U.S. Surpasses 100 GW of Solar; Add'l 150 GW Projected Over Next 5 Years

U.S. surpasses 100 GW of installed wind, w/ add'l 150 GW anticipated through 2025; GM ups green investment ante from $27 bn to $35 bn through 2025, announces two more battery plants; GenOn to close four coal plants at 2,421 GW; Talen Energy installing 20 MW of batteries at defunct MD coal plant, part of 1 GW storage plan; U.S. BOEM proposes 7GW offshore wind lease in NY/NJ area.

1) The US just surpassed 100 GW of installed solar, doubling in past 3 years. Q1 installations at 5 MW, up 46% over 2020, and 58% of all US installed capacity for quarter. Utility-scale projects at 3.6 GW, and resi at 905 MW. Texas took 1.52 GW of the 5 GW.

2) GM announced plans for two more gigafactories by mid-decade, with a total of $35 bn invested in green tech through 2025, up from $27 bn in November.

3) energy company GenOn will close two coal units in Southern Maryland next year, 5 years ahead of schedule, and shutter add'l . plants near Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Total capacity of shutdowns is 2,421 MW.

4) Talen Energy will install a 20 MW proof-of-concept battery at closed AJ Wagner coal plant in MD. If successful, storage at plant could increase to 115 MW.

5) US Department of the Interior announces proposed 7 GW offshore wind lease in New York Bight, between NY and NJ.