This Week in Solar

EPA Trying to Cancel Solar for All Funding

What’s new

The Environmental Protection Agency is drafting letters that would void $7 billion in Solar for All grants the agency awarded last year to 60 states, tribes, and nonprofits.

Why it matters

That money was earmarked by the Inflation Reduction Act and intended to bring rooftop and community solar projects to more than 900,000 low-income households. Funding was briefly frozen in February by Trump’s Administration, released after a federal court order in March, and now faces full cancellation under the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The rollback would halt shovel-ready projects in 49 states and claw back money that grantees have already begun to spend on program design and community outreach.

Advocates say lawsuits are inevitable; the Southern Environmental Law Center warned the administration that “we will see them in court” if termination proceeds. Critics call the move self-defeating.

“Solar energy is cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable than dirty fossil fuels. By rescinding these grants, Donald Trump is denying our most vulnerable communities a resource that would have helped alleviate their financial burdens,” said Patrick Drupp of the Sierra Club.

The EPA declined to confirm the decision but said it is “working to ensure Congressional intent is fully implemented” under the new budget law.

Wood Mackenzie Predicts Temporary Solar Slowdown

What’s new

Wood Mackenzie’s new report on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1) says that ending the Section 25D investment tax credit will reduce U.S. residential-solar additions by up to 46% through 2030 compared with the firm’s previous projections from last year.

The firm now expects installations to decline until 2028, then resume growth as the market adjusts.

Why it matters

Removing the homeowner tax credit will make rooftop solar less affordable in the short term. This will force some inexperienced installers out of business and reduce the number of homeowners interested in going solar.

Thankfully, with falling solar component prices and ever-increasing energy prices, the long-term outlook of solar energy remains optimistic.

Wood Mackenzie projects the long-term opportunity remains large: nearly 1,500 GW of technical potential by 2050, with at least 150 GW added even in a conservative scenario. Rising retail electricity rates and future component cost declines are expected to restore growth after the near-term disruption.

Sources

EPA attempts to terminate $7 billion of Solar for All grants

EPA considers terminating $7B Solar For All program | Utility Dive

WoodMac: US residential solar will take big hit but rebound by 2028

The US residential solar total addressable market will exceed the current US generation fleet | Wood Mackenzie

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PJM Capacity Auction 22% Higher Than Last Year’s

What’s new:

PJM Interconnection’s latest capacity auction cleared at its $329.17 per MW-day price cap.

This is a 22 percent jump over last year’s auction, already a record-setting price increase across the 13-state grid.

Why it matters:

Because of this auction, electricity bills in PJM’s 13-state region (which includes PA and NJ) will rise by a further 1.5-5% in 2026-27. This price hike comes even after a cap negotiated by Pennsylvania’s governor Shapiro limited further increases.

PJM blames rapid load growth from AI data centers and rising peak forecasts for the record increase.

Gas units cleared 45 percent of the auction, coal 22 percent, and nuclear 21 percent. Solar and wind together made up just 4 percent, highlighting PJM’s further refusal to connect clean energy projects to their grid.

Analysts predict the Trump administration will cite the PJM auction results to justify keeping coal plants online.

Clean energy advocates say this latest auction is proof that “outdated and expensive” resources still dominate PJM’s energy mix.

Solar Generates More Energy Than Wind for First Time

What’s new:

In May, U.S. solar power crossed a milestone: it generated more electricity than wind for the first time (38,965 GWh vs. 36,907 GWh).

Why it matters:

Through the first five months of 2025, solar’s share of U.S. generation rose to 11% of U.S. energy generation (from 6.6% a year ago) and now out-produces hydropower, plus biomass and geothermal combined.

Paired with wind, solar helped deliver more than one-fifth of U.S. electricity so far this year, surpassing coal and nuclear.

Enphase Releases Easier-to-Install Battery

What’s new:

Enphase launched its 4th-generation Enphase Energy System built around the IQ Battery 10C

The update adds an IQ Meter Collar for whole-home backup (without needing to add a sub-panel) and the IQ Combiner 6C, which also simplifies solar installations.

Why it matters:

The new IQ Battery 10C stores 10 kWh of energy and delivers more continuous power than its predecessor. It can keep more circuits running at once during an outage without a wall full of gear.

The new Meter Collar lets installers back up entire main panels (not just a few “essential” circuits) without needing to add expensive sub-panels.

The Combiner 6C puts the solar, battery, and optional EV charger connections in one tidy cabinet.

