Video & Transcript Research : 'solar thermal'

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NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Feb 4th, 2026 at 10:04 am

Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have such a great solar industry here.
  • And the solar provides stability for that.
  • And the whole concept of the importance of distributed solar on top of or adding to utility solar, solar
  • Rooftop solar is part of the energy transition.
  • We have over 70 solar companies in the state.
Bills: SB101, SB58, SB55
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Jan 29th, 2026 at 02:36 pm

Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • You will recall that we've been doing solar tax credits for a number of years.
  • So what's happened with our solar tax credit is over the last decade or so, we've had a 10% solar tax
  • So a lot of the solar that we've been able to do, Stay at 30%.
  • We put that in when we did our solar tax credits. Madam Chair, yes.
  • I was like Senator Hamblen, and I put solar on my house in 2010. Solar on my house in 2010.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/12/2026 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Transcript Highlights:
  • For solar companies? Should the map be prepared for the solar companies, is that right?
  • a solar farm?
  • owning the solar plant.
  • owning the solar plant.
  • Utility-scale solar and wind.
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2150, which would continue the State Land Department until July 1, 2030. Members discussed a Griffin amendment requiring quarterly updates from the commissioner, a public hearing on the department’s strategic plan in 2028, changes to conceptual land use plans and five-year disposition plans, and legislative findings. The hearing focused heavily on State Land Department practices, including whether it is subject to state agency statutes, the department’s internal ASAP application review process, backlog levels, appraisal and consultant use, audit findings, privileged documents in the Fondomonte matter, Proposition 207 notices, and the Coyotes land auction. Members also raised concerns about land sales, leases, special use permits, and the department’s compliance history. The amendment was adopted and HB 2150 was passed as amended on a 6-4 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 2975, which would suspend the department’s solar scoring map and require new mining and housing resource maps, with a Griffin amendment extending the mapping deadline to ten years or earlier and requiring website posting. Supporters argued the bill would restore neutrality, improve planning, and maximize trust revenue; opponents said the solar map is only a guidance tool and that removing it could reduce transparency and harm solar development. The State Land Department said it was neutral but noted the solar layer is used as guidance and that additional staff or consultant support might be needed to create the new maps. The bill passed as amended on a 6-4 vote. House Bill 2781 followed, proposing county or municipal decommissioning standards and financial assurance requirements for solar energy power plants, along with a remediation fund. A Griffin amendment narrowed local authority to decommissioning standards only and limited applicability to projects receiving permits after the effective date. The sponsor and several witnesses from Pinal County planning and zoning supported the bill, saying solar projects should be required to post real financial assurance so land can be restored if operators go bankrupt or abandon sites. The committee adopted the amendment and passed HB 2781 as amended on a 6-4 vote. Finally, the committee began House Bill 2267, which would classify certain renewable energy projects within four miles of residential property as a public nuisance, with a Heap amendment narrowing it to new utility-scale wind or solar farms and preserving existing projects. The sponsor argued the bill responds to concerns about large wind and solar projects near homes, property values, and wildlife impacts. Testimony and questioning centered on nuisance standards, property value effects, and environmental and health concerns, but the transcript cuts off before final action on HB 2267.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Jan 27th, 2026 at 01:42 pm

Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • Acres and acres and acres of asphalt should be covered with solar panels to keep the sun off my car and
  • Underneath the solar panels, the solar panels in the green space. Thank you for that.
  • Seeing none, we will again put this one in the parking lot in the asphalt under the solar panels.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

EEP Public Hearing - Thu Feb 5, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Energy & Environmental Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • Hawaii Solar Energy Association? Hawaii Solar Energy Association?
  • And then Inter Island Solar Supply Solar Corporation with comments.
  • access solar.
  • access solar.
  • access solar.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to cesspools, wastewater, and clean water protections. On HB 2245, which would require additional denitrification capacity in wastewater systems near shorelines, the Department of Health offered comments, DLNR supported the bill, and multiple environmental and ocean groups testified in strong support, emphasizing nitrogen pollution from cesspools, reef damage, and the need to prioritize shoreline systems. Testifiers said the bill should move forward, with technical issues such as GIS mapping to be worked out later. No member questions or votes were taken on this measure. On HB 1985, concerning the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and accessible conversion loans for cesspool homeowners, HGI supported the bill and suggested making the program a revolving loan fund; DLNR and the Public Utilities Commission also supported it, while the Department of Health supported the concept. Committee discussion focused on program design, possible forgivable loans for low-income homeowners, and whether the program should be administered through existing infrastructure rather than a new procurement process. The committee then moved to HB 1985’s companion discussion on cesspool conversion outreach and deadline extensions, where DLNR and DOH supported outreach but DLNR and ocean advocates expressed reservations about extending deadlines, especially for financial hardship, saying that issue would need careful work. The committee also heard testimony on HB 2079, which would reestablish the accessible upgrades inversion or connection income tax credit. The Department of Taxation raised administrative and fraud concerns about refundable credits, explaining that nonrefundable credits reduce tax debt while refundable credits can function like cash payments and require more oversight. DOH, DLNR, OPSD, counties, Hawaii Realtors, and environmental groups supported the bill, with one ocean coalition witness saying tax credits could help homeowners but grants would be preferable. Members asked about the difference between refundable credits and grants and about whether the credit would cover sewer connections versus individual wastewater systems. The committee then heard brief testimony on HB 1921, allowing certain priority-three cesspools to add a bedroom, with support from Hawaii Realtors and some other groups and no opposition discussion. HB 2232, preserving state water-quality protections at least as strong as the federal Clean Water Act, drew support from DOH and ocean advocates, with no questions. The committee also began hearing energy-related bills, including HB 1567 on energy equity and HB 1984 on self-certification for distributed energy resources, with a mix of support and some opposition or requested amendments, but no votes were taken in the portion provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 4/14/26

