Massive Solar Tariffs, Fast-Track Energy Permits, & Big Wins for EV Batteries
1.) After a year-long investigation pre-dating the Trump Administration, the U.S. sets new anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, finding suppliers guilty of exporting to U.S at below production costs. The tariff levels were as high as 3,521% for Cambodian imports. The U.S. imported almost $13 bn of solar from these countries in 2024, representing over 75% of total imports.
2.) The FERC last week approves PJM’s proposal to establish a price cap and price floor for its next two capacity auctions affecting the 2026/27 and 2027/28 delivery years. This action sets a floor of $175/MW-day and a ceiling of $375, replacing the former $500 ceiling and $0 floor.
3.) The US government announces new emergency permitting process for energy and mining projects on federal lands, with approval times for these projects cut from one to two years down to 14 to 18 days.
4.) The DOI justifies decision as responding to President Trump’s declaration of an energy emergency. Permitting will only apply to fossil fuel projects, geothermal power, coal, uranium, other critical minerals, biofuels, and kinetic hydropower - other renewable energy projects need not apply.
5.) GM now exceeds Tesla in U.S. battery production capacity, according to BloombergNEF, and has dramtically cut battery costs - by $60 per kWh from 2023 with further cost reductions of $30 per kWh expected. The goal is $100 per kWh, down 50% from 2023.
6.) Automotive group Stellantis and US battery developer Factorial Energy validate solid-state EV battery cells, part of a joint effort to create a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytonas equipped with solid state batteries next year. The two companies say the cells support a state-of-charge increase from 15 % to over 90 % within 18 minutes.
7.) ISO-NE sees record low energy consumption for 4th year in a row, with preliminary data showing demand at 5,318 MW on April 20 Easter Sunday, 2025. On-site solar cut into demand, peaking at around 6,600 MW.