The system comes with a 15-year limited warranty from Enphase.

Installers say the redesign will cut installation time and lower homeowner costs.

Sources:

PJM capacity prices set another record with 22% jump | Utility Dive

Are You a Customer of PJM? Its Capacity Auction Will Affect Your Electricity Prices in 2026 - Inside Climate News

Enphase releases 4th-gen energy system with 7.08-kW battery, IQ meter collar

Enphase Energy Launches Next-Generation Battery System for Smarter, Simpler Home Power

US solar produced more electricity than wind in May | Solar Power News | Renewables Now

Solar power out-produced wind for the first time in May

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UN Declares “Energy Transition is Unstoppable”

What’s new:

Two companion reports issued by UN agencies and the International Renewable Energy Agency conclude that global clean‑energy deployment has crossed “a positive tipping point” in cost and scale.

Why it matters:

Renewables are now more affordable than fossil fuels.

In 2024, renewables provided 74 percent of the increase in electricity generation and accounted for 92.5 percent of new generating capacity.

Clean energy investment rose to a record $2 trillion worldwide, $800 Billion more than investment in fossil fuels.

Presenting their findings at UN Headquarters, Secretary‑General António Guterres declared:

“The fossil fuel age is flailing and failing. We are in the dawn of a new energy era—an era where cheap, clean, abundant energy powers a world rich in economic opportunity. The greatest threat to energy security today is fossil fuels. There are no price spikes for sunlight, no embargoes on wind. Renewables mean real energy security, real energy sovereignty and real freedom from fossil-fuel volatility. This is our moment of opportunity.”

The studies show that onshore wind, utility solar and new hydropower were the three lowest‑cost power sources worldwide last year; solar electricity now undercuts the cheapest fossil option by 41 percent and wind by 53 percent.

Electric‑vehicle sales have climbed from 500,000 units in 2015 to more than 17 million in 2024, underscoring what Guterres called “a shift in possibility.”

Guterres welcomed the trend but warned that momentum remains uneven and too slow to keep global warming below 1.5 °C. “The energy transition is unstoppable, but the transition is not yet fast enough or fair enough.”

He criticized the “$620 billion in fossil‑fuel consumption subsidies “nearly nine times more than renewables receive” and urged governments to redirect that support, modernize grids, and file ambitious new climate plans before COP 30.

“Countries that cling to fossil fuels are not protecting their economies; they are sabotaging them,” Guterres insisted.

Another PA Township Goes Solar

What’s newWhitehall Borough, just south of Pittsburgh, has flipped the switch on a 22.2‑kW rooftop‑and‑canopy solar array that will cover more than 90 percent of its council building’s electricity and save local taxpayers nearly $100,000 over 25 years. 

Why it matters

Elysium Solar Energy installed the project, which they landed the Whitehall project through the Pennsylvania Solar Center’s G.E.T. Solar program.

The project follows the template first set by West Rockhill Township in 2021, when they contracted Exact Solar to design and build a system to offset the energy usage of their municipal buildings with solar.

“Our goal was to offset $16,000 in taxpayer dollars per year (totally offset our power bill and sell some back to the utility to shorten our payback period). The first year we offset $16,551, and the second year we offset 19,327. To date, we’ve saved taxpayers $36,078.”

– Jim Miller, former West Rockhill board member

Each new borough‑scale system strengthens the case that small towns can hedge against volatile power prices while cutting emissions. “We’ve been hit hard by rising energy costs, so it’s a relief to take power into our own hands,” Borough Manager Courtney Wertz said, noting the project will let Whitehall redirect savings into community services.

Since installing solar in 2021, West Rockhill has reported faster‑than‑expected payback four years after installation, and Whitehall is the latest in a string of townships joining the solar trend.

See West Rockhill’s installation here:

New Jersey and Pennsylvania Townships interested in going solar should contact Exact Solar through our website.

DOE Drops $4.9 Billion Backing for Grain Belt Transmission Line

What’s new

The Department of Energy has cancelled its conditional $4.9 billion loan guarantee for Phase 1 of Invenergy’s 800‑mile Grain Belt Express, a high‑voltage DC transmission line designed to move up to 5 GW of Midwestern wind and solar power towards the East Coast. 

Why it matters

DOE said the project is “not critical for the federal government to support.” adding that the company is unlikely to meet the financial conditions tied to the guarantee; the commitment had been issued last November but drew sustained opposition from Missouri landowners and GOP critics.

With the guarantee gone, Invenergy must rely on private financing to break ground next year.

The developer argues the line will cut consumer bills by $52 billion over 15 years and create 4,000 jobs. Clean‑energy advocates called the withdrawal “a backward move” just as demand surges from AI data centers and electrification.

Sources:

UN says booming solar, wind and other green energy hits global tipping point for even lower costs

UN’s Guterres declares fossil fuel era fading; presses nations for new climate plans before COP30 summit | UN News

Pennsylvania borough goes solar through nonprofit program

West Rockhill Township: A Shining Example - Exact Solar

DOE terminates loan guarantee for Midwest U.S. wind and solar transmission line

Trump administration canceled a $4.9B loan guarantee for a line to deliver green power

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U.S. Opens National‑Security Probe Into Solar‑Grade Polysilicon

What’s newThe Trump administration, in collaboration with the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security, and the Commerce Department, launched a Section 232 investigation into whether imported polysilicon and its downstream products threaten national security. 

The inquiry (which was quietly initiated on July 1, but not revealed until July 14) could let the President impose new tariffs on top of the existing 50% Section 301 duties on Chinese materials.

Why it matters

Polysilicon is the raw material for close to  95 % of solar panels and key semiconductor wafers.

Beijing‑backed producers now hold roughly 93 % of global polysilicon capacity. It’s unlikely that U.S.-based polysilicon suppliers could meet sudden “Buy American” demand.

The Department of Commerce has asked for public comments on:

* How much polysilicon (and related materials) the U.S. market needs today and is likely to need in the future

* Whether factories on American soil can cover that demand

* How heavily U.S. buyers rely on overseas suppliers

* Risks that come from importing from only a few foreign sources

* The potential threat of foreign governments curbing exports and using supply control as economic leverage

* What it would take to scale up domestic polysilicon production and lessen dependence on imports

Stakeholders have until mid‑August to submit comments and data.

House GOP Spending Bill Cuts Renewables, Shifts Cash to Nuclear & Fossil R&D

What’s newHouse appropriators released their fiscal 2026 Energy‑Water budget that cuts DOE discretionary funding by $1.4 billion, with a 46 % hit to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy and zero dollars allocated for solar and wind R&D.

Why it matters

The new guidelines scrap programs from the Inflation Reduction Act designed to fund PV cost‑curve research, offshore wind, building efficiency, and electric‑vehicle infrastructure.

That funding is rerouted to civilian nuclear, advanced reactor fuel, and fossil‑generation R&D, in line with President Trump’s agenda to “restore firm baseload power.”

The Office of Grid Deployment and the Office of Electricity each see double‑digit cuts, even as utilities warn of record load growth from AI data centers.

“I am proud that, in tight fiscal times where every dollar spent must be scrutinized, the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill makes historic investments in our national security and nuclear deterrent, restores American energy production, and stops wasteful, unnecessary spending.”

- Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn), House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chair

After the subcommittee markup on July 15, the bill must square with the Senate’s version, which is yet to be released.

PA’s Solar‑for‑Schools Faces Non-Renewal

What’s newPennsylvania’s Solar for Schools program (launched with $25 million last year and already oversubscribed) risks losing the federal 30 % IRA credit and may be left unfunded in the state’s delayed budget.

Why it matters

The Trump Administration’s new tax law lets districts claim the credit only if construction starts by July 2026 or the array is online by the end of 2027.

Forty‑five entities have secured $22.5 million for 73 arrays from Erie to Philadelphia. Applications for solar for schools funds were 3 to 1 in the first round.

Pennsylvania Senate GOP leader Joe Pittman has questioned whether the $25 million in funding should be renewed. House Democrats argue the grants cut utility bills and property‑tax pressure for schools, freeing up funding that can be put to better use for internal programs.

Districts like Upper Darby (with six projects in the works totaling $2.3 million) and Tunkhannock (with eight projects totaling $1.7 million) may downsize or abandon installations if they’re unable to claim the tax credits.

School leaders and interested citizens must contact representatives to ensure that this funding is renewed.

Sources:

US launches new tariff investigation into imported polysilicon

Trump starts “weaponization” of polysilicon investigation

House Republicans propose energy budget that would further slash funding for renewables

House releases Energy-Water spending bill with deep cuts - E&E News by POLITICO

A popular, bipartisan solar program to save Pennsylvania schools on energy costs might soon go dark

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit exactsolar.substack.com

What’s new

On July 7, President Trump signed an executive order that does two things:

* Directs the Treasury to tighten the “begin-construction” safe-harbor rules and accelerate foreign-entity (FEOC) guidance within 45 days, instead of the December 2026 deadline set in the new budget law.

