Kauai was 56% renewably powered in 2019
Building on stretches of 100% renewable generation in late 2019, the island met 56% of its electrical demand with renewables over the year, easily surpassing state and local goals.
Morning Brief: Illinois’ largest project has a power contract, financing secured for 134 MW in North Carolina
Also in the brief: Solis has earned SunSpec rapid shutdown certification, EDF renewables has partnered with Cubic Corporation on a solar, storage and EV charging installation, NextEra Energy has raised $4 million in COVID-19 emergency assistance and more.
First Solar signs PV-plus-storage PPAs with community choice aggregators
The First Solar-developed Rabbitbrush project will provide electricity for these two community choice aggregators for 15 years.
NEXTracker was the largest tracker provider in 2019
The ten largest solar tracker companies accounted for 88% of the market last year, according to analyst Wood Mackenzie, with the market growing 20% from 2018.
Solar system fires are on the rise
Historically underreported by the U.S. Fire Administration, Lawrence Shaw of Higher Powered, LLC has found that fires at solar installations rose 36% from 2017 to 2018. With residential installations representing the majority of fires, he believes mandated infrared imaging could be the key to bringing the number down.
Navajo Power CEO sees 10 GW renewable potential across the Navajo Nation
While an Arizona utility solicits bids for a 200 MW solar project within the Navajo Nation, the near-term potential is 10 GW, says Navajo Power CEO Brett Isaac.
New Michael Moore film charges enviro leaders have ‘lost their way’ and ‘sold out to corporate interests’
“As we suffer through one health and environmental crisis after another, it is clear we can no longer simply solar-panel-and-windmill our way out of this emergency,” say producer Michael Moore and author Jeff Gibbs.
Morning Brief: GM’s Michigan operations all-in on solar and wind, Pittsburgh Steelers add solar
Also in the brief: Boston Scientific goes renewable in American operations, a semi-temporary solar farm for Holy Cross Energy, a roadmap to Pandemic Resilience and more.
Kentucky city of 28,000 selects 50 MW of solar to help lower electric bills
Henderson, Kentucky’s municipal utility selected 50 MW of solar, which will provide 15% of its annual electricity. “In western Kentucky we do have a pretty good solar resource,” says the utility’s general manager.
Job moves at Google, Sunrun, Pine Gate, Standard Solar, Enel, European Energy
Executive and boardroom moves in solar, storage, energy, utilities and venture capital.
