Ryan Kennedy
Kiwa PVEL updates solar module testing protocols to address field failures
The independent test lab introduced test to failure methodologies and expanded hail and mechanical stress sequences to better reflect risks from extreme weather and glass breakage.
Trump DOE proposes 52% budget cut for National Laboratory of the Rockies
The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a fiscal year 2027 budget justification that seeks to slash $264 million from its lead renewable energy research center.
SRP flips the switch on 55 MW ‘living lab’ solar project in Arizona
Salt River Project (SRP) has commissioned its first utility-owned solar plant, a 55 MW facility at the Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center. Beyond its immediate generation capacity, the site is being utilized as a testing ground for PV hardware durability and long-duration storage technologies in extreme desert environments.
Virginia expands shared solar, streamlines permitting in affordability push
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a legislative package releasing 525 MW of new capacity and establishing a statewide automated permitting platform.
U.S. distributed solar capacity grows by 6.8 GW in 2025 as Maine leads on per capita basis
A 2025 update from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) finds that small-scale solar installations accounted for 19% of the 36 GW of total solar capacity added to the national grid last year.
Prepaid leases emerge as residential solar customer pathway to accessing federal tax credits
Installers are increasingly turning to third-party ownership models to bridge the gap left by expiring residential tax credits.
U.S. community solar passes 10 GW milestone despite market contraction
The industry installed 1.4 GW in 2025, a drop from 2024 levels as leading markets like New York and Maine slowed.
Suniva to build 4.5 GW solar cell factory in South Carolina
The expansion will bring the company’s total domestic cell capacity to 5.5 GW, cementing its position as the largest merchant solar cell manufacturer in the United States.
California school district completes 3.5 MW solar and energy modernization project
The project spans 12 sites and is projected to deliver $48 million in cost savings over the next 20 years.
Community-scale solar offers $6.5 billion in savings, bypassing California gridlocks
Localized distribution-level projects can cut out-of-state energy imports by 13% while providing a faster alternative to delayed transmission-scale infrastructure, said a report by Pathfinder Communications.
