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)

Virtual power plants

Xcel Minnesota looks to mimic power plants with solar and storage

The utility’s “virtual power plant” proposal taps an emerging model to replace retiring fossil fuel generation, but advocates say the devil is in the details.

By Frank Jossi . 28 August 2024
Clean energy

Solar and batteries are helping Texas weather heat waves. Here’s how.

Relentless heat has caused Texas to keep breaking electricity-demand records this summer. Good thing solar and batteries are breaking records, too.

By Jeff St. John . 28 August 2024
Solar

How to protect yourself against solar scams

Scams in the solar industry are rare but on the rise. Here are six ways to ensure your solar deal is fair.

By Alison F. Takemura . 22 August 2024
Solar

6,000 sheep will soon be grazing on 10,000 acres of Texas solar fields

The largest solar grazing project in the U.S. will reduce mowing costs and emissions — and make for some happy sheep.

By Carrie Klein . 16 August 2024
Solar

How Dalton, Georgia, went from Carpet Capital to Solartown, USA

This northwest Georgia community got in early on the national boom in cleantech manufacturing spurred by the climate law, and it's reaping the benefits.

By Julian Spector . 13 August 2024
Solar

SunPower, a solar icon once valued in the billions, files for bankruptcy

The firm was at one time among the largest solar manufacturers in the country. Its descent into bankruptcy came after plenty of warning signs.

By Eric Wesoff . 6 August 2024
Solar

Chart: Solar and wind overtake fossil fuels on the EU power grid

In a milestone for the European Union, wind and solar produced more electricity for the region than coal and gas did across the first half of the year.

By Carrie Klein . 2 August 2024
Solar

Puerto Rico extended a key rooftop solar policy. Then came the lawsuit.

The U.S. territory adopted a law protecting its highly successful net-metering program through 2031. Now, a federal control board is challenging that decision.

By Maria Gallucci . 1 August 2024
Solar

The climate law is helping bring solar to more apartment buildings

The tax-credit transfer markets created by the Inflation Reduction Act are boosting clean energy in tough-to-crack markets — like rooftop solar on multifamily housing.

By Jeff St. John . 30 July 2024
Solar

This nuclear waste site could soon host a massive solar installation

The Hanford Site in Washington state, a radioactive relic of the Manhattan Project and Cold War, was selected by DOE to be outfitted with up to 1 GW of solar.

By Carrie Klein . 30 July 2024