Focus
IRS makes it harder for wind and solar projects to claim tax breaks
The New York Times – August 15
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on August 15 issued new rules that would restrict the ability of wind and solar companies to claim federal tax credits, a move that could hinder numerous renewable energy projects under development. The Administration’s domestic policy bill, which was signed into law on July 4, was already set to rapidly phase out existing tax credits for new wind and solar farms unless they began construction in the next 12 months. The new IRS guidance would add further hurdles by tightening longstanding rules for what counts as the “beginning of construction,” which will make it harder for some projects to qualify before the tax credits expire.
News
Solar may account for half of new U.S. electricity added this year, EIA says
Reuters – August 20
Developers are on track to add 33 GW of solar power in the U.S. this year, accounting for about half of the total new electricity generating capacity planned for the country in 2025, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced on August 20. If the plans are realized, large-scale solar power additions in the U.S. would reach a record high, said the EIA, which based its analysis on a survey of developers. Many of the federal government financial incentives that propelled the development of solar power over the last several years, however, will disappear under the current Administration.
Clean energy groups challenge DOE grid reliability report
Utility Dive – August 18
A July report in which the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) warned of widespread blackouts if coal and gas plants are allowed to retire “falls far short of a serious assessment of reliability and resource adequacy,” three clean energy organizations said in a formal rehearing request filed on August 6. At least one federal agency — the Department of the Interior — has already cited the DOE resource adequacy protocol in an official action. It referred to the protocol in an Aug. 1 order that staff consider the capacity density of energy projects proposed on federal lands, singling out wind and solar as “inefficient.”
USDA bars agriPV projects from federal loan programs
PV-Tech – August 20
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that new wind and solar projects on agricultural land will not be eligible for its Rural Development Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program. Additionally, ground-mount PV systems larger than 50 kW, or that “cannot document historical energy usage”, according to USDA, will no longer be eligible for the Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan Program (REAP Guaranteed Loan Program).
Projects
Fullmark Energy starts commercial operations on 40 MWh Ortega energy storage project in Riverside County
Solar Power World – August 20
Fullmark Energy announced the commercial operations date of its 20 MW/40 MWh Ortega energy storage project in Lake Elsinore, California. The milestone marks the third project to achieve operations within Fullmark Energy’s Redwood Projects portfolio, a collection of energy storage facilities across Southern California.
New Jersey, Atlantic Shores terminate OREC contract for 1.5 GW offshore wind project
OffshoreWind – August 19
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has vacated the offshore renewable energy certificate (OREC) order issued in 2021, which approved the 1,509.6 MW Atlantic Shores Project 1 as a Qualified Offshore Wind Project, as per the request recently filed by the developer. Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a joint venture between EDF Renewables and Shell, which Shell paused its involvement in at the beginning of 2025, submitted a request to terminate its OREC contract in June, citing the recent withdrawal of the project’s Air Permit for further review as one of the key reasons.
Third Pillar to probe potential for 500 MW of floating solar in Texas
Renewables Now – August 19
Third Pillar Solar will assess the possibility of installing up to 500 MW of photovoltaic arrays across water reservoirs owned by Diamond Infrastructure Solutions. The infrastructure company has given Third Pillar exclusive access to its Texas reservoirs, a collaboration the partners say is the first of its kind in North America.
Las Gallinas sewer district solar project takes shape in Marin County
Marin Independent Journal – August 18
Work is underway to install a 1 MW solar energy project at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District headquarters in San Rafael. A second phase that is under design will install a battery system with a storage capacity of more than 2,100 kWh and a discharge duration of four hours.
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