* Directs the Department of the Interior to review whether any policies “favor” wind or solar on public lands.

Both agencies are required to report their findings to the President within 45 days.

Why it matters

Trump issued the order to cement a deal with House Freedom Caucus members who demanded deeper executive action against “green subsidies” in exchange for their votes on the budget bill.

The order, titled “Ending Market-Distorting Subsidies for Unreliable, Foreign-Controlled Energy Sources,” targets 48E and 45Y, wind and solar credits the Senate placed on an accelerated phase-out.

“We believe the administration is aligned with us on terminating those Green New Scam subsidies. We believe we’re going to get 90-plus percent of all future projects terminated,” said Republican House member Chip Roy.

What it changes

Utility-scale projects counting on the 5 % spend or physical-work test for safe harbor now face new, faster-arriving hurdles that could void their tax-credit eligibility. Developers must navigate complex foreign-ownership and supply-chain rules nearly two years sooner than planned.

Analysts warn the change could revert rules to the House’s stricter “begin and finish” standard, jeopardizing hundreds of projects and up to $500 billion in planned clean-energy investment.

The full text of the Executive Order is linked below.

Solar Is Now EU’s No. 1 Power Source

What’s new

Last month, solar produced the largest share of electricity in the European Union, supplying 22% of the grid and narrowly surpassing nuclear.

At least 13 member states set monthly solar records:

* The Netherlands hit 40%

* Greece 35%

* France, Italy, Portugal, and eight others posted new highs as well.

Coal’s share sank to an all-time low 6%. Ten EU countries used zero coal in June; overall coal generation has dropped 31 % year-over-year in EU member countries.

Why it matters

Solar supplied just 1% of EU renewable power in 2008. Exponential year-over-year growth has given EU members a much more resilient, less carbon-producing power grid. Analysts say repurposing 1.2 million hectares of retired coal sites could power a nation the size of Germany.

Record solar output cushioned early-summer demand spikes during record heat waves across the EU.

With renewables already covering the sunny daytime peak, experts call for massive battery storage, smarter grids, and demand-side tools to push fossil generation out of dawn-and-dusk hours.

7.2-MW Solar Array Now Powers Half of Port Newark Terminal

What’s new

Standard Solar just completed a 7.2-MW solar installation at the 320-acre Port Newark Container Terminal. The project combines 3.8 MW of canopy-mounted arrays over active truck lanes with 3.4 MW of rooftop and parking-lot systems.

Why it matters

The array was built without interrupting the day-to-day operations of the terminal.

The system supplies about 50% of the terminal’s annual electricity and can send excess power to the local grid.

Standard Solar will own, operate, and maintain the array.

New Jersey backed the 7.2-MW solar project at Port Newark Container Terminal to advance several policy goals at once:

* Cutting emissions from one of the state’s busiest freight hubs

* Strengthening grid resilience in Newark

* Meeting statewide clean-energy targets.

State and local officials view the project as a practical demonstration that renewable energy can operate seamlessly within heavy-traffic, space-constrained logistics sites.

Sources:

Trump issues executive order instructing Treasury to tighten safe harbor rules

Trump seeks tighter restrictions on wind and solar with executive order | Utility Dive

Ending Market Distorting Subsidies for Unreliable, Foreign‑Controlled Energy Sources – The White House

Standard Solar Delivers 7.2 MW System at Port Newark Container Terminal, Advancing Clean Energy at One of the East Coast’s Busiest Shipping Hubs | Morningstar

Standard Solar builds 7.2-MW solar project at active New Jersey shipping port

‘Europe is becoming a solar powerhouse’: Solar tops EU electricity as coal sinks to new low | Euronews

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit exactsolar.substack.com

Senate Passes OBBB, Scales Back Solar Tax Credits

What’s new

On July 3rd, the House passed the One Big, Beautiful Bill into law 218-214, after Speaker of the House Mike Johnson managed to flip several holdouts.

The new bill removes a proposed 50% excise tax on solar projects using FEOC components, but locks in phase-outs of the ITC/PTC.

What the bill changes for 48E and 45Y (Commercial and utility-scale):

* Commercial and utility-scale projects that break ground within one year of the bill’s enactment can still claim the full credit if they are placed in service by December 31st, 2027, but FEOC restrictions kick in on December 31st, 2025.

