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California State Capitol, Photo by Tony Webster

The California Senate dropped a controversial provision of an upcoming solar law which would have broken long-standing solar contracts with California homeowners after significant public backlash over the state’s plans to do so.

For several months now, AB 942 has been working its way through the California legislature, with big changes to the way that California treats contracts for residential solar.

The state has long allowed for “net metering,” the concept that if you sell your excess solar power to the grid, it gives you a credit that you can use to draw from the grid when your solar isn’t producing.

Some 2 million homeowners in California signed contracts with 20-year terms when they purchased their solar systems, figuring that the solar panels would pay off their significant investment over the coming decades by allowing them to sell power to the grid that they generated from their rooftops.

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But this has long been a sticking point for the state’s regulated private utilities. They are in the business of selling power, so they tend to have little interest in buying it from the people they’re supposed to be selling it to.

As a result, utilities have consistently tried to get language watering down net metering contracts inserted into bills considered by the CA legislature, and the most recent one was a bit of a doozy.

The most recent plan was asked for by the CA Public Utilities Commission, in response to an executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom, was authored by a former utility executive, and used some questionable justifications, claiming that solar customers were responsible for high utility bills by shifting costs from solar customers to non-solar customers. Other analyses show that rooftop solar helped save $1.5 billion for ratepayers.

The most controversial point of AB 942 was that it would break rooftop solar contracts early. At first, it was going to break all existing contracts, then was limited to only break contracts if a homeowner sells their home. The ability to transfer these contracts was key to the buying decision for many homeowners who installed solar, as the ability to generate your own power and lower your electricity bills adds to a home’s value.

This brought anger from several rooftop solar owners and organizations associated with the industry. 100 organizations signed onto an effort to stop blaming consumers who are doing their best to reduce emissions and instead focus on the real causes of higher electricity, which the groups said are associated with high utility spending and profits.

It also resulted in several protests outside CA assemblymembers’ offices, opposing the bill. And California representatives received a high volume of comments opposing the plan to break solar contracts.

But, as of Tuesday, the language which would break rooftop solar contracts has been removed by the CA Senate’s Energy Committee, chaired by Senator Josh Becker, who led the effort. Language which blamed consumers for utility rate-hikes was also removed from the bill, according to the Solar Rights Alliance.

The bill is still not law, it has only moved out of the Energy Committee. But bills that advance through committee in California do not usually meet a significant amount of debate when they come to a floor vote, due to the Democratic supermajority in the state. It seems likely that if this bill advances to a vote, it will pass.

Electrek’s Take

The bill is still not perfect for solar homeowners. It disallows anyone with a yearly electricity bill of under $300 from getting the “California Climate Credit,” which is a refund to state utility customers paid for by California’s carbon fee on polluting industry.

The justification is thin for removing this credit from homeowners who are doing even more for the climate by installing solar… but it turns out that limitation probably won’t affect many customers, because most solar customers will still pay a yearly grid connection tax of around $300/year, and most solar customers still have a small electricity bill anyway at the end of the year.

Now, the question of a grid connection fee is another point of possible contention. This has been referred to as a “tax on the sun” in some jurisdictions, and it does feel like an attempt to nickel-and-dime customers who are contributing to climate reductions and should not be penalized for doing so. However, there is at least some rationality in the concept that they should pay to use infrastructure (but then… isn’t that the point of taxes, to build infrastructure for people to use?).

In short, even if it’s not perfect for every solar homeowner, we can consider this a win, and an example of how, at least with functional governments (unlike the US’ one), the public can and should be able to stop bad laws, or bad portions of laws, with enough public effort.

Now, if only we could apply that to those ridiculous EV fees…

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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Jackery HomePower 3000 + bundle at new lows from $1,499, Heybike Horizon full suspension folding e-bike $1,399, EcoFlow, more

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September 5, 2025

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Jackery HomePower 3000 + bundle at new lows from ,499, Heybike Horizon full suspension folding e-bike ,399, EcoFlow, more

Closing out this week’s Green Deals is Jackery’s weekend flash sale on its latest HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station alongside a 400W solar bundle that are hitting new low prices starting from $1,499. Right behind it is a spotlight on the $600 discount hitting Heybike’s Horizon Full Suspension Folding e-bike bundle at $1,399, as well as EcoFlow’s current member-only deals on four bundle offers, lead by the DELTA 2 Max 440W solar bundle with a protective bag at a new $1,282 low. We also have new low pricing on Schumacher’s hardwired EV charging station, a Greenworks 15-inch trimmer bundle, and more waiting for you below. Plus, there are all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s collection of Rad Power extra battery e-bike bundles from its latest sale, the first-ever discount on ALLPOWERS’ new SOLAX P100 mini power station, and more – and that’s on top of the ongoing Labor Day deals still available in our curated holiday Green Deals hub here.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Jackery weekend flash sale offers up to $1,200 savings on HomePower 3000 station and bundle at new lows starting from $1,499

Jackery’s Disaster Preparedness Sale running through September 16 is seeing up to 50% discounts across its power station lineup, complete with automatic 5% and 7% extra savings on orders over $1,300, as well as some free gifts accompanying the largest Explorer 5000 Plus series units. A standout, though, is the flash offer lasting only through the weekend on Jackery’s latest HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station at $1,499 shipped, which comes in a little under Amazon by $4. Since its release back in May, we’ve seen it brought down from its full $2,499 price tag to land between $1,899 and $1,699 during sales, with Amazon seeing it drop to $1,599 for the first time today (while the on-page coupon there takes things lower) and the brand’s direct site taking things under $1,500 for the first time while these flash savings last, giving you $1,000 in savings at the best new price we have tracked. The bundle on Jackery’s HomePower 3000 station and two 200W solar panels is also at a new low of $1,799 shipped, landing $100 under the previous low and $5 under Amazon’s current pricing.

For those who may not be aware, the Jackery HomePower 3000 station is the next generation of the brand’s popular Explorer 3000, with the immediate upgrade here being the switch to LiFePO4 batteries – in this case a 3,072Wh capacity worth – which also comes with a battery management system and protected by ChargeShield 2.0 tech. It provides 12 output ports (including a TT-30R port for your RV living) to connect to devices and appliances, supplying them with a steady stream of up to 3,600W and surging up to 7,200W when needed.

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Jackery’s HomePower 3000 station boasts five primary means to get its battery recharged, like a standard AC outlet that can have it back to full in around 2.2 hours, alongside the 1,000W max solar input (which you can start working towards with the 400W solar bundle) that will take up to 11 hours, depending on weather conditions. There’s also the options to connect a gas generator, plug it into your car’s auxiliary port, or take advantage of its dual AC/DC charging for a 1.7-hour timeframe.

You can browse the entirety of Jackery’s September Disaster Preparedness Sale on the landing page here, including the HomePower 3000 station flash offers.

man riding Heybike Horizon Full Suspension folding e-bike down coastal street

Enjoy smooth commutes and space-saving functionality on Heybike’s Horizon full suspension folding e-bike at $1,399

As part of Heybike’s ongoing End of Summer Sale, which is offering up to $649 savings on its e-bike lineup alongside the usual free gear bundles, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the brand’s Horizon Full Suspension Folding e-bike that is down at $1,399 shipped while the event lasts and comes with a free front and rear cargo basket bundle. This model usually fetches $1,999 outside of sales, which we’ve mostly seen brought down to $1,499 over 2025, with more recent drops to $1,399 and a one-time fall further to the $1,299 low that appeared during the brand’s anniversary sale back at the end of May. Aside from that one-time low, you’re otherwise looking at the best price we have tracked, which saves you $600 on one of the brand’s more premium space-saving commuting solutions.

If you want to learn more about this particular e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here, with Heybike’s full End of Summer Sale lineup available to browse here.

