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

Swift Solar nabs $27M to chase solar efficiency holy grail: perovskites

Many startups have tried to commercialize alternative solar panel materials, with little success. Swift says its next-gen modules will hit the market in a few years.

By Eric Wesoff . 14 June 2024
Utilities

This coal-heavy rural co-op utility is buying its first solar plants

Colorado-based Tri-State will soon serve half its customers’ electricity needs with renewable energy, thanks to new Inflation Reduction Act policies.

By Julian Spector . 13 June 2024
Solar

Can AI help community solar projects hold onto their customers?

Solar firm Solstice has developed AI tools to identify disengaged community subscribers in hopes of decreasing churn and making programs more efficient.

By Kari Lydersen . 4 June 2024
Solar

Coal-producing Wyoming could soon host one of largest solar farms in US

The 771-megawatt project, slated to start construction in 2025, is part of a trend of big solar-plus-storage plants in unexpected places.

By Eric Wesoff . 3 June 2024
Solar

Chart: Which 10 countries generated the most solar power in 2023?

China was the top solar power producer last year, but it's not the only nation that saw a big leap in solar production.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 31 May 2024
Clean energy

Will new tariffs on EVs, solar, and other cleantech help Americans?

The Biden admin has launched an election-year barrage of trade restrictions on Chinese imports, but they're unlikely to spur a domestic manufacturing surge.

By Eric Wesoff . 31 May 2024
Solar

California regulators torpedo popular plan to boost community solar

The CPUC rejected a broad coalition’s effort to enable community-solar-and-battery projects, voting instead to approve a proposal solar groups say is dead on arrival.

By Jeff St. John . 30 May 2024
Solar

More batteries, less solar: California's solar turmoil in charts

A year after state regulators slashed rooftop solar incentives, new data shows mixed results — and presages tougher times ahead for solar installers.

By Jeff St. John . 23 May 2024
Solar

California bill would undo rules making it hard for schools to go solar

State regulators slashed solar programs that school districts rely on to cut energy bills and finance sustainability projects. A new bill could fix that.

By Jeff St. John . 21 May 2024
Solar

El auge de la energía solar en Puerto Rico está en riesgo, advierten sus defensores

La energía solar ha sido un salvavidas para el territorio estadounidense durante apagones. Ahora una entidad gubernamental quiere deshacer la ley que protege un programa solar clave.

By Maria Gallucci . 20 May 2024