* Projects breaking ground after 12/31/25 lose credits if they use “material assistance” from prohibited foreign entities of concern (FEOC), including China, making claiming the credits more difficult.

* Transferability remains intact as long as the tax credits do.

What the bill changes for 25D (residential properties):

* The 30% 25D ITC for homeowners expires at year-end 2025.

* Residential solar electric systems leased to homeowners keep credit access as long as 48E and 45Y last, but leased solar hot-water and small wind units do not.

Bright spots in the Senate’s version:

* Stand-alone storage ITC stays intact through 2033.

* The 45X manufacturing credit remains unchanged through 2030 and begins phasing down January 1st, 2030.

New Jersey Unanimously Passes New Solar Permitting System

What’s new

The NJ Senate just passed S-4100 (39-0) to create a State Smart Solar Permitting Platform that promises to cut much of the state’s red tape with online approvals for code-compliant home solar and battery projects.

Why it matters

New Jersey has the fifth-slowest solar interconnection queues in the country. Faster, uniform permitting means:

* More homes can go solar sooner

* Lower soft costs for installers

* NJ families save even more on electricity

How it works

The Department of Community Affairs must launch the 24/7 automated platform within one year of enactment.

It will run code-compliance checks, generate construction docs, and issue permits on the spot. It’s an ambitious project, and time will tell if the state can pull together a functioning portal in time.

Local option

The legislation allows municipalities to skip the state tool if they deploy an equally capable system and file an annual performance report with DCA.

Sources:

Senate passes budget bill at least without crazy solar excise tax

In Trump’s Megabill, a Clean Energy Phase Out and a Big, Beautiful Tax Break for Met Coal Exporters - Inside Climate News

Republican budget bill dismantles climate law passed by Democrats

Amendments to IRA Tax Credits in the Senate Budget Bill | White & Case LLP.

NJ Senate unanimously passes instant online residential solar permitting legislation

Going solar is easier as ‘State Smart Solar Permitting Platform’ bill passes Senate | ROI-NJ

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Record-Breaking Battery Deployment in Q1

What’s new:

The U.S. battery market rang in 2025 with its strongest first quarter on record. Developers added more than 2 GW of capacity between January and March, most of it utility-scale. Residential batteries contributed 458 MW of that total.

Why it matters:

Rising electricity demand has grid planners scrambling for fast, flexible capacity to store power for times of need. Batteries, like solar, can be deployed almost anywhere.

Even with the uncertainty around Congress’s new bill, batteries are being deployed at a record-breaking pace, especially in the residential market.

It’s deceptive to attribute the utility-scale projects to Q1, since many of those projects were originated years ago. Residential battery projects, however, are much faster to deploy. Much of that 458 MW of residential storage would have originated in December, January, or even February.

Proposed cuts to the Investment Tax Credit could erase a quarter of expected build-outs over the next five years, hitting residential-scale projects hardest.

* Utility-scale developers brought 1.5 GW online, a 57 % jump over Q1 2024.

* Residential installers added 458 MW, with California and Puerto Rico driving 74% of those installs.

* Wood Mackenzie projects 15 GW/49 GWh of battery storage deployment for 2025, but a potential 29% dip in 2026 if tax credits shrink.

Sen. Kevin Cramer Claims House is Reconsidering Solar Incentives

What’s New:

On Tuesday, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said GOP negotiators are reconsidering the rooftop-solar incentives they cut from earlier drafts of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

His simple assurance that “There is a little bit of work being done on rooftop solar” was enough to send Sunrun stock up by 21%, and SolarEdge and Enphase stocks up 18% and 10%, respectively.

Why it matters:

Both House and Senate drafts had scrapped those incentives in their drafts of the bill. Many solar stocks dipped as a result. Cramer hinted that the final Senate language “might be a little more generous than the House,” easing the sudden cliff that threatened billions in investment and thousands of jobs.

It remains to be seen whether this is another baseless political statement or if it has merit. As soon as the Senate’s final draft is released, the solar industry will have a much better idea of what language is going back to the House for final approval.

Policy Uncertainty Causes $1.4 Billion in Project Cancellations in May

What’s new:

According to the bipartisan research group E2, companies canceled or shelved roughly $1.4 billion in planned U.S. factories and renewable-power projects in May.

Those withdrawals push 2025’s running total to $15.5 billion in abandoned investment tied to solar modules, batteries, and electric-vehicle components in states all across the country.

