Tesla brings brownfield solar to Maryland, solar stop signs and more: pvMB 4/2/2019

In today’s pvMB, we also bring you an Iowa legislator seeking more information before signing off on a bill to cut solar compensation, solar and wind entering their 3rd phase, and a bill to move prisons and university classrooms to solar.

April 2, 2019 Tim Sylvia

Image: Visit Frederick

Building on brownfields: Tesla bringing 1.9 MW to Frederick – It has been announced that Tesla will be developing a 1.9 MW solar facility on the site of a former landfill in Frederick County, MD. Tesla has also agreed to a 20-year purchase agreement with the county. Impressively, the project is expected to begin commercial operation on July 1. Source: The Frederick News Post

RARE: Rep seeks info before voting on solar bill – “I think before we jump into anything at this moment, I think we ought to give the Iowa Utilities Board an opportunity to collect that data; and we can probably make a much better-informed decision after that.” Logical politics are not yet dead, folks. Those are the words of Iowa State Rep. Jon Thorup as he holds out on voting on Iowa’s controversial solar power tariff bill. Just wanted to brighten any government cynicism with that one. Source: KNIA/KRLS

Life-saving solar stop sign – The University of Texas at San Antonio has announced the development and testing of a solar powered stop sign aimed at cutting down casualties in rural car accidents. The sign uses a passive infrared sensor to detect a vehicle as it approaches an intersection. Once a car us detected, the sign lights up, increasing visibility. Source: Forbes

Renewable rental residences up 300% in a decade – According to a new study done by Rent Cafe, there are 300% more renewably powered apartments and other rental residences than there were a decade ago. The biggest year for growth was in 2016, with roughly 50K units added. And, while Chicago boasts the most overall green rent residences at just under 21K, McLean, VA, Evanston, IL and Cambridge, MA lead the way for units per capita at 47%, 30% and 29%, respectively. Source: Rent Cafe

North Carolina energy use bill – A bill has been introduced in North Carolina that would require public prison facilities, university classrooms and other state buildings to curb energy use by 10 percent. The move would save the state a reported quarter of a billion dollars by 2025. A specific facet of the legislation, a provision that building managers shut off lights from midnight to 6 a.m. was inspired by the efforts of one legislator’s son, who has made energy-saving efforts in their home. Source: Energy News

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. And as solar+storage enter their ultimate five year plans phase – you win:

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