It should be a give that technologies like wind and solar power are better for the environment and global emissions than fossil fuel power like coal. Yet there are those who argue the energy put into making wind and solar power generating technologies make their life-cycle emissions higher than other energy technologies. Now, a new international study published in the journal Nature Energy is the latest in a growing body of evidence to dispel the outdated idea.

Last week the solar industry launched a new campaign aimed at getting President Trump (R) to keep the hundreds of thousands of jobs solar industry jobs and allowing the US solar industry remain strong. Meanwhile policies in states are continuing to push for growth in the solar industry. 

Thanks to the Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) signed into law by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) on Dec. 7, 2016, thousands of clean energy jobs will be created in the state. Case in point, ComEd has invested a total of $3 million in grants to Elevate Energy, Illinois Central College, OAI, and the Safer Foundation to train people for clean energy jobs in the state.

Following its initial investment in REC Solar in 2015, when it acquired a majority share of the company and February of 2015, Duke Energy has now purchased all of the company. With the purchase the company now has its own commercial solar company under its Duke Energy Renewables subsidiary, which already owns and operates nearly 3 gigawatts of wind and solar projects across the country. 

Today (Dec. 6) Florida Sen. Bill Nelson (D) announced that he introduced the “Green Banking Act” to allow banks to invest more heavily in renewable energy. The act would allow a bank holding company to hold up to 20 percent of a renewable energy company—up from 5 percent, which is currently the limit.

The US solar industry is facing new challenges resulting from the trade case against imported solar power and tax reform issues that could drastically impact the growth of solar power in the US. But the industry is pushing back with a new blueprint to keep its growth steady and protect the more than quarter of a million people the industry employs. 

In the early hours of Saturday morning, Republicans in the Senate passed a tax reform bill, which could have a major, negative impact on renewable energy industries. While renewable energy may not be popular at the federal level, States like Pennsylvania are still supporting it, with new initiatives. The solar industry also introduced a new report showing how solar is able to add to the value homes. 

As the Republicans in the Senate appear ready to pass their tax bill—without any bipartisan support, the renewable energy industry is among those concerned with provisions in the bill. Earlier this week a group of renewable energy advocates issued a joint letter to Senate leaders warning that Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) in the Senate’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would have a “devastating impact” on renewable energy growth. The Senate bill could pass any minute today (Dec. 1).

This month Pennsylvania’s government, led by Gov. Tom Wolf (D), took actions to boost the solar power industry and the jobs it will create in the state. Yesterday (Nov. 29) he announced the Solar Energy Program is creating $30 million in grant funding to grow solar in the state, including supporting job training for solar and that he signed into law legislation that changes what qualifies as solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) in the state. 

It’s kind of like a Swiss Army knife of windows or maybe a holy grail of photovoltaics, but earlier this week the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced that it has developed a glass that automatically tints when hit by sunlight and produces  electricity.