Why it matters:

E2’s data show Republican-held districts are feeling the pain, losing more than $9 billion in projects and about 10,000 jobs so far this year.

Companies cite the One Big, Beautiful Bill’s proposed early sunset of the 45X manufacturing credit and strict “foreign entity” sourcing rules as the reasons they’re freezing capital.

While a handful of new announcements (Including Rivian’s supplier park in Illinois) added nearly $450 million in May, analysts warn that domestic clean energy manufacturing investment is on a downward trend.

If Congress fails to provide a predictable path forward for manufacturers, more cancellations are likely to follow.

Sources:

Energy Storage Market Continues Strong Growth in Q1 2025 | Wood Mackenzie.

US installs more energy storage in Q1 2025 than ever before

$1.4 billion in solar, EV, storage developments cancelled in May

US policy uncertainty leads to $1.4 billion in clean energy cancellations

Solar Stocks Soar as GOP Mulls Changes to Tax Credits in Bill - Bloomberg

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What's New:

Republican lawmakers in the Senate released their draft of the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" this week. They kept most of the House's clean-energy rollbacks and made some minor changes. For residential and commercial solar installers, however, the bill is virtually unchanged.

Why it Matters:

Their draft, released June 16, still eliminates the residential solar credit six months after enactment and bars installers from claiming the commercial credit if customers use a leasing model.

Commercial solar projects lose their new-project incentives on an accelerated schedule:

* Can claim the credits full value only if construction starts by the end of 2025

* 60% in 2026

* 20% in 2027

* Gone after 2028

Hydropower, geothermal, batteries, and nuclear, meanwhile, keep 100% of the current credit until 2033 and step down gradually through 2036

This will put solar energy, the nation's cheapest and fastest-to-deploy power source, at a competitive disadvantage.

Utility-scale solar projects can still claim 100 % of the ITC or PTC if they meet two tests:

* Begin physical work or incur the "5 % safe-harbor" costs any time up to December 31, 2025.

* Enter their Commercial Operation Date (COD) on or before December 31, 2029.

That placed-in-service date is one year later than the House-passed version, which cut off full credits after 2028.

Projects that slip into 2030 under the Senate plan still qualify but at only 60% of the credit's value. If they reach COD in 2031, they receive 20%, and after that, the credit disappears altogether.

The manufacturing credit that has lured panel, inverter, and racking factories to red-state counties survives intact through 2029, but homeowner heat pump and efficiency incentives vanish.

The Solar Industry's Protest

Hours after the draft was released, SEIA's CEO Abigail Ross Hopper said the proposal "would pull the plug on homegrown solar energy and decimate the American manufacturing renaissance," warning of higher power bills and stalled AI-driven demand.

On June 18, hundreds of installers, factory workers, and suppliers poured onto Capitol Hill for a "Save Main Street Solar" rally, hoisting yellow signs and a banner that read the slogan in three-foot letters.

Speakers came from all over the country:

* Dan Conant, CEO and founder of West Virginia-based Solar Holler, described his crews putting "Georgia-made panels on steel mills and schools" and warned that gutting tax credits would "kick out the knees" of a fast-growing industry.

* Retired Navy commander Steve Rutherford, now owner of Tampa Bay Solar, said one stroke of the pen could sideline "thousands of veterans" employed in solar across Florida.

* Enphase executive Marco Krapels, whose firm opened U.S. factories after the IRA passed, pleaded for "a glide path, not a cliff."

However, major changes at this point are unlikely.

There will not be a public markup on this bill; it's headed directly to the Senate floor. Any changes will come from the private negotiations between Senators this week and next.

What they decide will determine whether the country's fastest-growing energy industry continues to grow or hits a wall.

Pennsylvania House Passes Solar for All

The Pennsylvania House quietly moved the state closer to accepting $156 million in federal Solar for All funds this week, tucking language into Fiscal Code bill HB 1189, striking last year's budget clause requiring an extra vote before the state could accept the money.

The move (championed by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler and Majority Leader Matt Bradford) came after advocates rallied against a previous amendment that would have tied the dollars to a rewrite of net-metering rules.

The measure grants the state's energy authority permission to spend the grant on rooftop and community solar projects in low-income and environmental justice communities. More than 14,000 households could benefit.

The bill now heads to the GOP-controlled Senate and then to Governor Josh Shapiro; supporters are pressing lawmakers to finalize it before the federal September 1 deadline so Pennsylvania doesn't have to send the money back to Washington.

