Hawaii

The usual suspects and a few surprises in the island state’s largest ever renewable energy procurement — for 460 MW of solar power and nearly 3 GWh of energy storage.

Also in the brief: GOP Senators seek help for renewables, Engie is among those chosen in Hawaii’s largest renewable tender.

16 project winners totaling 460 MW in capacity have been chosen by Hawaiian Electric Company to fill its most ambitious renewable procurement yet. The move will bring jobs to one of the areas hardest-hit by virus-related unemployment.

Also in the brief: solar on schools in Virginia and a Hawaiian microgrid.

Given Hawaii’s audacious renewable energy goals it seems logical that industries such as solar can help be a big part of that recovery.

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.

Also in the brief: kWh Analytics’ insurance policy on solar production and revenues, Solar FlexRack has reached 200 solar tracker installations, the Wallingford Renewable Energy solar project has been sold and more.

Also in the brief: Minnesota’s new residential solar restrictions, JinkoSolar donates 1,000,000 masks for pandemic fighting in 19 countries, NABCEP will offer Board Certification and Associate level exams online and more.

Also in the brief: Tesla is planning to retool its New York gigafactory to manufacture medical ventilators, SEIA is projecting that coronavirus could slash the solar workforce in half, a 50 MW community solar project approved in New Mexico and more.

Shares of Vivint dropped after the solar installer/financier posted a larger-than-expected fourth-quarter loss and sales missed expectations. Vivint posted a net loss of $33.5 million, compared with a loss of $12.9 million, in the year-ago quarter.