William Driscoll

National lab assesses alternatives to “direct transfer trip” that can block solar projects “Direct transfer trip,” a costly approach to ensure that distributed generation shuts down during a power outage, can make solar projects uneconomical. A national lab report points to a combination of...

“Direct transfer trip,” a costly approach to ensure that distributed generation shuts down during a power outage, can make solar projects uneconomical. A national lab report points to a combination of inverter-based approaches as a viable alternative.
#EnergySky
pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/02/26/n...

How battery deployment in the Eastern U.S. could scale as in Texas and California A study led by two energy lawyers documents the causes of “lagging” battery energy storage deployment in the Eastern U.S. and recommends 15 policy solutions that could help scale BESS deployment.

A study led by two energy lawyers documents the causes of “lagging” battery energy storage deployment in the Eastern U.S. and recommends 15 policy solutions that could help scale BESS deployment.

Study lead authors are Miles Farmer and Kim Smaczniak at Roselle LLP. (My latest story for PV Mag USA)

Doubling the pace of adding solar and storage in the PJM region could save $178 billion by 2035 Adding 78 GW more solar and 54 GW more battery storage in the PJM grid region than projected in a status quo scenario would drive a 20% reduction in system costs and improve reliability through 2035, ...

Adding 78 GW more solar and 54 GW more battery storage in the PJM grid region than projected in a status quo scenario would drive a 20% reduction in system costs and improve reliability through 2035, says a study for @advancedenergyunited.org conducted by @synapseenergy.bsky.social.
#EnergySky

Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue

New Jersey makes it easier for distributed generation up to 2 MW to interconnect New Jersey is now a “top ten” state for interconnecting distributed solar and storage, said nonprofit group IREC, as projects with an export capacity of up to 2 MW will now qualify for a more streamli...

New Jersey is now a “top ten” state for interconnecting distributed solar and storage, said nonprofit group IREC, as projects with an export capacity of up to 2 MW will now qualify for a more streamlined interconnection process.
#EnergySky
pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/02/03/n...

National lab projects enhanced geothermal cost could decline to $100/MWh by 2035 Declining costs for enhanced geothermal could make the technology a stronger competitor to solar plus storage. A national lab atlas shows wide potential for enhanced geothermal deployment, primarily i...

National lab projects enhanced geothermal cost could decline to $100/MWh by 2035. Declining costs could make the technology a stronger competitor to solar plus storage. A national lab atlas shows wide potential for enhanced geothermal deployment in the U.S. (My latest for PV Magazine USA)
#EnergySky

My statement on the funding deal.

Navajo Power’s 750 MW solar + storage project secures Navajo Nation land lease Looking at development opportunities beyond the 750 MW project, Navajo Power’s CEO said that expanded transmission capacity in the region would better position the Navajo Nation as a regional energy p...

Navajo Power’s 750 MW solar + storage project secures Navajo Nation land lease. Looking at development opportunities beyond the 750 MW project, Navajo Power’s CEO said that expanded transmission capacity in the region would better position the Navajo Nation as a regional energy player.
#EnergySky

Sponsor of Utah’s plug-in solar law sees momentum toward a UL standard Utah’s enactment of a plug-in solar law last year has prompted the safety certification body UL to begin developing a safety standard for the equipment, said the law’s sponsor, while plug-in solar man...

Utah’s enactment of a plug-in solar law last year has prompted the safety certification body UL to begin developing a safety standard for the equipment, said the law’s sponsor. Legislators in twenty-two states are discussing plug-in solar legislation, a nonprofit co-founder said.
#EnergySky

"ICE will leave Minnesota if you hand over your voter rolls" tells you everything you need to know.

This was never about immigration or fraud. It was always about rigging elections.

Yale Divinity School selects Luma Solar PV roofing shingles for a 200 kW roof A Luma Solar roofing system with integrated PV is now a key feature of a sustainable building on the Yale University campus.

Yale Divinity School selects LUMA Solar roofing shingles for a 200 kW roof. Company President Robert Allen explains the technology in my PV Mag story, with input from architectural firm Bruner/Cott.
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pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/01/19/y...

