Texas just became No 1 in the US for most utility-scale solar
For the first time, Texas has bumped California out of the No 1 spot for the most utility-scale solar capacity.
US solar’s rapid rise in just 2 years
Adding 1,656 MW in Q2 2024, Texas now boasts of 21,932 MW of online solar power, according to the American Clean Power Association’s “Clean Power Quarterly Market Report | Q2 2024.”
And according to the US Solar Market Insight Q3 2024 report released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, the US solar industry installed 9.4 GW of new electric generation capacity in Q2 2024, mostly thanks to utility-scale growth.
The Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which became law in 2022, has been the main catalyst for the US solar industry’s rapid rise. Solar panel manufacturing capacity now exceeds 31 gigawatts (GW) — a nearly four-fold increase under the IRA.
The solar industry has added 75 GW of new capacity to the grid, representing over 36% of all solar capacity built in US history, in just two years. Nearly 1.5 million US homes have installed solar since the IRA passed.
“The solar and storage industry is turning federal clean energy policies into action by rapidly creating jobs and powering economic growth in all 50 states, particularly in battleground states like Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper.
Challenges ahead
The residential solar market contracted further in Q2 2024, thanks to high interest rates and policy changes in California. Residential solar added 1.1 GW of new capacity in Q2, its lowest quarter in nearly three years. However, the residential solar market is expected to pick up again in 2025 and is projected to set annual records from 2026 to 2029.
Going forward, it won’t be smooth sailing for the US solar industry – it’s facing interconnection backlogs, electrical equipment shortages, newly proposed tariff uncertainty, and labor shortages. The SEIA predicts that annual solar installations will grow at 4% on average over the next several years as the industry grapples with those challenges.
By 2029, total US solar capacity is expected to double to 440 GW.
Read more: Enel is deploying 6,000+ sheep to 8 Texas solar farms
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. 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. They have 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 Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Mazda calls it a “dream car.” The EZ-60 is about the size of a Tesla Model Y, and it will be sold globally. After racking up over 20,000 pre-orders in just over two weeks, Mazda’s new electric SUV is now arriving at dealerships across China.
Mazda’s EZ-60 electric SUV reaches dealerships in China
The EZ-60 is Mazda’s first electric SUV from its joint venture with Changan Auto. Following the EZ-6, it’s the second dedicated Mazda EV to land in China.
After its debut on April 23, Changan Mazda announced that the EZ-60 had secured over 10,000 pre-orders in 24 hours, a new record for joint-venture electric SUVs. With the current tally at over 20,000, Mazda’s new electric SUV is now arriving at dealerships across China.
The EZ-60 is based on Changan’s hybrid platform and uses a CATL LFP battery for a CLTC range of up to 600 km (372 miles). It’s also available with a 1.5L gasoline engine, providing a combined range of over 1,300 km.
To keep pace in China’s competitive EV market, Mazda’s electric SUV is specifically designed for Chinese buyers.
It includes “a number of world-first technologies,” including a 100″ naked-eye 3D head-up display (HUD), voice recognition, and advanced safety systems.
Mazda’s new EZ-60 electric SUV is about the same size as a Tesla Model Y, measuring 4,850 mm in length, 1,935 mm in width, and 1,620 mm in height.
To lure potential buyers, Mazda launched a deposit program this week. With an initial 10 yuan deposit, buyers can grow their account by 10 yuan every day with an “expansion code.”
Test drives are expected to be available in July, with the first customer deliveries set to follow in August. Like the EZ-6 sedan, Mazda’s electric SUV will be sold in several global markets, including Europe, starting next year. It will launch under the name CX-6e.
In Europe, the electric sedan is called the Mazda 6e. It will be available in two battery packs: 68.8 kWh or 80 kWh, offering a WLTP driving range of 479 km (300 miles) and 552 km (343 miles), respectively.
More info, including final specs and prices for the global version, will be revealed closer to launch. Check back soon for the latest.
Source: CarNewsChina, Changan Mazda
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Environment
Trump will hold a rally at U.S. Steel as investors seek clarity on Nippon deal. Here’s what we know
President Donald Trump will hold a rally Friday at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh, a week after signaling that he had cleared a controversial merger with Japan’s Nippon Steel.
Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at 5 p.m. ET at U.S. Steel’s Irvin Works in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, according to the White House. Investors and union members will listen for answers from the president on what shape the deal he announced between U.S. Steel and Nippon will take.
Trump described the deal as a “partnership” in a May 23 post on his social media platform Truth Social. The president said U.S. Steel’s headquarters would remain in Pittsburgh and Nippon would invest $14 billion over 14 months in the more than 120-year-old American industrial icon.
Trump told reporters on Sunday that the deal is an “investment, it’s a partial ownership, but it will be controlled by the USA.” But the White House and the companies have provided little detail to the public on how the deal is structured since Trump’s announcement.
U.S. Steel has described the deal as a “merger” in which it will become a “wholly owned subsidiary” of Nippon Steel North America but continue to operate as separate company, according to an April 8 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sources familiar with the matter told CNBC’s David Faber that Nippon is expected to close its acquisition of U.S. Steel at $55 per share, the original offer the Japanese steelmaker made before President Joe Biden rejected the deal in January. Biden blocked Nippon’s proposed acquisition on national security grounds, arguing that it would jeopardize critical supply chains.
