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Good morning and happy Friday,
It’s day 38 of the shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, with an estimated long-term cost of between $7-$14 billion, according to the non-partisan CBO. Impacts have been uneven across agencies that work on climate, environmental, and energy issues.
It was also election week, and Democrats saw solid sweeps in several key contests across the country on Tuesday, a sign their messaging on energy prices is on target, although their messaging on energy policy may need some work, particularly when it comes to data centers.
Several state contests were seen as a referendum on soaring electricity prices – indeed, the phrases “seismic change” and “Public Service Commission” aren’t often found in the same sentence, but they were in Georgia.
In other news, the Supreme Court heard testimony on Trump’s tariffs, which have roiled the clean energy sector; a major question centers on the “Major Questions Doctrine.” Ironically, the doctrine, which was used to strike down President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, prompted conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch to ask if the administration’s broad interpretation of IEEPA could set the stage for a future president to declare a climate emergency.
The hubbub around Tuesday’s elections overshadowed a passing of note: in addition to his decades-long, outsize impact in multiple areas of U.S. policy, Vice President Dick Cheney also profoundly affected the energy sector and further deepened America’s focus on fossil fuels.
Read on for more.
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Prairie Powerhouse
The Illinois General Assembly has passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, a sweeping energy package designed to expand renewable energy, increase grid stability, and lower long-term consumer costs, and Governor JB Pritzker, a strong supporter, is expected to sign the bill. Here are some key points to know:
The legislation mandates the procurement of 3 GW of energy storage by 2030, boosts solar, wind, and geothermal deployment, lifts the state’s nuclear construction moratorium, and invests in virtual power plants. It also mandates transmission upgrades to ease renewable congestion and enhance reliability, positioning the Prairie
State for deeper renewable integration.
Opponents, including some Republicans and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, warned the measure could raise short-term energy rates and impose financial strain on manufacturers and families. They argued it doesn’t fully address regional capacity shortages and risks repeating “past policy mistakes.”
While Senator Chapin Rose accused supporters of making unrealistic promises about green energy lowering costs, Pritzker emphasized its consumer protections, energy efficiency incentives, and job creation potential; supporters argue the bill cements Illinois’ role as a national climate leader, especially after federal rollbacks of clean energy incentives.
⚡️ The Takeaway
Take it to the bank. Advocates say the CRGA Act represents a major step toward a modern, decarbonized grid, and could serve as a national model for pairing large-scale next-generation technology investment with energy affordability. Environmental and trade groups hailed the measure as the most significant state-level climate action in years, and analysts from the Illinois Power Agency and The Power Bureau project it will deliver $12-13 billion in consumer savings over 20 years, mainly from reduced grid capacity costs, yielding a 13-to-1 return on investment.
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The 30-Year Cover Crop
A new NREL report examines Massachusetts’ approach to agrivoltaics and finds that while such projects have the potential to expand solar opportunities and build rural support, the reality on the ground – regulatory, financial, and social complexities surrounding farmland projects – can hinder deployment. Here’s a closer look:
A key finding is that agrivoltaics succeed when supported by clear and consistent policies promoting solar development. Massachusetts provides such a framework through its SMART program, renewable standards, feed-in tariffs, and tax credits, all of which are aimed at achieving 30 GW of solar capacity by 2050.
However, putting solar on farmland can trigger community and environmental opposition. Importantly, the report found that during early stakeholder engagement, farmers and agricultural NGOs are often underrepresented, whereas environmental conservation groups are overrepresented. This can result in debates framed around land
preservation rather than agricultural sustainability.
Massachusetts’ SMART program supports agrivoltaics by allowing solar projects sited on agricultural land to qualify as Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Units; the ASTGU guidelines define tariffs, require due diligence, and encourage farmer participation – but also impose site and eligibility restrictions that can delay or
complicate projects.
⚡️ The Takeaway
A 30-year cover crop. The study underscores the delicate balance between clean energy expansion and rural land stewardship. The report’s main message for developers is the need to engage the agricultural community early and meaningfully: “farm owner operators not only need to be at the table, they need to be clear on” the ways in which a project will benefit them if it moves forward. It notes that “particularly in the Northeast, [farmers] are interested in solar as a ‘30-year cover crop’ to stabilize and diversify their revenue sources, and as a hedge against more permanent types of land development, such as housing.”
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A Constellation to Cool the Planet?
Elon Musk sparked headlines this week with a post suggesting that a network of solar-powered AI satellites could help stabilize Earth’s climate by making subtle adjustments to the amount of sunlight reaching the planet. The idea, which amounts to an AI-managed form of solar geoengineering, aims to balance global energy input—potentially mitigating warming or cooling trends.
While conceptually intriguing, experts caution that such an approach carries enormous technical, ecological, and political challenges. Even minor reductions in incoming sunlight could alter photosynthesis, rainfall, and ecosystems. A system failure or shutdown could trigger rapid temperature swings, and without international governance frameworks, disagreements over control could lead to new geopolitical tensions.
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Still, the proposal underscores the growing convergence between space technology, artificial intelligence, and climate mitigation. Space-based solar power, the idea of capturing solar energy in orbit and transmitting it to Earth, is already being tested, with demonstration projects expected from China and South Korea as soon as next year.
Whether Musk’s vision ever leaves the drawing board, it highlights a broader truth: our ability to address climate change increasingly depends on how responsibly we wield powerful new technologies - on Earth and beyond.
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Thanks for diving into the Developer Dispatch with us.
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Building American power requires a powerful team.
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