The Department of Energy announced a new tranche of $130 million to fund research in up to 80 new solar power-related research and development projects. As well, ten projects were announced as winners of $36 million in awards to increase solar situational awareness during power grid disruptions.

Idaho Power has agreed to pay $21.75/MWh for 120 MWac of solar power in a 20-year power purchase agreement with Jackpot Holdings. The solar facility will offset a soon-to-close coal plant in Nevada starting in 2022.

An analysis by Station A shows a potential for siting 48 GW of solar plus 22 GW / 42 GWh of energy storage in California commercial and industrial locations, meeting 19% of the state grid operator’s legally binding “Resource Adequacy” requirements.

An analysis by Energy Innovation shows that 74% of US coal could be replaced by wind and solar power located within 35 miles of the plant, while also saving consumers money. The analysis shows that this increased to greater than 86% by 2025.

Hello and thank you for starting your work week with the pvMB. Today we’ll be looking at the last hurdle facing South Carolina’s solar freedom bill, proposed regulations for large-scale solar in Upstate New York, GenRenew becoming a SunPower Master Dealer and expanding to Illinois and everything else you need to start your week!

It’s Friday, so enjoy this pvMB before you check out for the weekend. In this edition the New Hampshire House has approved a 5 MW system size for net metering, an innovative green roof plus solar is coming to New York City and BP is considering power *all* U.S. operations with solar power.

In an interview with pv magazine USA 8minutenergy President & CEO Tom Buttgenbach talked of radio telescopes and aliens, but also the USA solar market, a 14 GW solar power pipeline and energy storage being a fundamental – not an add-on – feature.

REC Group has begun production of its residential N-Peak Black series, reaching up to 325 watts. Concurrently, Trina Solar has released four new modules within its Tallmax, Duomax, Duomax Twin, and Honey series – some of which reach up to 415 watts.

PanelClaw announced the launch of its flat rooftop 10° clawFR solar module racking platform. The company reports an installation manual, autoCAD blocks, and that the racking solution is approved by UL to work with its first tranche of solar modules.

Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners has invested $200 million in a new distributed solar company – Madison Energy Investments – focused on ground-mount, rooftop and carport projects ranging from 500 kw – 20 MW.