Flow battery maker ViZn Energy closes shop
ViZn has laid off all of its employees and ceased operations, as the latest in a series of closures and bankruptcies for makers of alternative battery technologies.
The U.S. residential solar market fell 16% in 2017
GTM Research and SEIA’s final report on the solar market in 2017 shows both the struggle of the residential solar market, as well as a larger than anticipated fall in utility-scale volumes, leading to a 30% contraction overall.
Montana utility seeks proposals for 45 MW of renewable energy generation
State law requires NorthWestern to procure energy from Community Renewable Energy Projects that meet certain criteria including cost-effectiveness for its customers.
Array of groups celebrate the death of DOE’s coal, nuclear bailout
The odd alliance of renewable energy, the oil and gas industry, environmentalists, energy experts and regulators who opposed the Grid Reliability and Resiliency Pricing rulemaking have congratulated FERC on declining to comply with Secretary Perry’s order.
Utility regulators call for changes to PURPA
The national organization representing state-level utility regulators is calling on FERC to make changes, including moving from administratively set prices to auctions.
Montana lawsuit hopes to halt cuts to the rates paid to IPPs
Montana’s small-scale solar community has filed a lawsuit in a state district court to stop the Montana Public Service Commission from slashing the rates, saying the decision was “arbitrary” and “unreasonable.”
REC Silicon sees 38% sales increase in Q3
Leading polysilicon producer REC Silicon posted revenue of $75.5 million in the third quarter – 23% above the previous quarter. REC saw a 38% increase in sales volume, despite polysilicon production for the quarter coming in slightly below guidance.
Montana brings PURPA contract lengths back to 15 years for small projects
State regulators have increased contract lengths for projects up to 3 MW, but most of the changes made when they gutted PURPA last summer remain.
ZAF starts nickel-zinc battery factory in Missouri
The 50 MWh factory shows that there is more going on in the battery space than lithium-ion.
Big Sky, small solar, smaller terms
A Montana solar project that would have quadrupled the state’s installed solar has been bushwhacked in the regulatory process, putting solar and even any power plant development in the state in question.