But Trump ordered a new review of the deal in April, softening his previous opposition to Nippon buying U.S. Steel. The president announced the “partnership” one day after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States was supposed to conclude its review and make a recommendation on whether the companies had found ways to “mitigate any national security risks.”
‘National security agreement’
Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick told CNBC on Tuesday that the U.S. government will have a “golden share” that will allow it to decide on a number of board seats. U.S. Steel will have an American CEO and a majority of the board will come from the U.S. McCormick said.
“It’s a national security agreement that will be signed with the U.S. government,” McCormick told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “There’ll be a golden share that will essentially require U.S. government approval of a number of the board members and that will allow the United States to ensure production levels aren’t cut.”
Nippon will “have certainly members of the board and this will be part of their overall corporate structure,” McCormick told CNBC. White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro told reporters Thursday that “Nippon Steel is going to have some involvement, but no control of the company.”
“U.S. Steel owns the company,” Navarro said. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC on Friday that the details of the Nippon Steel deal “remain confidential, relatively.”
“The underlying principle is that the United States should have control over key critical sectors, whether it’s basic manufacturing or high tech,” Greer told “Squawk Box.” “In the event that foreign countries or foreign individuals or firms want to acquire these companies or have large investments, the U.S. has to maintain control of things that matter.”
The United Steelworkers, which originally opposed the deal, has said the union “cannot speculate about the impact” of Trump’s announcement “without more information.”
“Our concern remains that Nippon, a foreign corporation with a long and proven track record of violating our trade laws, will further erode domestic steelmaking capacity and jeopardize thousands of good, union jobs,” USW President David McCall said in a statement.
Environment
Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV is here as IONIQ 9 deliveries kick off across the US
Hyundai handed over one of the first IONIQ 9 models to customers in the US on Friday, marking the start of deliveries for its new three-row electric SUV.
Hyundai IONIQ 9 deliveries are now underway in the US
Just over two months after the first models rolled off the assembly line at Hyundai’s new EV plant in Georgia in March, deliveries are now underway.
Hyundai delivered one of the first IONIQ 9 models to customers in Georgia. The owners, Jennifer and Dwayne Maynard, traded in their IONIQ 5 for the larger electric SUV.
“We loved our IONIQ 5, but the IONIQ 9 offers everything we need and more for our family and our adventures,” Jennifer Maynard explained.
With up to 2,472 liters (87 cubic feet), Hyundai’s three-row SUV boasts more interior cargo space than a Ford Explorer (2,492 liters).
To showcase the spaciousness of the IONIQ 9, Hyundai launched a new marketing campaign, “Space to Connect,” earlier this month, offering a glimpse inside the seven-seat family hauler.
Not only does the SUV have “class-leading” interior space, but it’s also loaded with Hyundai’s latest tech and software.
The interior features a panoramic curved display with over 24″ of screen space, including dual 12.3″ driver display and infotainment screens.
Hyundai announced that 2026 IONIQ 9 prices start at just over $60,500, including a $1,600 destination fee. That’s for the base RWD model, which has a range of up to 335 miles. The AWD trim, with 303 horsepower and 320 miles range, starts at under $65,000.
Like the upgraded 2025 IONIQ 5, Hyundai’s three-row electric SUV features a built-in NACS port, allowing you to access Tesla’s Supercharger network. Using a 350 kW DC fast charger, the IONIQ 9 can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 24 minutes.
While it’s still available, the IONIQ 9 qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit, which could lower prices to as low as $53,055.
| 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Model | EV Powertrain | Drivetrain | Driving Range (miles) |
Starting Price (including destination fee) |
| IONIQ 9 RWD S | 160-kW (215-HP) Electric Motor |
Rear- Wheel Drive |
335 | $60,555 |
| IONIQ 9 AWD SE | 226.1 kW (303-HP) Dual Electric Motors |
All-Wheel Drive |
320 | $64,365 |
| IONIQ 9 AWD SEL | 226.1-kW (303-HP) Dual Electric Motors |
All-Wheel Drive |
320 | $67,920 |
| IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE LIMITED |
314.6-kW (422-HP) Dual Electric Motors |
All-Wheel Drive |
311 | $72,850 |
| IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE CALLIGRAPHY |
314.6-kW (422-HP) Dual Electric Motors |
All-Wheel Drive |
311 | $76,590 |
| IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE CALLIGRAPHY DESIGN |
314.6-kW (422-HP) Dual Electric Motors |
All-Wheel Drive |
311 | $78,090 |
With deliveries now underway, there are a few deals that are worth checking out. Hyundai is offering a $5,000 cash bonus on all IONIQ 9 trims. With the $7,500 credit, you can snag up to $12,500 in upfront savings
Leases start as low as $419 for 36 months, which is even more affordable than a Toyota Highlander XLE Hybrid right now. If you’re looking for something smaller, the 2025 IONIQ 5 is available with leases starting at $209 per month.
Until June 2, Hyundai will give you a free ChargePoint Level 2 charger with the purchase or lease of a 2026 IONIQ 9 or 2025 IONIQ 5. Earlier today, we learned that Hyundai could raise vehicle prices as soon as next week.
Ready to check out Hyundai’s electric SUVs for yourself? We’re here to help. You can use our links below to find deals on the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and IONIQ 5 in your area.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway