The Pennsylvania Solar Center will host a May 20 Watts & Learn webinar from Noon to 1:15 p.m. on solar projects stuck in the PJM Interconnection evaluation queue, the U.S. Commerce Department trade investigation of foreign solar energy components and new Pennsylvania solar energy poll results.

Planned utility scale projects must apply to interconnect into our regional electric grid that is managed by PJM (our regional grid operator), and they then are placed into the "queue" for review and approval.

Because PJM has received so many solar applications, they are reforming the approval process and have placed many utility scale energy projects on hold as it transitions this "queue" process over the next couple of years.

Gabriella Hudis, Senior Associate, Gabel Associates will discuss the reform process and share how the solar industry can balance planning for future system improvements while managing growing demand today.

The second issue is the U.S. Department of Commerce investigation of four countries that are accused of using prohibited solar materials from China. Solar manufacturers in these countries supply 65% of the US solar panels.

This case has caused widespread project cancellations, delays, and uncertainty and expects to reduce national solar deployment by up to 16 gigawatts (GW) annually and put 70,000 U.S. solar jobs at risk.

Amir Yazdi, Deputy General Counsel, for the Solar Energy Industries Association will provide a deep dive into the most recent developments and explain what we can do to help avoid disruptions and create more certainty in the solar industry.

Elena Weissmann, Regional Director – Mid-Atlantic, Vote Solar will provide participants with the results of a recent survey conducted by Vote Solar that found Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support solar, and discuss how we can modernize Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard and strengthen Pennsylvania’s energy independence.

Click Here to register for this event.

The Pennsylvania Solar Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit effort to raise the awareness of the benefits of solar energy in Pennsylvania. Click Here to sign up for regular updates.

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