and avoid the complex bureaucracy of federal and local credits, rebates,
grants and tax breaks."

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

Expanding Access to Design Education at Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction Technologies program highlights the role of community colleges in preparing nontraditional students for careers in architectural and construction technologies.

Integrating Human Rights Into Energy and Extractive Sector Transitions
Why just transition efforts must move beyond economic considerations by embedding human rights principles into business practices to ensure equitable, transparent, and accountable outcomes for affected communities and workers.

Blocked, Restored, Blocked Again — Housing Funds in Legal Limbo
Since Trump took office, the administration has blocked multiple affordable housing funding streams. Here's a look at which funds have been frozen, which have been reinstated, and which are in the courts.
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