The clean energy sector is a shining light in the energy sector. Altogether the clean energy industries now employ more than 3 million people across the US, according to the latest U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) introduced yesterday (May 16).

A group of Republican Senators urged the Trump Administration to exempt certain solar panels from the tariffs that Trump imposed on imported solar panels earlier this year. The Senators, led by North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, wrote a letter to Trump officials urging them to specifically exclude imported 72-cell, 1500-volt utility-scale silicon solar panels from the 30 percent tariffs Trump imposed.

An overwhelming majority of the US, 67 percent, thinks that the federal government isn’t doing enough to fight climate change and that 89 percent think the US should use more solar power. That’s according to a new Pew Research poll, “Majorities See Government Efforts to Protect the Environment as Insufficient.” 

Last week saw a lot of state actions in the solar and renewables industry. Some were good, like California’s decision to ensure all new residences have solar. Others were bad like Michigan’s commission supporting a new gas power plant that could raise rates instead of more solar power.

The legislature in Connecticut passed SB 9, “An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Energy Future,” a controversial bill brought forward by Gov. Dannel Malloy (D). While the bill will expand the state’s renewable energy portfolio to 40 percent by 2030, it will also end net metering, which the solar industry staunchly opposes. 

California’s energy commission took a big step yesterday (May 9) in approving a new policy that that will require all new homes in the Golden State to have solar as of 2020. The new policy was implemented as part of California’s new 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which seek to cut energy use in California homes by more than 50 percent. It’s a first for the country and was hailed by the solar industry and environmental advocates. 

Led by solar power, renewable energy, including large hydropower, now employs 10.3 million people across the world, a 5.3 percent increase over 2016. Excluding large hydropower, renewable energy employed 8.8 million across the world. Solar power alone acocunted for 3.4 million jobs, up nearly 9 percent, according to the latest Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Last month the Michigan Public Service Commission decided to allow DTE Energy to move forward with plans to build a billion-dollar gas plant despite evidence that wind and solar would create greater savings for DTE customers. Now legislators in the state have introduced Energy Freedom bills in the state that could benefit residents and businesses with more solar choice. 

Solar and renewable energy had a good week last week as the US regained the second-most attractive spot for investing in renewable energy across the world. Recent events in the US back that up, including findings that the amount of community solar installed in the doubled in 2017 over 2016 and 200 communities have made it easier to go solar through achieving SolSmart status.

Despite Trump’s tariffs on imported solar panels and other efforts to protect the fossil fuel industry the US continues to remain one of the world’s most attractive markets for renewable energy investments. In fact, the US reassumed second place as the most attractive county for renewable energy investment in the latest Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) from EY.