Green Banks – Clean Communities Investment Accelerator & National Clean Investment Fund Updates
Appeals court says EPA can recover ‘green bank’ funds – by Jean Chemnick – September 2, 2025 – E&E News by Politico – The ruling helps clear the agency’s way for clawing back billions of dollars the Biden administration had wanted to use for green lending.
Court Hands a Loss to Groups Seeking Billions in Frozen Climate Funds – By Claire Brown – Sept. 2, 2025 – New York Times – An appeals court on Tuesday ruled against several nonprofit groups that had $16 billion in climate grants frozen this year by the Trump administration. In a 2-1 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that the Trump administration acted legally in its attempts to claw back the funds, dashing hopes of immediately accessing money they were awarded more than a year ago.
Appeals court backs EPA action terminating billions in ‘green bank’ grants – by MICHAEL PHILLIS & MATTHEW DALY – September 2, 2025 – Associated Press – The decision by the 2-1 majority on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit finds that federal officials have broad latitude to cancel funds that have been appropriated by Congress. A strongly worded dissent said the outcome was a loss not just for the five green bank groups who sued the EPA, but for the authority of Congress to write policy and maintain its traditional power of the purse.
Appeals panel backs EPA clawback of Solar for All and other federal grants – by Ben Santarris – PV Magazine – September 3, 2025 – The decision recognizes leeway for the Trump administration to determine how best to administer a prior legislative initiative – namely, federal grants for clean-energy projects.
CLIMATE UNITED FUND, ET AL. v. CITIBANK, N.A. & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY – US Court of Appeals for the Dist. of Columbia Circuit – September 2, 2025 — No. 25-5122 (Opinion & Dissent) – Before: PILLARD, KATSAS and RAO, Circuit Judges. Opinion by Circuit Judges RAO & Kastas. Dissenting opinion filed by Circuit Judge PILLARD.
Green Banks – Solar for All Litigation Status & Impacts
‘Solar For All’ would have powered emergency housing in a Midwest town. Then EPA cut the funds – by Molly Ashford – August 26, 2025 – Harvest Public Media/KCUR/NPR – Several planned projects would have brought solar to communities in the Midwest for the first time. Others would have expanded existing efforts. Now, the projects are on hold after the Environmental Protection Agency abruptly terminated $7 billion in funding.
A major solar installer in Philly is ceasing most operations amid federal tax credit rollbacks – by Sophia Schmidt – Aug. 27, 2025 – WHYY – A major installer of solar panels on homes in Philadelphia is shutting down most of its operations amid “significant” financial difficulties. PosiGen, a solar installer focused on making solar accessible to homeowners of all income levels through a no-up-front-cost leasing model, laid off 49 employees Sunday, according to a notice filed with the state, as well as 78 employees in Connecticut. The company operates in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and five other states. PosiGen has installed roughly 2,500 of the more than 4,000 solar arrays built on homes and businesses in the Philadelphia area through Solarize Greater Philadelphia, a program run by the Philadelphia Energy Authority to connect households with vetted solar installers.
What Trump’s solar crackdown could mean for Pennsylvania energy bills – by Kate Huangpu – August 11, 2025 – Spotlight PA – Renewable energy developers say that the rollback of billions in tax credits for their industry will lead to higher costs for consumers, especially as the influx of data centers into Pennsylvania increases demand for power.
EPA canceled Solar for All. Will that matter in Pennsylvania? By Julie Grant · August 8, 2025 – The Allegheny Front- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Thursday that he is canceling a $7 billion Biden-era program to build rooftop solar. He said that the Solar for All program was eliminated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so the EPA no longer has the authority to administer it. In PA, the Solar for All program never got off the ground.
EPA wants to end Solar funding for All – By Katherine Shok – August 12, 2025 – Atlas Building Hub
Pennsylvania Solar Policy Updates
Pennsylvania’s $25M solar for schools program is a hit, but budget uncertainty threatens its future – by Frank Kummer – September 5, 2025 – Philadelphia Inquirer — Advocates are pushing for another round of funding, but it comes amid a tricky time for state government. Flora Cardoni, deputy director of PennEnvironment’s research and policy center, on Wednesday released a report that analyzed the benefits of solar, saying pre-K through 12th grade educational buildings in Pennsylvania have nearly 2,000 football fields’ worth of rooftop space for solar.
