Solar

How solar microgrids are bringing power (and quiet) to North Carolina

In areas hit by Hurricane Helene, the nonprofit Footprint Project is replacing noisy and polluting generators with solar panels and batteries.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 28 October 2024

Solar panels on the ground with people around — Workers installing a solar microgrid in Marshall, North Carolina. (Footprint Project)

Electrification

Lunar Energy bets on a seamless 'ecosystem' for home electrification

Tesla's former residential energy chief raised $300 million to bring a vertically integrated home battery and energy controls system to market. Here's the result.

By Jeff St. John . 21 June 2023
Solar

Agrivoltaics finds new fans in US Senate

Agriculture and solar: a winning combination for farmers, the climate and now — thanks to two recently introduced bills — maybe the Senate, too.

By Alison F. Takemura . 20 June 2023
Solar

Can the US manufacture enough solar panels to meet its surging demand?

Probably not anytime soon, despite new federal incentives, the threat of tariffs against overseas competitors, and a huge ongoing buildout of manufacturing capacity.

By Eric Wesoff . 7 June 2023
Clean energy

Chart: US clean energy installations fall for first time in 5 years

Clean energy is still the country's dominant new source of power, but the slowdown is concerning since climate goals demand record installations every year.

By Dan McCarthy, Maria Virginia Olano . 26 May 2023
Solar

Solar developers face uncertainty amid local pushback in Ohio

State regulators have denied several solar projects in recent months, prompting clean energy developers to plead for greater clarity.

By Kathiann Kowalski . 23 May 2023
Solar

How robots could dramatically speed up solar farm construction

A number of companies are now using automation and AI to expedite utility-scale solar installations, ease labor shortages and protect workers from unsafe conditions.

By Eric Wesoff . 18 May 2023
Climatetech finance

Silicon Valley Bank is back to financing community solar

SVB — now under new ownership — announces a $200 million financing deal for Pivot Energy, a leading community-solar developer.

By Jeff St. John . 9 May 2023
Solar

Are new solar tariffs coming soon? Here's what you need to know

The House just voted to undo a pause on solar tariffs. If the repeal becomes law, tariffs would derail the U.S. solar rollout this year — but that's unlikely.

By Dan McCarthy, Eric Wesoff . 3 May 2023
Batteries

Battery firms set to thrive under new California rooftop solar regime

Home battery installs could double in California this year, now that the state has ditched net metering and overhauled incentives for rooftop solar owners.

By Julian Spector . 28 April 2023
Clean energy

Chart: Americans actually agree on supporting solar and wind power

But polling data shows a big partisan divide and age gap on the question of whether climate change is a serious problem.

By Eric Wesoff, Dan McCarthy . 28 April 2023