CESA Blog
The Clean Energy States Alliance is proud to present the newly updated Offshore Wind Power Hub, a comprehensive tool that tracks offshore wind developments in the United States to help state policymakers and advocates understand the status of offshore wind projects and make meaningful progress on offshore wind goals. The Offshore Wind Power Hub Interactive…
The Lesson of Texas – And a New Program States Can Use to Quickly Fund the Distributed Energy Storage Solution
If we learn anything from the Texas blackouts, and the death and suffering that have resulted, it should be this: distributed resilient solar+storage systems are no longer a luxury – they are an essential tool to protect citizens from power outages, and modernize the grid so outages become less frequent and severe. The thing is,…
Cleaning Up the Power Grid Requires a Federal-State Partnership
As the Biden Administration takes the reins of power and Democrats take control of the Senate, the prospects for real action on climate change have increased. President Biden has announced support for moving to a zero-emissions power sector by 2035. States are leading the way, with 17 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto…
Going Solar+Storage in Vermont: CESA’s Janice Ouellette Shares Her Story
My husband Dan and I feel very fortunate to live in the “Green” Mountain State of Vermont. In recent years, programs have emerged that have brought clean, renewable and affordable energy to the residential sector in the form of solar PV plus battery storage. Our path to solar plus storage has been a two-stage process,…
Three Reasons to Support CESA
Dear Colleague, As you are thinking about end-of-the-year charitable contributions, let me give you three reasons to consider including the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) in your giving; 1. There is a unique opportunity to slow climate change. The new administration coming to Washington will give high priority to global warming and clean energy. As…
NYSERDA’s Award-Winning Offshore Wind Program
Since 2016, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has been working to develop offshore wind in the most responsible and cost-effective way possible. Its first procurement of offshore wind power has demonstrated the resounding success of its years of careful study, stakeholder engagement and planning. New York’s goal of 9,000 megawatts…
SMUD’s Energy StorageShares Program: The First Virtual Energy Storage Program in the US
SMUD’s innovative Energy StorageShares program is the first virtual energy storage program in the US. StorageShares allows SMUD’s commercial customers to invest in an off-site battery storage system and enjoy energy cost savings without siting batteries at their facilities. In this newly launched pilot program, eligible commercial customers make an up-front payment to SMUD for…
New York State announces second offshore wind solicitation for up to 2,500 MW of projects
New York State issued its second offshore wind solicitation for 1,700 MW up to 2,500 MW—the largest such solicitation in the United States. The state’s first offshore wind solicitation in 2017 resulted in contracts for 1,700 MW of wind energy. Offshore wind is positioned to help New York achieve its goal of 50% renewable generation…
Michigan Solar Communities: Using a Community Solar Model to Expand Solar Access to Low- and Moderate-Income Communities
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Low- to Moderate- Income Access Program uses a community solar model to enable customers to access solar, obtain weatherization services, and save on their electric bills. The program represents a close partnership between two local electric utilities (Cherryland Electric Cooperative and the Village of l’Anse…
Energy Trust of Oregon’s Inclusive Innovation Project: Leveraging Community Expertise to Develop Equitable Solar Programs
Energy Trust of Oregon has a long history of clean energy innovation; it was involved in expanding the first Solarize program in the country in 2009. More recently, Energy Trust’s Inclusive Innovation Project sought to adapt innovative business development models to create effective solar programs that reach under-resourced customers throughout Oregon. Over the past four…
The Mass Solar Loan Program: Bringing Solar Ownership to Low-Income Homeowners
The Mass Solar Loan Program, launched by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) in 2015, combines strategic incentives and partnerships with local banks and credit unions to increase access to solar PV financing, while creating a robust solar lending market. Most recently, its incentives have focused exclusively…