Saturday, February 14, 2026
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
- AES Indiana Activates 250MW Solar-Plus-Storage: AES Indiana brought online its 250 MW solar-plus-storage plant in Pike County. Read More: PV Tech.
- Plus Power Launches 175MW Maine Battery: Plus Power activated a 175 MW/350 MWh battery storage facility, New England's largest, in Maine. Read More: Power Magazine.
- Treasury Issues FEOC Tax Credit Guidance: Treasury and IRS released initial rules on "prohibited foreign entity" (PFE) impact on clean energy tax credits. Read More: Solar Builder.
- Hydrostor Secures 50MW CA Storage Deal: California Community Power signed a 50 MW offtake for Hydrostor’s 500 MW compressed air storage project. Read More: Solar Power World.
- Georgia Power Expansion Faces Regulator Pushback: Environmental groups urged state regulators to reconsider Georgia Power's gas-heavy expansion plan. Read More: Georgia Recorder.
Solar & Storage
Utility-scale battery storage surged today with significant operational announcements across the U.S., underscoring the industry's continued momentum in enhancing grid reliability and integrating renewables. AES Indiana officially commenced operations at its 250 MW solar and energy storage facility in Pike County, Indiana, a critical addition to the regional clean energy infrastructure. This move follows yesterday's news of AES Indiana's 250 MW solar and 180 MWh battery storage Petersburg Energy Center coming online, signaling a rapid deployment pace in the state. Read More: PV Tech.
Meanwhile, Plus Power cemented New England's energy transition, bringing its 175 MW/350 MWh Cross Town Energy Storage facility online in Maine. This project now stands as the largest of its kind in the region, directly connecting to the ISO New England grid and offering a crucial alternative to baseload generation. Its activation closely follows the activation of Maine's inaugural utility-scale battery system yesterday. Read More: Power Magazine, CleanTechnica.
Long-duration storage also saw a significant advance, as California Community Power inked a 50 MW offtake agreement with Hydrostor for its 500 MW/4,000 MWh Willow Rock Energy Storage Center. This compressed air energy storage project will provide eight hours of continuous discharge, a vital capability for California's grid stability. Read More: Solar Power World.
Beyond these large-scale deployments, innovative storage solutions continue to emerge. Downtown Portland, Oregon, launched a net-zero energy microgrid featuring 133 kW onsite and 215 kW offsite solar with 280 kWh of battery storage, demonstrating how grid-forming buildings can manage strict interconnection limits in urban environments. Read More: PV Magazine USA.
The financial sector remains bullish on solar despite policy shifts. AB CarVal increased its funding for Renewable Properties, anticipating a record-breaking year for solar deployment through 2026, even with the hypothetical removal of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) in 2025. This signals that soaring energy demand, particularly from data centers, drives continued investment. Read More: Solar Builder.
PowerBank Corporation, a key player in solar and battery storage in New York, reported increased revenue and secured new credit facilities for its project pipeline. The company also announced a novel venture into solar-powered space-based AI computing, highlighting the expanding horizons for solar applications. Read More: PV Magazine USA.
Wind Energy
The Trump administration's appeal of offshore wind injunctions, announced yesterday, continues to create uncertainty for the burgeoning sector. However, other clean energy technologies push forward, with South Dakota’s Governor Larry Rhoden approving the transfer of the Spearfish Canyon hydroelectric plant to the Spearfish Canyon Foundation. This move secures the future of existing renewable infrastructure. Read More: Renewable Energy World.
Federal regulators have also greenlit a controversial $2 billion pumped storage project on Yakama Nation sacred land in Klickitat County, Washington. The project faces ongoing legal challenges, highlighting the persistent tensions between renewable energy development and indigenous land rights. Read More: Renewable Energy World.
Policy & Markets
Today brought critical clarity from the Trump Treasury Department and IRS, which issued initial guidance on the "prohibited foreign entity" (PFE) rules. These regulations significantly impact the eligibility of solar and energy storage projects for tax credits under "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," scrutinizing material assistance from PFEs. This guidance will force developers to meticulously trace their supply chains and could reshape procurement strategies, particularly concerning Chinese-made components, building on the administration's restrictions detailed yesterday. Read More: Solar Builder.
The political landscape for clean energy also saw movement in the House, with a new bipartisan bill focused on geothermal energy poised for introduction. This legislation aims to accelerate the development and deployment of geothermal power generation nationwide. Read More: Heatmap News.
In Iowa, lawmakers are actively weighing regulations for an emerging industry: the extraction of geological hydrogen. An exploration company already operates in the state, prompting discussions on updating state regulatory frameworks to accommodate this potential new domestic source of clean fuel. This demonstrates states proactively navigating new energy technologies. Read More: Iowa Capital Dispatch.
However, pushback on energy development continues at the state level. Environmental advocacy groups in Georgia are urging state regulators to re-evaluate an approved expansion plan by Georgia Power. Critics argue the plan, which includes nearly ten gigawatts of natural gas turbines and battery storage to meet soaring demand from data centers, leans too heavily on fossil fuels and risks overbuilding capacity, potentially burdening ratepayers. Read More: Georgia Recorder.
LOOKING AHEAD
- FEOC Compliance: Developers will closely analyze the Treasury's PFE guidance for implications on project financing timelines and supply chain diversification strategies.
- Georgia Power Decision: Watch for the Georgia Public Service Commission's response to environmental groups' request to reconsider the utility's expansion plan.
- Geothermal Legislation: Details of the bipartisan geothermal bill in the House are expected, including specific incentives and deployment targets.
TODAY'S QUICK ANSWERS
Q: What does the Treasury's PFE guidance mean for utility-scale solar projects in the short term?
A: The initial PFE guidance increases immediate compliance risk for developers. They must scrutinize existing and planned supply chains to avoid sourcing components that could jeopardize tax credits under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." This could slow project development as companies adapt procurement strategies and seek alternative suppliers, especially for components previously sourced from China.
Q: Why is the ongoing debate around Georgia Power's expansion significant for the broader clean energy transition?
A: Georgia Power's expansion proposal highlights a national tension: how to meet rapidly escalating electricity demand, driven by data centers and electrification, while simultaneously decarbonizing the grid. The pushback by environmental groups underscores continued advocacy against overreliance on natural gas and challenges the narrative that such projects are always the most economical or climate-friendly solution, setting a precedent for future utility planning.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Aggressive utility-scale battery deployments are scaling fast, proving technical viability, yet the Trump administration's evolving policy landscape, particularly on supply chain restrictions and tax credits, injects significant financial and regulatory uncertainty into future project development.