Ben Zientara
Lunar Energy raises $232 million to accelerate development of residential storage, VPP software
The Silicon Valley startup, led by former Tesla Energy executive Kunal Girotra, says the funding will support product innovation and expansion of its operations and manufacturing base.
Sunny Skies Ahead for U.S. Solar in 2026
The global solar industry is poised to grow 20X by 2050, according to recent research from the International Solar Alliance. This growth will also create roughly 27 million new jobs. As the fog of last year’s policy changes in the U.S. slowly begins to clear, domestic solar markets are poised to continue to grow rapidly. […]
Virginia House unanimously passes legislation to require utility measurement of grid utilization
HB 434 seeks to modernize how the state’s major utilities manage their infrastructure.
Gigawatt, Inc. opens public investment round, plans to re-introduce Real Goods brand
The California-based solar and storage provider is seeking to raise more than $1.2 million to fund the development of its “Real Goods” hardware line and an AI-driven software hub.
Solar Insure launches commercial warranty, expands vendor list
The company’s new “SI-Commercial” product offers 30-year coverage for panels and 20-year coverage for inverters on systems up to 2 MWdc, aiming to improve bankability and shift long-term risk off installer balance sheets.
States and utilities took 106 actions to advance VPPs in 2025: SEPA Report
The Smart Electric Power Alliance and NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s latest report reveals a surge in Virtual Power Plant activity, with 35 states moving forward on policy and regulation as the industry shifts toward more holistic, multi-technology aggregation.
“We are really looking at a movement here” says Bright Saver cofounder of multi-state plug-in solar legislation push
Bills have been introduced in at least 24 states to allow residents to install and use plug-in devices with outputs of up to 1,200 watts — without utility company permission.
Luminace adds 9.3 MW to Illinois community solar pipeline with Renewable Properties acquisition
The deal marks the second transaction between the two companies in Illinois and brings Luminace’s total operating and under-construction capacity in the state to over 200 MW.
Maryland residential solar market stifled by permitting and interconnection delays, report finds
A mix of industry representatives and advocacy groups say permitting delays, inconsistent rules between code offices and fees and utility interconnection friction in Maryland undermine the state’s clean energy and affordability goals.
SEIA president Abigail Ross Hopper testifies as Senators express bipartisan urgency for permitting reform
Energy industry leaders and members of both major parties were in near-unanimous agreement on the fundamentals of permitting reform during a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee.
