Good morning and happy Friday,

A new report from the American Enterprise Institute shows electricity prices are spiking to 30-year highs, despite candidate Trump’s promises he would cut energy costs in half.

And as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, Zelensky and Trump will meet at the White House Friday to sign a critical minerals deal, although there’s limited proof the resources are economic, and the deal may play to Ukraine’s advantage.

Meanwhile, as the new administration’s actions darken the financial outlook for clean tech companies and Speaker Johnson signals a more aggressive approach to repealing the IRA, a new analysis shows Elon Musk’s business empire is built on $38 billion in government funding.

On a brighter note, the EIA expects that 81% of new capacity added in 2025 will be from solar and batteries, on the heels of a record 11.9 GW of BESS installed in 2024. Nevertheless, BP announced it will slash green spending and pivot back to oil.

Read on for more.

This week, Gem State legislators introduced a gem of a bill that could wipe out wind by saddling proposed projects with billions of dollars in extra costs. How? Through an excise tax that would “go gangster” on wind farms. Here’s what’s afoot:

• Idaho’s House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted unanimously in favor of introducing House Bill 317, which would impose a massive new excise tax on commercial wind turbines in Idaho.
• The legislation would require that any proposed wind farm be approved by county voters. If a project fails to pass, each turbine would be taxed $25,000 per foot of height, measured at the highest point of the blade. 
• For the Lava Ridge wind farm, which President Trump axed on his first day in office, the tax would equate to a whopping $3.5 billion. One Democratic committee member said he was “concerned about the notion of taxing the free market out of the ability to do things that are legal.”

Make-believe math. Supporters make the laughable assertion that the tax would generate revenue for local communities and schools – but no revenue will materialize if turbines aren’t built. More likely, as critics argue, the tax will “hinder business operations and set a precedent for other industries.” The next step for the legislation is a full public hearing in the Revenue and Taxation Committee, which will include testimony from constituents.

New polling by Data for Progress shows a majority of Michigan voters strongly support renewables and want a full transition to a clean energy grid by 2035, despite GOP efforts at the state and federal level to prevent the deployment of wind and solar. Here are some key deets:

• Fully 62% of Michiganders surveyed support the state’s 100% clean energy standard, which was passed in 2023. Although support is highest among Democrats at 85%, 61% of independents and 42% of Republicans are also in favor.
• Policies that create clean energy and manufacturing jobs are also popular, winning support from 79% of respondents overall; when split by party, the figures were 93% of Democrats, 78% of independents and 68% of Republicans.
• In addition, 73% of voters say it’s important to make it easier to build clean energy, showing “a strong bipartisan majority” of 87% of Democrats and 65% of Republicans in support of projects receiving “easy” approval.

Failed attempts at repeal. Back in November, we told you about the nearly 80 counties and townships that filed a lawsuit challenging Michigan’s clean energy zoning law, which went into effect Nov. 29. Prior to that, “repeated attempts” to repeal the law failed, including a referendum that didn’t get enough signatures. “People want to make it easier to site these things. They want to see the investment come. They want people to be able to do what they want with their land, they want the job creation, and…cheaper energy costs.”

• Green Is the New Brown: Grid monitor, advocates pitch renewables as key to power reliability 
• Pressure: Former Trump energy aide warns states against policy pushback 
• Nixed: ‘Green’ hydrogen ‘on life support’ as major projects canceled 
• Rama-lama-ding-dong: Ramaswamy’s anti-climate stance shapes Ohio governor’s race 
• You’ll Regret This: Hickenlooper: Trump cuts will bring pain to Republicans later
• Git-R-Done: US governors press for infrastructure permitting reform 
• Xcel-ent: Xcel says it will meet carbon-free law by 2035 under energy plan approved by Minnesota regulators 
• Meeting Demand: Virginia passes legislation to increase energy storage targets
• Coal v BESS: Push for more Illinois battery storage underway, subsidy cost not known 
• Unstoppable: Texas lawmakers scramble to stop solar energy but it just keeps coming 
• Frozen Out: Offshore wind faces its ‘worst case scenario’ under new administration 
• Borderline case: Key US wind supplier gets ready for tariffs and Wind blade maker eyes US restart to serve GE Vernova turbines
• The Saga Continues: Trump hands off NEPA to agencies and What Trump’s NEPA wrecking ball means for renewables
• In Limbo: Trump paralyzes the U.S. wind power industry  
• Zeroing In: Trump asked to kill Wyoming wind projects for eagles
• Ave Maria: A Hail Mary Kansas lawsuit against the IRA 
• Pony Up: This Meta AI data center mega project demands $6 billion in electric infrastructure. Who will pay for it? 
• Enablers: Battery storage: a ‘quiet revolution’ in the energy industry
• What a Steel!: North American manufacturers team up to bring steel-framed solar modules to market 
• Podcast: This GOP governor wants Trump to honor IRA energy contracts
• Opinion: What if Bruce Lee had set federal transmission policy?

• CA: Policymakers say they’re undeterred by Trump opposition to offshore wind
• CA: Shasta County awaits decision as Fountain Wind Project lawsuit remains in limbo
• DE: Offshore energy company purchases 64-acre property near Harbeson for $5.2 million
• IL: Madison County Board votes against solar development in Collinsville
• KY: Motion filed to appeal decision in solar farm project
• MD: Poll shows support for Eastern Shore offshore wind
• MO: Invenergy Solar project moving forward in Warren County
• MT: Dawson County residents sound off on wind
• NE: Opponents file appeal to prevent construction of solar farm in rural Lancaster County
• NE: NCORPE cancels Monday meeting concerning solar farm contract
• NY: BP puts brakes on offshore wind project
• NY: Solar farm and battery storage site discussion at Town of Elmira Board Meeting
• OK: Anti-wind farm bill fails in House Committee
• TX: County officials address concerns, limitations on solar farm project
• WA: Yakima County solar project construction to begin soon

Last September, Hurricane Helene devastated the region around Asheville, NC. Five months on, many residents living in the storm’s long shadow are sheltering in homes that still don’t have power, as well as in RVs and converted school buses. 

One organization that’s stepped in to help is Footprint Project, “a small nonprofit that collects solar panels, batteries, and other so-called climate tech to deploy in the wake of catastrophe.” 

Among other initiatives, it has implemented a solution to the problem of “loosies,” meaning non-standard items that have the potential to be very helpful to certain individuals. In January, they launched the WNC Free Store, which acts as a clearinghouse for donated solar panels and related items.

One of Footprint Project’s new full-time staff members is a former solar installer who has helped get donations from his previous employer, Sundance Power Systems, in addition to rigging panels up to give folks power.

By the end of October, the Project had installed nearly 50 sustainable microgrids that could displace noisy, polluting generators, and the microgrids continue to be cycled through the community. Shine on Appalachia, we’re rooting for your recovery.