SEIA names Abigail Hopper as new CEO
As pv magazine reported three weeks ago, SEIA officially announced that Abby Hopper, will start her duties at SEIA on Jan. 17. Hopper previously served as the head of the Maryland Energy Association and was an energy advisor to Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, during whose administration Maryland developed a progressive solar policy.
The solar coaster: pv magazine USA’s 2016 year in review
With massive market growth, the bankruptcy of SunEdison and the election of a pro-coal climate denier as president, 2016 really was the best and the worst of times.
Alencon Systems Begins Shipping SPOT V4 DC-DC Optimizer
Hatboro, PA-based Alencon has begun distribution of its String Power Optimizer, or SPOT, which it calls “the PV industry’s most powerful and versatile DC-DC optimizer for large commercial and utility scale applications.”
New Jersey solar market slows down in H2 2016
After installing 198 MW in the first six months of the year, New Jersey’s solar market appears to have declined substantially in the final months of 2016.
AlionEnergy Readies New Tracker First Install
Richmond, CA-based AlionEnergy expects the first commercial installation of its new tracker system as early as February.
Scatec sells off its last U.S. solar plant
The Norwegian developer and EPC has closed on the sale of the 104 MW-DC Utah Red Hills plant to Macquarie.
MIT report questions value of distributed solar
The Utility of the Future report decries poor state-level rate-making, mythical cross-subsidies by non-solar customers, and economies of scale as reasons that adding more distributed PV to utilities’ portfolios make little long-term economic sense.
BREAKING: SEIA expected to name Abigail Hopper as new CEO
The reported choice to lead SEIA served as the head of the Maryland Energy Association and was an energy advisor to Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, during whose administration Maryland developed a progressive solar policy.
Ohio governor temporarily saves solar from RPS freeze
In a decision that surprised some Ohio solar observers, Gov. John Kasich vetoed House Bill 554, passed on Dec. 7, which would have turned the RPS into a voluntary program without any compliance obligations through 2021. The legislature could override the veto in the next legislative session, which begins on Jan. 9.
Tesla/Panasonic Gigafactory to begin producing PV modules in summer 2017
Panasonic also take over capital costs at the new factory in Buffalo, and its HIT technology will be used in the Solar Roof product