Solar schools for Pennsylvania – Repowering education with clean energy – from the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center – September 3, 2025 — Solar power on school rooftops cuts air pollution, provides clean power to our communities, and can save money for schools. Maximizing rooftop solar potential could save schools approximately $342 million over a period of 25 years, while protecting schools from the impact of rising and increasingly unstable electricity rates.
Community solar plans stalled in Pennsylvania – By Lauren Jessop – The Center Square – September 5, 2025 – Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Allentown, has authored legislation that he says would allow the average consumer to reduce their electric bill while strengthening the energy grid. The legislation would not place the financial onus entirely on subscribers and would not burden non-subscribers. “The solar piece is one of the smaller parts of it and won’t solve all our energy problems,” Schweyer said. “It’s just part of an overall strategy to generate more electricity, keep prices affordable for consumers, and continue the economic development that both Democrats and Republicans very much support.”
Post BBB Federal Energy Tax Credits – Updates, Resources & Clips
Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) – Webinar – On Monday September 8, 2025 @ Noon ET, – From Policy to Projects: Prohibited Foreign Entities and Updated Beginning of Construction Guidance. The tax experts at L4GG will explain the new Beginning of Construction Notice & further explain the Prohibited Foreign Entities rules. Register Here.
On August 22, 2025, L4GG published an updated Guidance Brief on Beginning of Construction for the 48E and 45Y Tax credits. The Brief provides key takeaways, potential pitfalls, and strategies to help projects remain compliant and eligible.
The state of clean energy finance: 2025 Mid-Year Market Intelligence Report – Webinar & Report Review – September 18, 2025 @ 1:00 PM – Register Here – Join Norton Rose Fulbright and Crux to examine clean energy financing & Crux’s 2025 mid-year market intelligence report describing $20 billion in 2025 tax credit transfer deals, and an estimated $32-$35 billion in tax equity investments.
Federal Energy Tax Credit Resources for States – Time Sensitive Actions States Can Take to Spur Investment in the Near Term – S2 Strategies – With passage of HR 1, federal lawmakers have rapidly eliminated certain federal energy tax credits. However, there remains a short time for businesses and consumers to take advantage of these credits.
States fast-track wind, solar permits and contracts to beat Trump’s deadline – by: Alex Brown – August 27, 2025 – Stateline – Across the country, state leaders are racing to fast-track wind and solar projects before the expiration of federal tax credits to support clean energy. Colo. is directing state agencies to prioritize permits & Maine is moving up timelines to purchase new power, to give developers a head start on construction.
PA Version of Story – PA and other states fast-track wind, solar permits and contracts to beat Trump’s deadline – by: Alex Brown – August 28, 2025 – PA Capital Star – Gov. Josh Shapiro is currently pushing for the creation of a state energy siting board.
States Race to Help Renewables Beat the Tax Credit Clock by Emily Pontecorvo — August 11, 2025 – Heatmap – Governors, legislators & regulators are rushing to help push clean energy past the starting line in time to meet Republicans’ new deadlines. The new law requires wind and solar developers to start construction by the end of this year to claim the full investment or production tax credits under IRA rules.
Xcel Energy races to fast-track clean energy projects before federal tax credits vanish — by Ishan Thakore – Aug. 27, 2025 – Colorado Public Radio – Xcel Energy and three Colorado agencies are seeking to fast-track several clean energy projects next year to qualify for expiring federal tax credits, according to a proposal filed last week with state utility regulators. The proposal is an opening salvo by the Polis administration to expedite clean energy development as the second Trump administration slashes federal support for zero-carbon energy sources and prioritizes fossil fuels.
Political & Market Impacts of BBB Cuts to Federal Energy Tax Credits
In windy Iowa, a GOP lawmaker faces a reckoning over Trump’s clean energy war – by Josh Siegel – September 1, 2025 – Politico – Rep. Miller-Meeks held her seat by a razor-thin margin in 2024 but could see her support erode because of her vote to end incentives for renewable energy. The Republican stronghold gets more of its electricity from wind than any other state. More than 50 companies are part of its wind industry, which has drawn $22 billion in total investments in the past three decades. Despite Trump’s and Wright’s claims that wind power makes electricity more expensive and unreliable, Iowa’s power costs are among the lowest in the nation and its grid is among the most stable.
