Christian Roselund
SunPower to lay off 150-250 workers, blames Section 201
The company’s latest restructuring will involve losing roughly 3% of its global workforce, all in “non-manufacuring” positions.
First Solar sold out well into 2020
The thin film PV maker expects its new Series 6 PV module to begin mass production in Ohio in Q2 – with 1 GW expected to be manufactured globally in 2018. The company also increased its 2018 guidance.
AES breaks ground on massive Kaua’i solar plus storage project
The company’s 28 MW PV plant will be paired with a 20 MW/100 MWh battery system, and will push the island to meeting more than 1/3 of electric demand with solar.
Omaha, Nebraska, plans for community solar
The public utility in Nebraska’s largest city has presented the structure of a community solar program for its 352,000 customers in Omaha and surrounding counties.
U.S. trade authorities provide details on exemptions to solar import tariffs
PV makers seeking exemptions to Section 201 duties must make them by March 16, but there is no guarantee that any will be granted.
1 GWh lithium-ion battery factory is coming to New York
The Imperium3 New York consortium has bought Alevo’s lithium-ion battery manufacturing assets in North Carolina in a fire sale, and is planning to use them for a 1GWh battery factory in New York.
Solar advocate Lauren “Bubba” McDonald appointed GPSC chair
The outspoken proponent of solar will now chair a board with a pro-solar majority, as Georgia becomes one of the top U.S. markets for large-scale solar.
First Solar to build the largest solar plant in the South
Georgia Power has awarded a power contract to the PV maker and developer under its latest solicitation. The project will utilize First Solar’s large-format Series 6 modules.
PetersenDean partners with LG, SolarEdge for solar plus storage
The residential installer will offer LG Chem’s RESU battery packs and SolarEdge’s StorEdge inverter, power optimizer and monitoring solution as part of its residential solar plus storage offering.
Prognosis uncertain
American solar manufacturing: President Trump’s relatively measured 201 ruling surprised many. And while there are already reports of new hiring and expansions by U.S. module makers, the new tariffs will not be enough for a major revival of the sector.