A guidebook on plug-in balcony solar for state-level policymakers Responding to increased state-level interest in plug-in solar, a nonprofit group has published an in-depth guidebook to help state policymakers navigate the path to allowing households to use the syst...

Given state-level interest in plug-in solar, the Clean Energy States Alliance has published an in-depth guidebook to help state policymakers working to allow households to use the systems.
#EnergySky

Grid-forming inverters significantly enhance grid stability, national lab finds The Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative in Hawaii, which deployed storage before grid-forming inverters became available, became a test case for diagnosing grid issues that can arise with older grid-fol...

Grid-forming inverters significantly enhance grid stability, national lab finds.
This story quotes Anderson Hoke and Jin Tan with the National Laboratory of the Rockies and covers related work by the UNIFI Consortium and ESIG (Energy Systems Integration Group).
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U.S. would reach 100% renewable energy by 2148 at recent pace China is outpacing the U.S. toward 100% renewables for all energy uses and is on track to reach that standard by 2051, versus 2148 for the U.S., projects a study of 150 countries by Stanford professor...

China is outpacing the U.S. toward 100% renewables for all energy uses and is on pace to reach that standard by 2051, versus 2148 for the U.S., projects a study of 150 countries by Stanford professor Mark Jacobson.
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pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/01/09/u...

ERCOT outperformed on interconnection in 2024 likely due to “connect and manage” More than 25 GW of large-scale generating projects seeking an interconnection agreement in the ERCOT grid region reached that stage in 2024. Berkeley Lab said ERCOT’s “connect and manage” approach “is...

More than 25 GW of large-scale generating projects reached an interconnection agreement in the ERCOT grid region in 2024. Berkeley Lab said ERCOT’s “connect and manage” approach “is likely one reason” for the grid operator’s success.
@josephrand.bsky.social
@tnorris.bsky.social
#EnergySky

California water district plans up to 21 GW of solar on land fallowed due to water shortages A water district serving the western San Joaquin Valley has established a long-term blueprint for developing solar, storage and transmission on lands that “can no longer sustain irrigated agriculture....

Up to 21 GW of solar in California: A water district serving the western San Joaquin Valley has established a blueprint for developing solar, storage and transmission on lands that “can no longer sustain irrigated agriculture.” (My latest story for PV Magazine USA)
#EnergySky

New York program to deploy solar on previously developed sites yields 12 MW in five years New York State’s Build-Ready program, designed to clear hurdles to solar or storage deployment on previously developed sites, has faced challenges well beyond the expiration of tax credits under the O...

New York State’s Build-Ready program, designed to clear hurdles to solar or storage deployment on previously developed sites, has faced challenges well beyond the expiration of tax credits under the OBBBA tax and spending law, according to a program review. (My latest for PV Mag.)
#EnergySky

Colorado utility PSCo must offer flexible interconnection for community solar, storage Flexible interconnection is one of the most impactful, cost-effective tools for enabling distributed energy resource deployment, said a joint filing by the Solar Energy Industries Association and othe...

Flexible interconnection is one of the most impactful, cost-effective tools for enabling distributed energy resource deployment, said a joint filing by the Solar Energy Industries Association and others. (My latest for PV Mag.)
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Grid analysts challenge Bonneville Power’s pace in adopting advanced conductors As the White House encourages utilities to use advanced conductors to help interconnect new renewable generation, the federally-owned utility Bonneville Power is moving slowly to use the high-capacity...

Bonneville Power has been slow to upgrade transmission lines with advanced conductors--the quickest way to expand transmission capacity--said grid analysts in 2024: pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/05/29/g...

A solar + storage playbook for New York City Mayor-elect Mamdani Mayor-elect Mamdani appointed New York Solar Energy Industries Association Executive Director Noah Ginsburg to his mayoral transition team in November. New York SEIA says the “partnership” between the...

