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)

Energy equity

Free-solo climber Alex Honnold has another mission: Energy equity

The renowned climber translates his passion for heights into high-impact solar projects, powering change one community at a time.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 27 February 2024
Clean energy

Chart: Nearly all new US power plants built in 2024 will be clean energy

Renewables, batteries and nuclear will add up to 96% of all new power capacity constructed this year, per federal data.

By Julian Spector, Maria Virginia Olano . 23 February 2024
Grid edge

California’s patchwork push to scale up virtual power plants

The state has created more ways for solar-and-battery-equipped homes to get paid to help the grid — but not enough to save the crashing rooftop solar market.

By Jeff St. John . 22 February 2024
Clean energy

Chart: Wind and solar are closing in on fossil fuels in the EU

European grids are getting cleaner, fast. In 2023, wind overtook gas generation, coal plummeted, renewables rose at a record rate — and electricity emissions fell.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 16 February 2024
Solar

Can solar for low-income families work in Georgia's tough market?

The state is among the least favorable toward rooftop solar. A new program thinks it’s cracked the code on making it accessible to low-income residents anyway.

By Jeff St. John . 12 February 2024
Climatetech finance

Swell Energy acquires Renu to help build virtual power plants

The startup aims to combine privately owned batteries into grid resources. Renu, a regional battery installer, will help Swell access new markets.

By Eric Wesoff . 7 February 2024
Solar

The biggest solar-plus-storage project in the US just came online

The new California installation has nearly 2 million solar panels, more than 120,000 batteries, and an enormous amount of clean energy capacity.

By Eric Wesoff . 25 January 2024
Clean energy

Chart: The world is building renewable energy faster than ever before

Renewable energy installations jumped nearly 50% last year, the most rapid growth rate in two decades.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 19 January 2024
Energy storage

Hawaii used rooftop solar to shore up the grid. New rules threaten that

A nation-leading virtual power plant program helped keep the lights on when Oahu's coal plant shut down. But rule changes may drive away future customers, advocates say.

By Julian Spector . 18 January 2024
Solar

The fight over US solar tariffs hasn't gone away — it's just hibernating

A new lawsuit from Auxin Solar is an important reminder that the threat of destabilizing tariffs remains very real for the U.S. solar industry.

By Eric Wesoff . 11 January 2024