Ryan Kennedy
Heat dome and high pressure boost southern U.S. solar as polar vortex clouds the north
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that last month North America saw a stark solar divide, with southern regions like northeastern Mexico, southeastern Texas, and much of California experiencing 20–25% above-average irradiance, while Canada, the Great Lakes, and the northeastern U.S. faced persistent cloudiness and below-normal solar conditions. This contrast was driven by high-pressure systems and a southwestern heat dome in the south versus a polar vortex bringing cold air and storms to the north.
U.S. solar module prices face upward pressure as trade risks and FEOC rules dominate Q1 2026
Median solar module pricing in the United States reached $0.28 per watt as the market adjusted to intensified trade enforcement and new Foreign Entity of Concern compliance requirements, according to the Q1 2026 Quarterly Pricing & Domestic Content Report from Anza.
The battery linchpin: Why energy storage is the only the only way to safely power the AI boom
Utility-scale battery storage capacity is projected to reach 24.3 GW of new additions in 2026 as developers look to mitigate the grid impact of hyperscale data centers.
Colorado House passes legislation to legalize plug-in solar for renters
The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize plug-in solar systems for renters and multifamily residents, establishing a regulatory framework for portable arrays that connect directly to standard home outlets.
Workforce gap of 53,000 threatens 2026 solar deployment targets
The U.S. solar industry faces a critical shortage of 53,000 workers as developers rush to meet July 4, 2026 construction deadlines to secure federal tax credits.
IOWN Energy closes sale of 127 MW Nevada battery project
IOWN Energy facilitated the financing and sale of a 127 MW / 506 MWh standalone battery energy storage project to independent power producer DESRI.
U.S. solar and storage market report: 2026 state rankings and forecasts
Reviewing the top ten states for solar generation and capacity, energy storage buildout, and more.
U.S. adds 26.5 GW of solar in 2025 as renewables dominate new capacity
Solar and wind accounted for nearly 90% of all new utility-scale generating capacity added to the U.S. grid through December 2025, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Terrasmart launches software package for tracker optimization
The software includes topography-informed backtracking and irradiance-optimized tracking for utility-scale and distributed generation projects.
U.S. small-scale solar hit record 1.9 GW in Q4 2025
Distributed solar accounted for 15% of all new U.S. power capacity in 2025 as residential and community projects reached record installation levels.