A solar + storage playbook for New York City Mayor-elect Mamdani: The New York Solar Energy Industries Association executive director joined Mamdani's transition team in November. The “partnership” with the mayoral administration “presents an historic opportunity,” says NYSEIA.
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New Jersey offers incentives for up to 65 MW of agrivoltaics projects The Rutgers University rural agrivoltaics program has advised New Jersey regulators on the design of a pilot agrivoltaics program. Projects receiving support will need to track data on agricultural pr...

The Rutgers University rural agrivoltaics program has advised New Jersey regulators on the design of a pilot agrivoltaics program. Projects receiving support will need to track data on agricultural production on fields with and without solar installations. My latest story for PV Mag USA.
#EnergySky

New York Power Authority renewables plan shows financial challenges for building solar The levelized cost of building a solar project in New York far exceeds the expected revenue from selling solar power, says a NYPA plan, with project success potentially depending on the sale of renewa...

A New York Power Authority plan shows the financial challenges for building solar, saying the levelized cost of building a solar project far exceeds the expected revenue from selling power. Project success may depend on the price NYPA can get for the renewable energy credits it sells.
#EnergySky

Rural electric co-ops form engineering group to evaluate smart inverter standards Smart inverters enable more distributed solar to be added to the grid, and some rural co-ops are evaluating smart inverter standards as more co-op members become prosumers.

Smart inverters enable more distributed solar to be added to the grid, and some rural co-ops are evaluating smart inverter standards as more co-op members become prosumers.
My latest for PV Mag USA.
#EnergySky

Require a gas unit to add 90 MW of batteries to renew its air permit, group says When a New Jersey gas unit’s air pollution permit is up for renewal, state law allows the public to recommend ways for the unit to reduce its emissions, such as adding batteries. That's what one group...

When a New Jersey gas unit’s air pollution permit is up for renewal, state law allows the public to recommend ways for the unit to reduce its emissions, such as adding batteries. That’s what @cleanenergygroup.bsky.social has done. My latest story for PV Magazine USA.

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Nothing's more than 100% efficient, not even a perpetual motion machine.

California study finds electrification can put downward pressure on electric rates Wide adoption of electric vehicles that can displace fossil fuel combustion with renewable power can also lower rates by about 3 cents per kWh, if the needed distribution grid upgrades are built effic...

California study finds electrification can put downward pressure on electric rates: Wide adoption of electric vehicles can lower rates by about 3 cents per kWh, if the needed distribution grid upgrades are built efficiently and with cost constraints. My latest story for PV Magazine USA.
#EnergySky

Virginia expands access to community solar A change to a utility’s proposed approach to minimum billing opens community solar to more Virginia customers, while a potential 150 MW increase in the amount of community solar capacity is within rea...

Virginia expands access to community solar: A change to a utility’s proposed approach to minimum billing opens community solar to more Virginia customers, while a potential 150 MW increase in the amount of community solar capacity is within reach. My latest for PV Magazine USA.
#EnergySky

Kudos for grid operator SPP’s plan to link transmission planning and interconnection The Solar and Storage Industries Institute has endorsed SPP’s proposal to reform interconnection by building transmission, identifying promising areas for transmission interconnection, and inviting in...

The Solar and Storage Industries Institute has endorsed grid operator SPP’s proposal to reform interconnection by building transmission, identifying promising areas for transmission interconnection, and inviting interconnection applications. My latest for PV Magazine USA.
#EnergySky

Two approaches to prevent queue-jumping by thermal generation A study from Grid Strategies and ACORE finds evidence that priority transmission access offered by three grid operators has yielded generating portfolios “heavily weighted” to thermal resources. The s...

Two approaches to prevent queue-jumping by thermal generation: Grid Strategies LLC and American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) found evidence that priority transmission access offered by three grid operators has yielded generating portfolios “heavily weighted” to thermal resources.
#EnergySky

Plan now for faster clean energy support in a future presidential administration, report says To enable construction of federally supported clean energy projects during a single presidential administration, a report offers 14 recommendations, and an overriding imperative to plan now.

Plan now for faster clean energy support in a future presidential administration, a report says. The authors seek to enable construction of federally supported clean energy projects during a single presidential administration. (My latest for PV Mag USA)
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pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/11/21/p...