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • of RDA projects, I have the thermal of RDA projects, I have the thermal energy<00:29:38.320>
  • > deployment thermal energy network deployment thermal energy network deployment framework<00:
  • ethical solar and storage sales. ethical solar and storage sales.
  • customers exists per solar installer. customers exists per solar installer.
  • It might sell and build solar and solar.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/26

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so solar garden and solar standard.
  • Solar Garden Program. Solar Garden Program.
  • than utility scale solar. than utility scale solar.
  • solar capacity.
  • and<00:36:09.119> the solar, the solar industry, and the solar, the solar industry, and the
Bills: HF3556
Summary: The committee approved the February 26, 2026 minutes and then took up House File 3556, which would rename Minnesota’s community solar garden program the Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program. The bill’s author described the measure as a tribute to Hortman’s leadership and her role in creating the program, noting its importance to Minnesota’s solar industry and the broader clean energy transition. The author moved HF 3556 to the general register, and the committee proceeded to testimony. Testifiers from the Public Utilities Commission, Department of Commerce, solar industry groups, clean energy organizations, and community solar advocates all supported the bill. They credited Hortman with authoring and advancing the 2013 legislation that created Minnesota’s community solar program and said it became a national model that expanded access to solar for renters, lower-income households, and others who could not install rooftop systems. Several witnesses highlighted the program’s growth, including more than 1 gigawatt of approved projects, strong participation by low- and moderate-income subscribers, and job creation and private investment in Minnesota. Witnesses also emphasized Hortman’s personal leadership style, describing her as prepared, persuasive, collaborative, and deeply committed to clean energy and public service. Some recounted personal interactions with her and said the name change would preserve her legacy and ensure future Minnesotans remember her impact. No vote on the bill itself was taken during the testimony shown, beyond the motion to send HF 3556 to the general register.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Energy Committee Meeting - 2025-03-27

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Community solar is the model adding more distributed solar to the system today.
  • what type of solar.
  • get rid of community solar.
  • Sixty percent of the solar bill is built in Minnesota's community solar gardens.
  • If you replace this solar with other solar, the solar has the same environmental benefits.
Bills: HF2103, HF2793
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/27/25

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • type of solar that is.
  • with other solar; the solar has the same environmental benefits.
  • with other solar; the solar has the same environmental benefits.
  • <01:37:40.520> solar<01:37:40.920> has<01:37:41.119> the solar with other solar
  • the solar has the solar with other solar the solar has the same<01:37:41.520> environmental<01
Bills: HF2103, HF2793
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Licensing & Administrative Procedures May 13th, 2025

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 2864 clarifies how the state regulates the installation of a relatively new type of rooftop solar
  • BIPVs are different than traditional... solar panels; they act more like a traditional roofing material
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Mar 26th, 2025

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Currently, the Texas Property Code does not recognize solar roof tiles as solar energy, and so allows
  • Solar roof tiles are miniature solar panels that resemble roof shingles and comprise an entire roof,
  • unlike regular solar panels which are placed on top of existing shingles.
  • In 2011, HB 362 granted solar panels legal protection against these HOA restrictions, but solar tiles
  • Though current statutes already contain restrictions on solar-powered devices by property owners' associations
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 2/20/25

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • threat to solar.
  • Also solar thermal.
  • I'm the owner of a smaller solar installation company called Sissu Solar.
  • I'm the owner of a smaller solar installation company called Sissu Solar.
  • solar industry.
Bills: HF845
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 2/24/26

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:53:31.040> and<00:53:31.280> solar we've found that with uh solar and solar we've
  • battery policy, I mean solar and and battery policy, I mean solar and solar<00:53:34.000> and
  • In the Solar United Neighbors.
  • of solar.
  • <01:31:54.719> Um plug-in solar. Um plug-in solar.
Bills: HF2986, HF3555
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, there is a package of four solar bills that we'll be hearing next. Mr.
  • Director of the Texas Solar and Storage Association, I am here today in support of SB 1036.
  • We have TDLR who regulates electricians but not solar panel installers.
  • residential solar and will ensure that consumers are knowledgeable and informed when they consider solar
  • , like on-site solar.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs May 9th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the spirit of brevity, uh, this is the granny solar panel on your roof scam bill.
  • Uh, we're gonna create the Solar Residential Solar Retailer Regulatory Act under Chapter 1806 of the
  • Mark Stover, executive director of the Texas Solar and Storage Association.
  • Residential solar offers Texas families and a great many benefits.
  • She ended up with a $57,000 loan for solar panels on her house for 25 years.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs May 9th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the spirit of brevity, this is the "Granny Solar Panel on Your Roof" scam bill.
  • I'm the executive director of the Texas Solar and Storage Association.
  • Central solar offers Texas families and the grid many benefits.
  • The Texas Solar and Storage Association strongly supports these regulatory improvements.
  • panel salesperson. ...ended up with a $57,000 loan for solar panels on her house for 25 years, at 90
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/26

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • current average levelized cost of solar current average levelized cost of solar energy<00:09:32.600
  • It's a gas, wind, solar, nuclear.
  • what solar costs now.
  • Your point about solar is fair: solar has dropped in price consistently since it first came out, and
  • ,<01:12:50.080> solar<01:12:50.440> has Um, your point about solar, solar has Um, your