Nebraska

Hail events have historically posed a considerable risk for utility solar projects, with weather instances creating up to $100 million in damages at large projects located in “Hail Alley” states such as Texas.

Also on the rise: Fast EV charging market to grow sixtyfold by 2050. How installers can communicate the benefits of ESS to customers. And more.

Nebraska, the Cornhusker State, ranks 13th on the sun index, but is nearly last in the country for solar installations.

Also on the rise: Construction complete on largest solar farm in Nebraska. Renewable Energy Test Center releases 2022 Module Index Report. Job moves. And more.

The 8.5 MW community solar installation offers battery storage, a pollinator habitat, and an educational component for students at a local community college.

Also in the brief: IREC on energy storage interconnection, Wunder Capital and partners to invest more than $100 million in U.S. commercial solar, Photosol buying land rights near coal plants with eye toward transmission, and NREL on recycling solar panels.

Solar contractors added far more small-scale solar in the 19-state area than in 2018, when they added 250 MW. Solar policy groups aim to improve opportunities for distributed solar in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Montana.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission has revealed new aspects of its Responsible Energy Plan, including the addition of 1 GW of wind and solar by 2024 and a 90% carbon emission reduction from Colorado-based generation by 2030.

A 7-1 vote by the Omaha Public Power District has paved the way for up to 600 MW of utility scale solar to come to the state that boasts just under 30 MW to its name so far.

In this op-ed for pv magazine, Sara Bergan and Thomas Braun, attorneys at Stoel Rives LLP discuss the difficult balancing act of solar and agriculture in the emerging Midwestern market.