Solar + wind met nearly 9% of U.S. power demand in 2018
Solar output grew 25% and met 2.4% of all U.S. electric demand last year. But despite dramatic gains in emerging markets, only California, Nevada and Hawaii are meeting more than 10% of demand with in-state solar.
Community solar drives Minnesota’s solar expansion
Nearly all of the solar installed in Minnesota last year was community solar, which enabled a 47% increase in the state’s installed capacity. And the best may be yet to come.
pvMB 2/27/19: Sunpin Solar’s new 96 MW solar plant, Sen. Feinstein returning fossil fuel money… and more!
Hello, happy hump day and welcome once again to the pv magazine USA morning brief. On today’s docket we have solar advocates holding a day of action for Million Solar Strong in New York, Encore Renewable Energy receiving a $1 Million investment, a 100 MW project approved in Maine and the rest of today’s essential solar quick-hitters.
Schneider Electric pulls out of the utility-scale PV business
The French inverter maker is pulling out of the utility-scale segment to strengthen its profile in the residential and C&I space.
Energy transition: Oil & gas taxes to fund solar
A law has been introduced to the New Mexico House of Representatives which would require 1% of state severance taxes to be used toward investment in renewable energy.
The Golden State is officially a third renewable, and it’s not stopping there
California has passed its 33% renewable energy target two years before the 2020 deadline. The state’s next renewable milestone is at 44% by 2024, a 33% growth in just over five full years.
Trump trade announcement offers hope of breakthrough
The president last night announced he is hoping to arrange a meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to bring an end to the long-running trade stand-off between the two nations, provided further progress can be made in negotiations.
Energy Freedom rings in South Carolina
The South Carolina House has passed the Energy Freedom Act, which gives net metering support through the summer of 2021, aims to develop programs for C&I as well community solar, and seeks utility consistency in dealing with large solar projects.
First Solar is sitting pretty
The thin film PV maker reported solid year-end 2018 results, with future bookings extending out four years and the fourth of five Series 6 factories already online.
Batteries for days in Arizona
Arizona Public Service has announced a plan to deploy 850 MW of new energy storage, as the largest battery procurement by a utility we’ve seen to date. This includes adding batteries to its fleet of existing solar plants, building new solar + storage plants, and using storage to meet evening demand.
