Renew. Rethink. Read.
Exploring the future of legacy commercial solar.
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill plans to freeze New Jersey’s utility rates on day one and expand clean energy to tackle soaring power bills. PSEG, the state’s largest utility, says it’s ready to cooperate by boosting investments in storage, efficiency, and transmission. The move could reshape how New Jersey balances affordability and reliability as energy demand rises.
Governors across the Mid-Atlantic are considering a “Bring Your Own Generation” policy to let data centers build their own power plants in exchange for faster grid connections. The proposal could ease pressure on PJM’s congested system but raises major questions about equity, reliability, and who pays for shared infrastructure if private power becomes the norm.
U.S. electricity prices have risen 40% since 2020, the steepest jump in a generation. A major driver is the explosion of AI data centers, which consume massive power while often paying discounted rates. That leaves regular households covering the difference through higher bills. Fair pricing and smarter policy are needed to balance growth with affordability.
Minnesota’s largest coal plant is being transformed into a 600-MW battery energy storage hub, alongside new solar and additional storage across the state. Xcel Energy’s Sherco Energy Hub shows how legacy fossil sites can become clean power anchors that lower costs, support reliability, and bring new jobs to local communities.
A new study from CUNY found imported solar panels prevented 600 premature deaths and saved $28 billion in health and climate costs between 2014 and 2022. But tariffs since 2017 have blocked over 10 GW of new capacity, reversing gains and leading to preventable pollution-related deaths. True energy security means scaling clean energy, not restricting it.
With Corning’s new wafer plant in Michigan, the U.S. can now produce every part of a solar panel domestically, from silicon to finished modules. It marks the first fully onshored solar supply chain in American history, boosting energy security, jobs, and manufacturing independence. The next challenge is keeping this momentum stable.