US solar plant construction is on a record-breaking spree — for now – by Julian Spector – 25 August 2025 – Canary Media – Solar power is having a bumper year as developers race to complete installations before Trump’s policy changes pull the rug out from under the industry. The U.S. is still on track to build a record amount of new solar capacity this year, even as the Trump administration works to obstruct renewables. As it stands, the power industry is building more solar than any other type of power plant, which has been the case for several years running. Roughly 12 gigawatts of new solar capacity joined the grid in the first half of the year, and 21 gigawatts more are slated for completion by the end of the year, according to a recent survey by the federal Energy Information Administration.
Solar will contribute more than half of the expected 64 gigawatts additions of new power capacity this year. Adding in battery storage and wind installations, clean energy is on track to deliver 93% of new power-plant capacity this year, the EIA predicted in February. Moreover, 2025 could set the U.S. record for new power-plant construction, beating the 58 gigawatts added in 2002 at the height of a natural-gas plant boom.
Higher Utility Prices – The Impacts of Trump Administration Energy Policy
Trump’s bid to support coal could cost ratepayers billions, report finds by: Alex Brown – August 15, 2025 – Stateline – Mandates from President administration to retain aging coal plants could cause a massive spike in energy costs, according to an independent analysis. Orders from the U.S. DOE to save coal plants from retirement could cost ratepayers more than $3 billion per year, according to a Report from Grid Strategies, a power sector consulting firm. It was carried out on behalf of Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club.
Why power bills are rising and why that’s not changing soon – by Kathryn Krawczyk – August 22, 2025 – Canary Media – If your power bills are getting higher, you’re not alone. That’s probably little comfort, but here’s some proof anyway: Utilities requested or were granted a total of $29 billion in rate increases in the first half of 2025, according to a study from advocacy group PowerLines. That’s more than double the total in the same period last year. The biggest reason for these rising prices stems from utility poles and wires, also known as the distribution grid, that shuttle power from high-voltage transmission infrastructure into homes and businesses. Over the last few years, building and maintaining these lines has become the biggest source of costs that utilities recoup via power bills, according to a December report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. See: Utilities Have Requested $29 Billion in Rate Hikes for 2025, Surpassing 2024 – Powerlines – Q2 Update Report July 2025
How Electricity Got So Expensive – by Robinson Meyer – August 20, 2025 – Heatmap — You’ve probably noticed, even Pres. Trump has noticed, but the reason why is as complicated as the grid itself.- Electricity rates, which have increased steadily since the pandemic, are now on a serious upward tear. Over the past 12 months, power prices have increased more than twice as fast as inflation, according to recent government data. They will likely keep rising in years to come as new data centers and factories connect to the power grid. That surge is a major problem for the economy — and for President Trump. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to cut Americans’ electricity bills in half within his first year in office. “Your electric bill — including cars, air conditioning, heating, everything, your total electric bill — will be 50% less. We’re going to cut it in half,” he said. Now Trump has mysteriously stopped talking about that pledge, and on Tuesday he blamed renewables for rising electricity rates. Even Trump’s Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has acknowledged that costs are doing the opposite of what the president has promised.
Chart: Yes, US power prices are rising. Don’t blame clean energy. by Dan McCarthy, Ysabelle Kempe – August 22, 2025 – Canary Media – Household costs have been going up since 2020 due to an aging grid, natural disasters, and volatile gas prices. Trump is making things worse. Electricity costs are going up in the U.S. and the Trump administration’s attempts to choke off clean energy development are only going to make matters worse. The average price of electricity for residential consumers is set to hit 17 cents per kilowatt-hour this year and could climb to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2026, per a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Electricity prices are rising at more than twice the rate of inflation. Just five years ago, in 2020, average U.S. power prices were only 13.15 cents per kilowatt-hour — 23% lower than they are today.
https://app.ft.com/content/689243af-865f-4330-a9bb-ce7a9a114f40
Financial Times – Jaime Smyth August 27, 2025
Trump Blamed Rising Electricity Prices on Renewables. It’s Not True. by Matthew Zeitlin – August 21, 2025 – Heatmap – If you’re trying to explain why electricity prices have risen, the answer, my friends, is not blowing in the wind — or shining in the sun, or anywhere else, for that matter. The real reason involves a host of factors, as my colleague Robinson Meyer explored earlier this week. Top of the list is the physical reality of the grid itself – which, yes, includes some costs associated with the buildout of renewable energy and the transmission infrastructure required to get it to customers, but is mostly related to local distribution, i.e. bringing power to people’s homes. Beyond that, extreme weather, natural gas prices, and data center-induced demand growth all play a part. Whatever the reason for the rise in prices, though, it’s not good for Trump, who promised during the campaign that electricity prices would go down by half during his first year in office. Halfway through, things do not look promising, with more price hikes likely on the horizon.
