Solar

California’s rooftop solar is a benefit, not a cost, to the state

A new study finds rooftop solar will save California $2.3B this year — a rebuttal to the ‘cost-shift’ math that’s led regulators to stifle solar growth.

By Jeff St. John . 15 November 2024

(Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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
Solar

Why Puerto Rican communities are all-in on solar microgrids

Advocates say the island's goal to reach 100% renewable energy should be met through a community-led, decentralized approach.

By Carolina Baldin . 4 April 2023
Solar

The DOE doubles its SolSmart program, with an aim to boost local solar

Here's how hundreds of communities across the U.S. are tapping SolSmart to help streamline permitting and zoning and expand access to solar power.

By Jeff St. John . 3 April 2023
Solar

The threat of new US solar tariffs is back

A bipartisan group in the U.S. Congress is trying to undo President Biden's two-year pause on new tariffs on some solar panels imported from Southeast Asia.

By Eric Wesoff . 3 April 2023
Solar

Tesla has installed very few solar roofs, despite Elon Musk's hype

The Tesla CEO claimed a few years ago that the company would be installing 1,000 solar roofs a week — but last year it averaged just 21 a week, a new report finds.

By Eric Wesoff . 30 March 2023
Solar

North Carolina regulators slash payments to rooftop-solar owners

Two new rulings pare down net metering and deny proposed customer incentives that would have softened the blow. But a new pilot program could boost battery adoption.

By Jeff St. John . 27 March 2023
Video

Video: Why don't we all use solar water heaters?

Climate journalist Michael Thomas explains why these appliances are widespread in other countries — and practically nonexistent in the U.S.

By Michael Thomas . 27 March 2023