The IREC Blog

This article was originally published in Public Utilities Fortnightly. The future of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure depends not just on where drivers need power, but on what the grid can actually support — and that understanding begins with grid data. Grid data is often seen as complex and accessible only to industry experts. Yet...

March 5, 2026 (Richmond, Virginia) — Virginia regulators recently issued a major decision that makes permanent increased solar project costs that will slow down clean energy growth in the state. On February 5th, 2026, the Virginia State Corporation Commission filed a decision that allows Dominion Energy to continue requiring an unnecessary and expensive grid protection...

On February 11, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a draft resolution (Resolution E-5440) that it is likely to vote on in early March. The resolution—which concerns necessary improvements to an important grid transparency tool called an Integration Capacity Analysis, or ICA—raises serious concerns about whether the Commission is committed to ensuring that this tool,...

San Francisco, CA (February 5, 2026) — In a decision today, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) created a new pathway for electric vehicle (EV) chargers and other load projects to avoid long delays to connect to the electric grid. The “limited load profile” option created today allows projects to take advantage of existing grid...

A version of this article was originally published by Solar Power World. For years, New Hampshire solar developers and their customers have faced one regulatory roadblock after another, making it much harder to connect solar projects to the grid than in neighboring states. New Hampshire is last in the region for solar deployment, in large...

Originally published by Building Performance Association The Building Performance Association (BPA) is proud to announce the approval of its National Guideline Standards for Registered Apprenticeship Programs by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.  This milestone enables BPA to sponsor energy efficiency apprenticeship programs nationwide for the Energy Specialist and Home Performance Laborer occupations, supporting workforce development and expanding...

A notable ruling from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on January 5, 2026 will help streamline the interconnection of solar and energy storage to New Jersey‘s electrical grid and increase the ability for utility customers to leverage remaining federal tax credits to reduce energy costs. The decision comes as New Jersey grapples...

This article was originally published in Public Utilities Fortnightly. Read the full article here. On November 26, 2025 the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia issued an order establishing a temporary program to ensure interconnection delays do not prevent clean energy projects from qualifying for tax credits that are being phased out as a result...

Through a generous grant from the Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is excited to share a number of valuable resources and services for communities navigating the development of large-scale solar and other renewable energy projects. Read on to learn about options available to help local governments successfully handle...

In response to the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on customers’ ability to leverage remaining federal tax credits to support solar investments to address energy affordability and clean energy goals, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia issued a first-in-the-nation response that provides an illustrative example of the power...

November 25, 2025 — A November 20 ruling by the Nevada Public Utilities Commission will provide important data on how long it takes to connect large electric vehicle (EV) chargers to the grid, and ultimately inform future efforts to streamline the process. It also included changes that will improve Nevadans’ access to valuable grid data. ...

Solar Employed 280,000 Workers in 2024, According to 15th National Solar Jobs Census IREC today released the 15th annual National Solar Jobs Census, reporting that the U.S. solar industry employed 280,119 workers in 2024, roughly level with the industry’s 2023 employment.  Although these 2024 data do not capture the impacts of major federal energy policy...

IREC-Supported Decision Protects Consumer Benefits and Clean Energy Goals The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted verbally in public deliberations on October 29 on a decision that resoundingly rejected practices by Xcel Energy, the state’s largest utility, that have prevented the public from benefiting from ratepayer-funded tools that enhance the use of distributed clean energy...

From 2019 to 2025, IREC led the Solar Ready Vets (SRV) Network. We recap the program's impacts to expand solar opportunities for veterans.

This article was originally published in News Data. By: Gwen Brown & David Golembeski Washington State has ambitious goals for addressing climate change and transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs), including a mandate that all passenger vehicle sales be EVs by 2030 and a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050. There’s also...

I need to be blunt: IREC, our mission, and the clean energy progress we lead is under assault.  Our work to advance clean energy was gutted by the federal administration in its recent termination of nearly $8 billion of federal grants.  IREC is an independent, non-partisan organization operating in states all across the country. However, because...