Forcing dirty power plants to stay open would cost Americans billions – by Jeff St. John — August 14, 2025 – Canary Media – The Trump admin’s scheme to keep old fossil-fuel plants running could saddle utility customers with nearly $6 billion a year in unnecessary costs, a report finds. A new report finds the Trump administration’s push to keep dirty, aging fossil-fueled power plants from closing down could end up costing U.S. utility customers between $3 billion and nearly $6 billion per year by the end of Trump’s term — and that’s a conservative estimate. Thursday’s report from consultancy Grid Strategies was commissioned by Earthjustice, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Sierra Club, four environmental groups that have joined states in challenging the Department of Energy’s use of emergency powers to keep the J.H. Campbell coal plant in Michigan and the Eddystone oil- and gas-burning plant in Pennsylvania running.
Trump admin’s new anti-renewables rule rooted in fossil-fuel misinformation – by Kathiann M. Kowalski – August 25, 2025 – Canary Media – For years, anti-renewable-energy advocates have opposed solar and wind projects on the grounds that they take up too much land. Now those talking points, popularized by groups linked to the fossil-fuel industry, have made their way into a sweeping new order from the Trump administration. On Aug. 1, Interior Sect. Doug Burgum mandated that federal leasing decisions factor in “capacity density” for solar and wind projects. The DOI order defines “capacity density” as the amount of electricity a proposed facility is expected to produce, divided by the site’s total acres. An appendix states that nuclear and combined-cycle gas plants rank highest by this measure, while renewables come in last. The Interior Department will now have to consider the density measure in environmental reviews and the order questions whether the law allows any federal land use for wind and solar projects “given these projects’ encumbrance on other land uses, as well as their disproportionate land use.”
Trump admin orders dirty, expensive coal plant to stay open even longer – by Jeff St. John – August 21, 2025 – Canary Media – Keeping J.H. Campbell open past its slated close is costing Midwest households big. Advocates fear that more such orders are on the way. The Trump administration has extended its order to keep a Michigan coal-fired power plant running until November, well past its planned closure in the spring. It’s the latest move in a push to force dirty, expensive power plants to keep operating, which experts warn could saddle Americans with billions of dollars in unnecessary electricity costs. Just days before the J.H. Campbell plant was set to shutter in May, the administration ordered it to stay open for 90 days — an unprecedented federal intervention in state-regulated utility operations. That order has already cost Midwest utility customers millions, and Michigan’s top utility regulator estimates that keeping the aging plant open longer could burden consumers with more than $100 million in unnecessary costs.
Chart: The retiring coal power plants Trump could revive by Dan McCarthy – August 29, 2025 – Canary Media. The Energy Department keeps ordering expensive, polluting plants to keep running at the eleventh hour. Here’s what’s on the line through the end of Trump’s term. The first three months of continuing to operate the J.H. Campbell [coal plant] alone could cost consumers as much as $100 million, estimated Michigan’s Public Service Commission chair. About 27 gigawatts’ worth of coal is slated to retire in the U.S. between now and the end of 2028, per U.S. Energy Information Administration data, equal to roughly 15% of the country’s current coal fleet.
In Appalachia, fracking is not the job creator the industry claims – by Kathiann M. Kowalski – August 14, 2025 – Canary Media – Oil and gas production isn’t translating to more jobs for residents of heavily fracked communities, new research shows. As the Trump administration aims to bolster fossil fuels at the expense of clean energy expansion, new research shows the oil and gas sector has so far failed to become a major jobs creator for heavily fracked areas of northern Appalachia. “To the degree that we allocate resources to help develop that industry, we’re diverting those resources from other industries that actually could deliver” more jobs and higher per-capita incomes, said Sean O’Leary, author of the recent report from the Ohio River Valley Institute.