EcoFlow's DELTA 2 Max power station in front of solar panels in yard while man mows nearby
Photo: BLUETTI

EcoFlow’s short-term member-only deals drop DELTA 2 Max 440W solar bundle with free bag to new $1,282 low, more

Running parallel to its extended Labor Day Sale, EcoFlow is also having a Home Backup Sale through September 14 with up to 62% discounts, 5% and 7% bonus savings, and more. Among the lineup, we’re seeing shorter-term member-only pricing on four units lasting through September 7, with a standout being EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station coming with two 220W solar panels and a waterproof protective bag for $1,281.55 shipped, after using the code 25EFDCAFF at checkout for an additional 5% off your order. This particular bundle would cost you $3,276 were it at full price, with the bag missing from this bundle at Amazon, where it’s currently priced for $1,299, and has only gone as low as $1,234 in the past. Considering the bag costs $79, this combined 61% markdown for the next few days not only saves you a total $1,994, but gives you the best new price we have tracked. Head below for more on this and the other short-term member-only deals.

If you want to learn more about this power station bundle, or check out the other three offers seeing up to $2,419 in savings, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

app-based controls next to Schumacher's 50A EV charging station

Hardwire Schumacher’s 50A Level 2 EV wall charger indoors or outdoors while at a new $350 low

Amazon is offering the Schumacher 50A Hardwired Level 2 EV Wall Charger at $349.99 shipped. Since July we’ve seen it keeping at $450 at full price, which is also when we last saw a discount, with Prime Day having taken the cost down to $399, and was only ever beaten out by a $390 rate from October 2024 Prime Day. The deal we’re seeing here takes things lower than ever as the 22% markdown is cutting $100 off the going rate and landing it at a new all-time low price. Keep in mind that this is a hardwired station, with the more flexible variant also currently seeing a discount to $414 right now, down from $500.

If you want to learn more about this particular EV charging station, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

greenworks string trimmer cutting through weeds along property line

Clear up to 1.5 miles of weeds with this Greenworks 48V (2x24V) 15-inch string trimmer and two batteries at a new $91 low

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 48V (2 x 24V) 15-inch Cordless String Trimmer with two 2.0Ah batteries and dual-port charger for $91.19 shipped, which matches the pricing directly from the brand’s website. While it carries a $160 MSRP, we more often see it priced around $120 at Amazon, with discounts over the years having only gone as low as $96, which we last saw for an extended period in April through May. Today’s deal beats out all that have come before, though, with the 43% markdown here cutting $69 off the MSRP tag for a new all-time low.

If you want to learn more about this tool’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

NexLawn's Master X Series Concept robot lawn mower with arm holding ball in grass field
man approaching Lectric ONE e-bike on pavement
two men riding Lectric's XP4 e-bikes

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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Check out the new Mercedes-Benz GLC EV interior and its giant 39″ infotainment screen

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44 mins ago

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September 5, 2025

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Check out the new Mercedes-Benz GLC EV interior and its giant 39

Mercedes-Benz-GLC-EV-interior

The top-selling Mercedes model is going electric. With just two days until its official debut, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a first look at the interior of the new GLC. With a massive 39″ touchscreen, the brand’s largest to date, Mercedes promises the new GLC will take luxury driving to a new level.

Mercedes-Benz unveils the interior of the new GLC EV

“We’re not just introducing a new model – we’re electrifying our top seller,” Mercedes-Benz Group CEO, Ola Källenius, said after offering an exclusive look at the new electric GLC in July.

Mercedes promises the new model “sets new standards” as its first vehicle to showcase the luxury brand’s updated design and advanced new tech.

Ahead of its debut on September 7, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the interior of the new electric GLC for the first time.

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At the center is the new MBUX HYPERSCREEN. The 39.1″ floating touchscreen spans the entire dashboard. With over 1,000 LEDs and matrix backlight technology, Mercedes said the touchscreen boasts “exceptional clarity and vivid color.”

