U.S. solar energy prices rose 8.1 percent in the second quarter as projects were stalled by a Commerce Department investigation into tariffs on products from Southeast Asia and soaring input costs, according to a report published late on Wednesday.
The increase during the period contributed to a whopping 29.7 percent rise in the combined price of wind and solar contracts, known as power purchase agreements (PPAs), from the previous year, according to a quarterly index by LevelTen Energy that tracks renewable energy deals.
Solar PPA prices are 25.7 percent higher than last year.
Wind contract costs were up 2.5 percent during the quarter, and are up 33.7 percent from a year ago. Wind prices in the Southwest Power Pool soared 16 percent during the quarter as a lack of transmission capacity has hampered development. The grid operator serves some of the windiest areas in the nation, including Nebraska and parts of Oklahoma and Texas….