We cannot emphasize enough that this is federal government money that is already earmarked for infrastructure improvement in Pennsylvania, and state legislators only need to accept it.

Sources:

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2025/06/senate-budget-draft-makes-minor-improvements-but-keeps-major-cuts-to-solar-incentives/?spMailingID=159837&puid=3010351&E=3010351&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=159837

https://heatmap.news/politics/senate-finance-big-beautiful-bill-ira

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/us-senate-floats-full-phase-out-solar-wind-energy-tax-credits-by-2028-2025-06-16/

https://seia.org/news/icymi-hundreds-of-american-solar-workers-and-advocates-rally/

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Solar Industry Leaders Show Up in Washington

What’s new:

Yesterday, solar leaders from every corner of the country descended on Capitol Hill on June 11th for a high-stakes lobby day as the Senate races to finalize its reconciliation bill before July 4.

Among them were representatives from Pennsylvania companies who delivered a letter to Pennsylvania Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, urging them to oppose proposed federal tax credit cuts in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The letter was signed by more than 130 Pennsylvania solar and energy efficiency companies, including us at Exact Solar!

Why it matters:

Industry leaders warned that rolling back Inflation Reduction Act incentives would threaten thousands of solar jobs and more than 100,000 related energy jobs in Pennsylvania.

Industry leaders made the case for preserving and improving solar tax credits, since the version of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” that came out of the House essentially repeals them.

Solar Energy Industries Association CEO Abby Hopper, who’ll be in DC leading the charge in the coming months, had this to say in a LinkedIn post:

“We’re sprinting through a marathon. Every day matters as the Senate pushes to finish the reconciliation bill. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to release its proposal soon, and we need a surge of advocacy.”

Even if you can’t make it to the capital in person, there are several things you can do to make your voice heard locally.

Here’s SEIA’s Playbook:

* Keep Reaching Out

Engage your senators and representatives directly, especially if they represent a district where you have projects or business presence.

Their advice:

“Every office measures constituent interest by the volume and quality of outreach. Don’t let up.”

* Tell Emotional Stories, Backed Up By Numbers

Do you have staff members who love their jobs and have poured their heart and soul into building skills? Consider highlighting them on social media and asking your audience to reach out to their Senators to protect people like them. Use that momentum to book a meeting with your Senators, and show up with specific data: how many local projects you have, which jobs are at stake, and how private investment tax revenue will be impacted if the bill passes in its current form.

* Op-eds & Local Media

Use the highlights and data you’ve built to publish op-eds in local papers and trade outlets. Share real-world impacts and company stories. If you’ve already written one, send it to SEIA. They’re building a comprehensive resource for lawmakers.

* Share Photos & Updates

If you meet with a Senator or their staff, post photos on social media and tag SEIA so they can amplify it!

As we covered last week, 13 House Republicans sent a letter asking Senate leadership to fix the bill. So advocacy is working! Keep up the pressure.

Sunnova, Mosaic, and Powin File for Bankruptcy

What’s new:

Three major clean energy companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the first weeks of June.

* Sunnova, the second-largest U.S. residential solar installer using third-party ownership, will sell off assets and wind down operations after failing to secure new financing amid high interest rates and federal policy uncertainty. The company laid off 55% of its workforce and owes millions to local solar installers and banks.

* Mosaic, a top residential solar and home improvement lender, also cited high interest rates and the House’s move to cut solar tax credits as a key reason why they’re filing for Chapter 11. Mosaic intends to restructure while continuing loan servicing, but warned of ongoing payment delays to installer partners.

* Powin, a leading utility-scale battery storage company, filed in New Jersey and will spin off its software services while selling hardware assets. Supply chain issues, project cancellations, and tariff uncertainty contributed to Powin’s financial troubles.

Why it matters:

All three companies point to uncertainty in the market as the reason they’re filing for bankruptcy.

Developers, contractors, and customers across the U.S. face ripple effects as these industry giants delay paying their debts and finishing their in-progress projects.

Large companies in the solar industry going out of business have reignited this debate:

“Is residential solar a local or national product?”

We’d love to hear your opinions. Leave a comment below on this email with your answer!

Sources:

Sunnova files bankruptcy, lays off 55% of workforce

Solar finance platform Mosaic files for bankruptcy

Large-scale ESS company Powin files bankruptcy

US residential solar lender Mosaic files for bankruptcy amid policy uncertainty

Pennsylvania solar companies hand-deliver letter opposing tax credit cuts

Pa. solar installers were counting on U.S. Rep. Fitzpatrick to keep tax credits. Some feel 'abandoned' by GOP rollbacks

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit exactsolar.substack.com

What's new

The clean energy industry is holding its breath as we wait for the Senate’s version of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

Five Republican senators are voicing support for clean energy tax credits as the Senate considers repealing key parts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

These are:

* Thom Tillis

* Lisa Murkowski

* Jerry Moran

* Susan Collins

* John Curtis

Remarks we've heard from these five senators so far:

Sen. Thom Tillis (NC) told The Washington Post:

"An immediate phaseout would have a chilling effect on future investments in the domestic energy sector."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK) made this statement on the Senate floor earlier this year:

"Energy makes us stronger, makes us less vulnerable, and it is an asset, not a liability, and we need to treat it as such. We need to be unleashing our resources, including all of our renewables, because that's all part of the energy basket as well."

Sen. Jerry Moran (KS) said in a statement to KSHB 41 News:

"I will support policies, including tax credits that will benefit energy producers in Kansas… We need more investments in energy production, and tax credits are one way to bring production to the U.S., promote our energy independence, support manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and further investments in domestic energy production."

A spokesperson for Sen. Susan Collins (ME) told Maine Morning Star that:

"Senator Collins supports clean energy and this issue is one of many the Senate is going to have to consider as it puts together its reconciliation bill."

Sen. John Curtis (UT) published an op-ed on June 4 in Utah's Deseret News, warning that full repeal of IRA energy credits would hurt America's strategic position.

In it, he called for careful consideration as the Senate writes its version:

"We simply cannot afford to treat good policy ideas as guilty by political association. That would be a quest for political power over intelligence and strategy... We must build a thoughtful, principled bill that doesn’t pull the rug out from under American innovators. Doing otherwise risks freezing investment, delaying domestic production, increasing costs, and forfeiting our energy edge and national security to China and Russia."

Curtis also emphasized energy security, saying:

"The U.S. must never depend on adversaries for our energy… We shouldn't just be energy independent, we should be energy dominant... What will truly unleash energy production isn't a new spending or deduction line, it's liberating American ingenuity from the shackles of Washington bureaucracy and unnecessary regulation... Doing otherwise risks freezing investment, delaying domestic production, increasing costs, and forfeiting our energy edge and national security to China and Russia."

It remains to be seen if any of these Senators will fight for clean energy policy when it matters most. As we saw with the House, 21 representatives signed a letter supporting the tax credits, but none of them voted for it when it counted.

New Jersey Storage Program Needs Overhaul

The Issue:

A new bill in New Jersey could allow four large transmission-connected projects to claim 1,000 out of 1,500 MW of planned storage incentives, leaving little for behind-the-meter and distributed battery storage installers.

Why it matters:

Behind-the-meter storage can be deployed much faster than transmission-scale projects. New Jersey's grid needs storage fast, so behind-the-meter battery installers must be incentivized as well as larger companies.

The ask:

The Mid-Atlantic Solar and Storage Industries Association (MSSIA) is asking companies that install behind-the-meter storage projects in New Jersey to provide data on their past and current battery projects.

They'll share this data with the state legislature to show the speed of deployment of behind-the-meter storage vs. transmission-scale projects.

Companies interested in submitting battery data can call 973-886-0526 or use MSSIA's contact form to find out more.

Pennsylvania's Solar For All Funding is Still Trapped in Legislative Limbo

What's new

Pennsylvania has already been awarded $156 million through the federal Solar for All program to help 14,000 low-income households go solar, but the money is stuck in legislation.

The state legislature added a clause to last year's budget requiring separate approval before the money can be used. A new bill (HB 362) would fix that, but it was amended with language that threatens Pennsylvania's net metering policy if passed.

Why it matters

This is money already awarded to Pennsylvanians. Lawmakers need to remove the amendment and pass the bill or another similar piece of legislation.

If they don't, the state could lose funds intended to cut electric bills and create clean energy jobs in rural and low-income areas as the Trump Administration tries to claw back funding.

Sources:

https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/06/04/tax-credits-us-energy-dominance-responsible-targeted-growth/

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/clean-energy-tax-credits-senate-repeal/

https://penncapital-star.com/energy-environment/solar-grants-held-hostage-in-pennsylvania-legislature-as-demand-soars/

https://www.alleghenyfront.org/amendment-to-pa-solar-bill-puts-industry-on-edge/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit exactsolar.substack.com