It also features intelligent zone dimming, which enables you to set two different brightness levels for separate displays. Mercedes said it has already filed a patent for the “groundbreaking” new feature. The only issue is that it won’t come standard.

Mercedes-Benz-GLC-EV-interior
The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC EV (Source: Mercedes-Benz)

Mercedes said the MBUX HYPERSCREEN will be optionally available. Lower-priced trim options are expected to receive a smaller screen.

Thanks to an extended wheelbase, the new GLC EV offers more interior space than the current model. With all the seats folded, the electric SUV offers 61.4 cubic feet of space, compared to the gas-powered model, which features up to 56.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Mercedes-Benz-GLC-EV-interior
Mercedes-Benz-GLC-EV-interior

Like the interior, the exterior of the GLC EV will showcase the new Mercedes-Benz design. Källenius said the new model will debut with “a new face of the brand as the first in a family of upcoming vehicles,” which will include a revamped grille.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLC will be based on an 800V architecture, offering charging speeds of up to 320 kW. According to Källenius, the electric SUV can regain around 260 km (161 miles) in about 10 minutes.

Mercedes-GLC-EV-face
The new Mercedes GLC EV will showcase a new face (Source: Mercedes-Benz)

We will learn more info on September 7, when the new GLC makes its official debut. However, according to Car and Driver, which tested a prototype model, the new GLC is expected to provide a WLTP range of just over 400 miles from a 94.5 kWh battery. On the EPA scale, it will likely be closer to slightly over 300 miles of range.

Given that the current GLC 350e 4MATIC PHEV starts at $59,900 in the US, you can expect the all-electric version to be priced slightly higher at around $65,000.


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Hyundai’s new EV plant was just raided by ICE, ‘hundreds’ taken into custody

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2 hours ago

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September 5, 2025

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Hyundai's new EV plant was just raided by ICE, 'hundreds' taken into custody

Hyundai-EV-plant-raided-ICE

The massive new Hyundai EV plant outside of Savannah, Georgia, was raided by ICE on Thursday. Federal agents took hundreds of people into custody at the site, including executives from LG Energy Solution, Hyundai’s battery partner and co-owner of the plant.

Why was the Hyundai EV plant raided by ICE?

After celebrating the grand opening of its new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia earlier this year, the Korean automaker said it’s “building the future of mobility with America, in America.”

On Thursday, a construction site for a new battery plant was raided by US immigration authorities. According to local reports, up to 475 people were arrested as part of an investigation into undocumented individuals. LG stated in a press release that Hyundai employees were among the hundreds taken into custody.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday (via Yonhap News), claiming that the individuals were treated unfairly.

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“The economic activities of our companies investing in the US and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated,” South Korean ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said.

Hyundai-EV-plant-raid
Hyundai IONIQ 9 models, which are built at HMGMA EV plant in Georgia (Source: Hyundai)

The ministry’s spokesperson added that “We conveyed our concern and regret through the US Embassy in Seoul today.” Korea sent officials to Washington and to the Hyundai plant to establish an on-site task force to deal with the matter.

The site spans nearly 3,000 acres total and includes an assembly facility, two battery plants, a weld shop, and several others for training, logistics, and more.

Hyundai-EV-plant-raided-ICE
The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (Source: Hyundai)

As the largest economic project in Georgia, the plant, including Hyundai’s suppliers, is expected to create nearly 40,000 jobs while drawing $12.6 billion into the state.

Hyundai currently builds the new 2025 IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9, its first three-row electric SUV, at the Georgia facility.

Hyundai-IONIQ-5-breakout-EV
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)

The ICE raid came just days after US President Trump hosted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House. It’s part of the administration’s aggressive crackdown on immigration. Lee has committed to investing another $150 billion in the US, including a new EV battery plant, as it seeks to ease trade tensions.

LG Energy Solution and the South Korean government are working to secure the release of employees and others in custody. Check back soon, as this is an ongoing story. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.

Source: The New York Times, Yonhap News


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