New legislation also creates the U.S.’s first Office of Renewable Energy Siting — charged with consolidating the environmental review of major renewable energy facilities and providing a single forum for ensuring that siting decisions are predictable, responsible and delivered in a timely manner with opportunities for input from local communities.

A Spokane, Washington-based eco-district that the partners say will be home to the smartest five blocks in the world.

“Electricity providers will have to treat renewable energy customers as cost-conscious customers once these customers can look at data across the board.”

Lawyers for Good Government: “To meet their renewable energy goals, municipalities need to know state energy, municipal and land use laws as well as existing local policies.”

The solar industry, which represents 2.6% of overall U.S. electricity generation, already employs twice as many workers as the U.S. coal industry.

Interest in in residential solar loan ABS is rising, particularly among institutional investors as they incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into their investment decision-making processes.

SolarCity, a nonprofit acquired by Tesla, launched the nonprofit GivePower in 2013 — and the Rive brothers, SolarCity’s founders, are on the board.