The era of cookie cutter solar has come to a close. Did it ever start?
Once shorthand for fast, uniform installs, “cookie-cutter solar” is giving way to site-specific, storage-integrated systems. System design has long been a critical point of differentiation for many solar installers, though some prioritize quicker, cheaper installs by relying on more standardized designs. By now, many solar experts agree that the industry has moved beyond that type […]
Efficiency first: How commercial real estate owners can thrive with solar
Amid soaring demand and shrinking solar subsidies, taking an efficiency-focused approach to energy management can offer a pathway to project success. America’s commercial real estate (CRE) portfolios are under a two-sided squeeze. On one side, electricity demand is exploding as data centers, reshored manufacturing, and fleets of EV chargers are plugged into buildings never designed […]
U.S. solar will pass wind in 2025 and leave coal in the dust soon after
Solar and wind represent about 11% to 12% of the energy mix each, while coal sits just under 15%. Developers brought online 16 GW of solar out of a total 21.5 GW electric generation capacity cumulatively added through July in 2025, said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. There is currently about 5 GW more wind […]
Florida college installs 700 kW floating solar project
Developed by D3Energy, the project is the first floating solar facility at a university in the United States. Despite increased capital investment to start a project, floating solar has advantages in land use and land lease costs as well as improved solar array efficiency. D3Energy began construction of a 700 kW solar project for Nova Southeastern […]
Wisconsin Republican lawmakers push for community solar bill after utility pushback
Community solar advocates are hoping third time’s a charm as Republicans work on a new community solar bill, revamping it with considerable changes. Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin are once again trying to pass community solar legislation that would legitimize community solar in the state. Community solar enables renters, homeowners and businesses to participate in solar […]
IEA-PVPS warns soiling costs solar industry billions per year
The International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) says dust, pollution, and debris on solar panels reduce output by 4% to 7% worldwide, costing the industry billions of euros annually and making tailored mitigation increasingly urgent. From pv magazine Global Soiling on solar installations costs the global solar industry annual revenue losses totaling billions of […]
After years of legal challenges, New Mexico celebrates its first community solar project
After the New Mexico’s investor-owned utilities fought against New Mexico’s community solar program, bringing it all the way to the state’ supreme court, New Mexico is celebrating the completion of its first community solar project. More than three years after New Mexico passed its community solar act, New Mexico first community solar project will soon […]
As bidirectional EV charging grows, utility group suggests requiring interconnection
Interconnection of bidirectional EV chargers can enable grid compensation for EV owners while enhancing safety, says a report that offers comprehensive guidance for regulators. The Smart Electric Power Alliance has issued a report advising regulators how to prepare for broader customer adoption of electric vehicles and EV chargers capable of exporting energy from the EV battery to […]
Conventional C&I solar sales techniques are broken. Here’s how to fix them
For commercial & industrial solar, getting the initial “yes” is only half the battle. The real challenge is keeping momentum and closing multi-stakeholder deals that often stall for no clear reason. After decades of relying on traditional sales techniques, I realized that success in today’s long-cycle projects demands a fundamental shift from micromanagement to vision […]
DOE guts $7.5 billion in energy funding, exclusively in Democrat-led states
The Department of Energy announced the cancellation of financial awards for manufacturing, clean energy demonstrations, energy efficiency and renewable energy, grid deployment, advanced research projects and fossil energy in 16 states – all of which voted Democrat in the 2024 presidential election. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced the termination of 321 financial awards supporting […]