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The initial framework calls for Columbia Water & Light to distribute solar energy using a net billing system from its first two projects in the municipality, Truman and Bernadette Fields, whose 1 MW of clean energy capacity is divided into 1.5 kW blocks for residential customers, with 15% of power capacity available to eligible low-income residents.

The RFP is open to all technologies, including supply side and non-supply side resources. Proposed projects must be in service beginning in 2026 through 2028.

Also on the rise: A new public utility for Maine would speed clean energy, say advocates. Utility ordered to repay customers for illegal community solar metering. And more.

Solar electricity was up 16% from 2022, a relatively modest increase due to lower deployed solar capacity in 2022 than in 2021. For the year, solar has covered 5% of all electricity so far, with emission-free sources greater than 43%.

A Maine referendum would create a new publicly owned utility that could purchase and operate the assets of the state’s two investor-owned utilities. Advocates say that would speed Maine’s path to 80% renewables by 2030.

The labs assessed the technical potential for floating PV and underlined its co-benefits in environmental protection and food security.

Wood Mackenzie principal analyst, Hector Arreola, suggest The Biden-Harris Administration address cost and scaling roadblocks to meet the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap’s ambitious goals.

Also on the rise: Using existing fences as near-zero-cost racking solution for PV deployment. A solar-powered tool shed. And more.

SunVilla announced the launch of its Smart Yard power station, a 6.4 kWh power capacity semi-solid state battery system which features a 3.8 kW output from batteries and 100-200 Watt solar modules mounted on a tool shed to charge electric systems and provide storage for lawn equipment.

The state has 506 GW of technical solar potential, according to an analysis by the Department of Energy Resources.