A utility-scale renewable energy plant using wind and solar combined with battery storage opened last week, a US first, with the potential of powering 100,000 homes with clean, reliable energy. The project gives us a glimpse into the future as the US shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy sources.
The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility is the first utility-scale development in North America to implement wind and solar generation with battery storage.
Until the Inflation Reduction Act was passed in August, energy storage projects were only eligible for tax incentives if they were exclusively based on solar energy. However, the IRA bill opens up new possibilities by providing incentives for mixed (wind and solar) and standalone battery storage projects.
As a result, more projects like the Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility will likely be in the works. The combination of wind and solar energy can improve reliability, adding value to the grid.
The renewable energy plant is made possible through a partnership between NextEra Energy Resources and Portland General Electric. NextEra purchased the development rights to a wind farm and expanded upon it with the help of PGE, adding solar capability and battery storage.
Rebecca Kujawa, CEO of Nextera Energy, talks about the benefits of combining renewable energy sources, stating:
Bringing wind, solar and energy storage together at one site is quite a significant moment for renewable technologies.
Kujawa adds:
These facilities generate low-cost, homegrown energy and will provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Morrow County over the life of the project.
The facility opened last week in Morrow County, Oregon, and is the first of its scale, according to the companies.
Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities/Source: PGE
Details of the solar, wind, and battery storage project in Oregon
The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Project is an example of how combining renewable energy sources (solar and wind) with battery storage can help provide reliable, sustainable energy as utility companies look to cut back on carbon emissions.
The renewable energy plant includes:
300 MW wind capacity via 120 GE turbines
A 50 MW photovoltaic solar energy generating facility
A 30 MW battery storage facility
Using power generated from wind and solar, the battery storage system will save unused energy, providing it for use at any time.
Morrow County Commissioner Don Russel says:
We’re pleased to have Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities located in Morrow County and to play a part in providing clean energy to Oregonians. This facility provides jobs and tax revenue for our schools and county services while also supporting economic opportunities for the agricultural community. Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities also strengthens Morrow County’s position in the region’s clean energy economy.
The renewable energy facility created about 300 jobs during construction and employs around 10 full-time employees.
Electrek’s Take
With new incentives to start battery storage projects, the Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility is, hopefully, the first of many of its kind from a utility company.
Combining wind and solar with battery storage offers advantages over using either system individually. Hybrid systems like these can generate energy essentially at any point. When the sun is shining, it can generate power from solar, and when the sun is not as intense in winter months, it can generate energy from the wind and store it for later use.
The combination of technology is what will provide the most value over time. To hit the US’s goal of a 100% carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035, more will need to be done, and this is exactly the type of project that can help us get there.
Renewable energy is being deployed around the globe. A new report shows renewable energy sources were used to meet the rise in global electricity demand in the first half of 2022. If hybrid systems like Wheatridge can be utilized, it can help speed up the transition to clean energy while building a reliable grid for the future.
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Solar and storage prices are about to rise after a year and a half of record lows, according to new data from Wood Mackenzie. Equipment procurement costs for solar and energy storage will jump around 9% starting in Q4 2025, marking the end of the bargain pricing developers have enjoyed for the last 18 months. That’s because China is changing the rules.
Why solar +storage prices are going up
Wood Mackenzie points to three major drivers behind the coming spike:
Polysilicon consolidation. China’s polysilicon production exploded between 2022 and 2024, creating a glut and pushing prices to unsustainable lows. But new government guidelines are now forcing producers to slow down, cutting utilization rates to 55-70%. As a result, polysilicon prices surged 48% in September 2025 alone.
Production cuts across the value chain. Solar module makers are also reducing operating rates, with major producers running at just 55-60% capacity by mid-2025. Outdated PERC cell lines are being phased out, further shrinking available capacity.
The end of China’s export tax rebate. Starting in Q4 2025, China will scrap its 13% VAT export rebate on solar modules and storage systems. This fiscal change will ripple through global pricing since China supplies over 80% of the world’s solar modules and 90% of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs.
That policy shift means developers worldwide will face higher costs. In the US, storage and solar projects relying on Chinese equipment will likely see about a 9% cost increase in Q4. Analysts expect inverters to lose their export rebate soon, too, adding more upward pressure.
From price war to market correction
For the past year and a half, Chinese manufacturers have been selling solar modules and storage systems at rock-bottom prices, trying to move oversupply even while posting losses. Modules hit record lows of $0.07-$0.09 per watt in 2024 and early 2025. But with government intervention, that price war is ending.
