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)

Solar

How the rooftop solar industry is adapting to California's new rulebook

The state’s once-thriving industry faces an uneasy future now that California has slashed financial incentives for people to put solar panels on their roofs.

By Julian Spector . 26 April 2023
Solar

Google’s latest climate plan? Skip grid backlog, mimic community solar

EDP Renewables and Google plan to spread a big solar buildout across 80 small projects, with 10% of revenue dedicated to environmental-justice benefits.

By Jeff St. John . 25 April 2023
Electrification

Span snags $96M to become a 'Swiss Army knife' for electric homes

The smart-electric-panel startup aims to electrify a million homes with its new funding, tapping partnerships with vendors of solar, batteries and electric appliances.

By Jeff St. John . 24 April 2023
Solar

Sunnova lands $3B DOE backing for low-income solar and battery loans

DOE’s first-ever “virtual power plant” conditional loan guarantee aims to bring solar-battery systems to underserved communities and help balance the grid.

By Jeff St. John . 20 April 2023
Solar

A firsthand look at a California solar farm with 'earth-mounted' panels

Erthos wants to reinvent solar farms with ground-mounted panels that it says can reduce utility solar costs by 20 percent. We went to see how it all works.

By Eric Wesoff . 18 April 2023
Solar

Pioneering project helps renters cash in on solar savings

By cleverly stacking an array of incentives and credits, two nonprofits are helping Minneapolis apartment dwellers slash their power bills by up to one-third.

By Frank Jossi . 14 April 2023
Solar

California is a rooftop solar giant. New rules could change that

Starting on April 15, new rooftop solar customers in California will earn much less for power they send to the grid, but adding batteries could improve the economics.

By Jeff St. John . 13 April 2023
Solar

Bringing community solar to low-income customers is harder than it looks

Reactivate CEO Utopia Hill says building trust is critical in communities where many people are deeply skeptical of outsiders offering to make a deal.

By Kari Lydersen . 11 April 2023
Solar

A huge community solar order is latest in US clean manufacturing boom

Solar manufacturer Qcells and developer Summit Ridge announced what they — and the White House — call a record-setting order for the community solar industry.

By Eric Wesoff . 10 April 2023
Fun stuff

Canary Live Boston: Watch the event on Thurs., April 6 at 6:00 PM ET

We're broadcasting our event live from Greentown Labs in Somerville, Mass. this week.

By Nicholas Rinaldi . 5 April 2023