KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• Judge Revives Vineyard Wind: A federal court ordered the immediate resumption of construction on the Vineyard Wind offshore project, ending a Trump administration-imposed pause. Read More: New York Times Climate.
• New Jersey Governor Mandates Solar, Storage Swell: New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed executive orders on her first day to expand utility-scale solar to 3 GW, community solar to 3 GW, and kickstart 350-750 MW of battery storage. Read More: PV Magazine.
• EDPR Powers 150 MW Indiana Solar: EDP Renewables North America brought its 150 MW Riverstart Solar IV project in Randolph County to commercial operation, powering 28,800 homes. Read More: Solar Power World.
• WM, Reactivate Convert Landfills to Solar: Reactivate, an Invenergy company, partnered with WM to convert over 50 former landfill sites across the US into community and utility-scale solar and storage projects. Read More: PV Magazine USA.
• Catalyze Secures 100MW Tax Equity: Independent Power Producer Catalyze closed tax equity financing from RBC Community Investments for a 100 MW portfolio of solar projects across the United States. Read More: PV Tech.

Solar & Storage

The US solar market continues its relentless drive, marked by significant project completions, innovative development strategies, and crucial financing wins. EDP Renewables North America today announced the commercial operation of its 150 MW Riverstart Solar IV project in Randolph County, Indiana, a facility now generating enough electricity for approximately 28,800 homes and injecting an estimated $88 million into the local economy. This further solidifies Indiana’s emergent position as a key growth state for utility-scale solar, contrasting with the stalled onshore wind development seen elsewhere. Read More: Solar Power World.

Parallel to this, Doral Renewables brought its 48 MW Great Bend Solar project online in Meigs County, Ohio, strategically located along the Ohio River. These operational milestones underscore a resilient development pipeline, even amidst federal policy headwinds. Read More: Solar Power World.

Innovative site utilization also took center stage, with Reactivate, an Invenergy company, announcing a partnership with WM to transform over 50 former landfill sites across the US into new community and utility-scale solar and energy storage projects. This initiative, with its first phase expected by late 2027, addresses land scarcity and leverages remediated sites for clean energy generation, prioritizing areas with robust solar and distributed generation incentives. This approach could unlock significant untapped potential for developers navigating increasingly complex land-use regulations. Read More: PV Magazine USA.

Community solar, a critical pillar of energy access, also saw new capacity come online. PureSky Energy completed two community solar projects, Heath Brook and Sand Brook, totaling 12.92 MWDC in Corinth, New York. These projects will deliver 18.8 million kWh annually, specifically targeting low and moderate-income (LMI) customers, demonstrating continued commitment to equitable clean energy access. Read More: Solar Power World.

Financially, Catalyze, a US-based IPP, secured crucial tax equity financing from RBC Community Investments for a 100 MW portfolio of solar projects nationally. This deal signals continued investor appetite for proven solar assets, despite the broader climate of uncertainty surrounding federal tax credit implementation and domestic content requirements. Read More: PV Tech.

Beyond traditional batteries, the broader energy storage sector is diversifying. Three long-duration energy storage (LDES) projects, spanning pumped hydro, high-temperature thermal, and geothermal technologies, achieved significant developmental milestones across the US. This movement signals a growing recognition that battery-only solutions cannot meet all grid reliability needs, particularly as states push for higher renewable penetration. Meanwhile, Blip Energy, a Chicago startup, is collaborating with NREL under the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) program to develop a smart home battery and energy management system, emphasizing distributed storage's role in grid stability. Read More: Energy Storage News, CleanTechnica.

Wind Energy

Offshore wind, long considered a cornerstone of the nation’s decarbonization efforts, received a critical lifeline today. A federal judge formally greenlit the resumption of construction for the Vineyard Wind project off Martha's Vineyard, reversing a sudden halt imposed by the Trump administration just weeks ago. The project, nearly complete before the federal pause, can now proceed, offering a potent signal to developers that political interference may not be the final arbiter for projects with significant legal momentum and stakeholder investment. Read More: New York Times Climate, Reuters, reNEWS.

This ruling comes as US representatives, including Kiggans and Wittman, continue to demand answers regarding the broader federal pause on offshore wind projects, citing specific concerns about Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project. While that specific project has restarted construction following a separate court decision, the ongoing scrutiny highlights the significant uncertainty developers face from federal actions. Read More: Virginia Mercury.

Policy & Markets

Today’s clear policy signals from New Jersey present a stark contrast to the federal volatility. Newly-inaugurated New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill immediately signed executive orders to significantly expand the state's clean energy footprint. These mandates aim to address escalating electricity prices and projected capacity shortfalls by boosting utility-scale solar to 3 GW, community solar to 3 GW, and establishing a target of 350-750 MW of battery storage through expedited programs. This aggressive state-level action provides a stable, growth-oriented environment for developers, offering a vital counter-narrative to the federal administration's more conservative stance. Read More: PV Magazine, PV Magazine USA.

The push by Governor Sherrill for faster program implementation, particularly for utility-scale solar over 5 MWdc, signals a proactive approach to grid resilience and decarbonization. This localized policy acceleration, typical of states committed to green growth, will likely attract significant investment, creating a mini-boom within the state’s borders even as federal energy policy remains contested.

LOOKING AHEAD

• Federal Grid Reliability Review: Expect heightened scrutiny of grid resilience reports following a severe winter storm in the South, potentially shaping future transmission and capacity market discussions.
• Offshore Wind Permitting Battles: Watch for further legal challenges and policy maneuvering targeting offshore wind projects as the Trump administration navigates earlier court defeats.
• State-Level Policy Momentum: Observe other states, particularly in the Northeast and California, for accelerated clean energy mandates that could create regional development hotspots.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Legal victories for established projects and aggressive state mandates are creating vital, albeit localized, stability for clean energy development against a backdrop of federal policy uncertainty, signaling that states remain the primary drivers of growth.