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“This is about to change,” said Yana Hryshko, senior research analyst and head of Global Solar Supply Chain at Wood Mackenzie. “The Chinese government has intervened to stabilize the market, and developers globally will have to adjust their procurement expectations accordingly.”
Wood Mac says the shift represents a “structural correction” toward sustainable margins, not just a temporary market adjustment. “This shift will ultimately benefit the industry’s long-term health,” said Hryshko. Manufacturers will finally have room to reinvest and innovate, but developers will need to revisit budgets and renegotiate supply deals for production scheduled after November 2025.
Bottom line is, ultra-cheap solar and storage gear is on its way out. The next phase of the energy transition will likely come with higher but more sustainable prices.
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, and Fiat vehicles will remain eligible for the credit after the deadline expires. Stellantis confirmed it will replicate the offer for EV and PHEV models.
Stellantis extends credit for Jeep EV and PHEV models
Stellantis is looking for a comeback in the US. The company sold 324,825 vehicles under the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, and Fiat brands in the US in the third quarter, notching its highest monthly market share in 15 months.
Although it currently offers only a few all-electric vehicles, including the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger Daytona EV, Stellantis also provides a range of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
Through July, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe remained the best-selling PHEV in the US. Stellantis doesn’t provide a breakdown of Wrangler sales by model, but total sales rose 18% in the third quarter to nearly 45,000 units.
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Through September, Stellantis has sold over 128,000 Wranglers. Jeep also offers the Grand Cherokee 4xe, another PHEV. The Wagoneer S, Jeep’s first all-electric SUV, racked up 4,163 in sales in the third quarter, bringing its yearly total to 10,426.
2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited (Source: Stellantis)
To compensate for the loss of the federal tax credit, Stellantis will honor it for EVs and PHEVs. The offer is good on the lease or purchase of a new EV or PHEV, but there’s a catch.
The deal is only for vehicles currently in the dealer’s inventory, meaning it could run out at any point, if it hasn’t already.
2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited interior (Source: Stellantis)
Jeep isn’t the only brand, Stellantis is extending the credit to all PHEV and EV models. Dodge offers the electric Charger Daytona BEV and Hornet R/T PHEV. Chrysler only sells one vehicle, the Pacifica minivan, but it is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. And don’t forget the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the luxury brand’s first PHEV.
All will still be eligible for the credit while inventory lasts. Stellantis follows other automakers, including Ford, GM, and Hyundai, which will continue to offer the EV tax credit beyond the deadline.
Interested in checking one out for yourself? You can use our links below to see what’s available in your area.
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Wallbox’s Supernova DC fast chargers will power a major new EV charging network across Western Canada.
Public charging network operator SureCharge Corp is rolling out up to 24 high-speed public charging sites with 96 Wallbox Supernova 180 kW DC fast chargers across Alberta and British Columbia. The new network will fill critical charging gaps along key travel corridors, linking northern, central, and southern Alberta with British Columbia.
The initiative is backed by over $4.7 million from the Government of Canada through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program and $400,000 from the Government of British Columbia. SureCharge is leading the project, with SureTek Electric & Technologies, a certified Wallbox partner, handling installation, commissioning, and maintenance.
Each site will feature Wallbox’s 180 kW Supernova fast chargers. The Supernova line aims to keep costs low for operators while ensuring drivers have consistent access to high-speed charging.
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SureCharge says the project will connect communities in Western Canada that have never had access to fast chargers. “From the northern stretches of British Columbia to the southern reaches of Alberta, we’re enabling a fast-charging corridor that connects communities across the region,” said Michael Palarchio, SureCharge’s vice-president. “By building a network that’s owned, installed, and maintained by Western Canadians, we’re creating a locally powered solution that works for the people who live, work, and travel here.”
Canadian officials say the project will help ease range anxiety and encourage more people to drive EVs. “With this funding, Canadians traveling on Alberta and British Columbia highways will have access to more EV chargers where they need them most,” said Tim Hodgson, Canada’s minister of energy and natural resources. “These chargers give peace of mind to current EV drivers and help address charging anxiety for those considering an EV purchase.”
The first sites will go live by late 2025 in Red Deer, Lacombe, and Enoch Cree Nation, followed by rapid expansion into Whitecourt, Grande Prairie, Jasper, Fort St. John, Fernie, Edson, and other towns, including Grand Cache, Hinton, Rocky Mountain House, Valleyview, and Diamond Valley.
The project is part of a larger plan to create a long-term, regionwide charging network in partnership with retail, hospitality, and convenience brands committed to sustainable transportation.
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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