Major U.S. Clean Energy Tax Credit Changes Signed Into Law
President Trump signed the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act” on July 4, 2025, enacting substantial changes to federal renewable energy tax credits. The residential solar tax credit (ITC) will end after 2025, with no phase-out period; homeowners must have systems installed and commissioned by December 31, 2025, to receive the full 30% credit. For commercial wind and solar, projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026, to qualify for the full commercial ITC, with stricter placed-in-service deadlines and new restrictions on foreign material sourcing for projects started after 2025[7][5][8].
NYSERDA Opens 2026 Voluntary Tier 1 REC Pre-Sale for New York Renewables
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the 2026 Voluntary Tier 1 Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Pre-Sale, opening July 30 and closing August 13, 2025. This program allows commercial, industrial, municipal, and institutional buyers to lock in forward-priced RECs sourced from in-state solar, wind, and hydro projects, with delivery in Q1 2027 and payment due September 14, 2025; pricing will be announced by NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Standard Team on July 7, 2025[1].
LS Power Completes Acquisition, Launches Opterra Energy Services
LS Power finalized its acquisition of ENGIE Services U.S. on June 12 and rebranded the company as Opterra Energy Services, expanding its role in distributed energy services. Opterra will provide energy management, procurement, efficiency upgrades, and sustainability consulting services to commercial, industrial, and municipal clients, signaling heightened competition and opportunity in the U.S. distributed clean energy market[1].
Global Renewable Energy Surges Set to Overtake Coal and Nuclear
Renewables-based electricity generation globally is on track to surpass coal-fired generation in 2025, with wind and solar each expected to overtake nuclear generation by 2026. Major policy initiatives in China, the EU, and other large economies are accelerating clean energy investments and capacity additions, driving a rapid transformation of the global power mix[2].
Clean Energy Transition Accelerates but Energy Security Challenges Remain
The World Economic Forum reports the fastest progress in clean energy transition since before the pandemic, with 65% of countries improving their Energy Transition Index scores in 2025. However, record clean energy investments have not yet resolved global energy security issues or curbed emissions growth, highlighting the urgent need for resilient grids and targeted capital in emerging economies