For lower-cost Southeast power, double the solar and add wholesale power trading
A lower-cost grid would reach 22% renewable generation in 2040, compared to the 5% currently planned by Southeastern utilities, says a study from Energy Innovation and Vibrant Clean Energy. Wholesale power trading through an independent system operator would also help reduce costs.
Southeast states to add nearly 15 GW of solar by 2023
South Carolina is set to surpass North Carolina in solar watts per customer. Georgia and Florida will exceed the Southeast average, while utilities in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi will continue to lag. Overall the states will reach 5% solar generation by 2023.
Morning Brief: Best Buy’s big solar installation, Massachusetts’ largest landfill project
Also in the brief: SolarEdge is set to launch the company’s newest product, Stem Inc has launched its first solar+storage independent power producer site, PCL Construction Services has begun work on the 20 MW Odom Solar Farm and more.
Morning Brief: solar for South Carolina and batteries for Texas
Also in the brief: SolarEdge is expanding its residential and commercial power optimizer portfolio, Monterey Bay Community Power will help local school districts buy electric buses, L7 Drive has launched an energy management platform and more.
Morning Brief: natural gas company to go solar, Duke receives 2 GW of proposals
Also in the brief: Q Cells and Silfab achieve top performer rating in the 2020 PV Module Reliability Scorecard, Tigo sues APS.
Pollinator-friendly solar: a feel-good way to make projects cleaner and greener
Opposition to solar project siting can be turned into broad support by designing projects with “pollinator-friendly” landscaping — a trend gaining momentum across the country.
The Southeast has become a dual peaking region
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has made that determination after studying the annual maximum peaks for 22 different utility planning authorities over from 1998 to 2018.
US solar hits near record employment as Southeast shines
The solar industry, which represents 2.6% of overall U.S. electricity generation, already employs twice as many workers as the U.S. coal industry.
Morning Brief: Cubico acquires 102 MW, LONGi to supply modules for 74 MW Microsoft project
Also in the brief: Solar Support partners with SEMIKRON to tackle utility-scale inverter stack shortage, investors say changes at Hawaiian Electric can ‘happen fast,’ Dynamic Energy sells 11 MW solar + storage portfolio to Amp Energy and more.
Southeast US adds 427 MW of distributed solar in 2019, as advocates press for more
Florida led the region for small-scale installations, while Maryland kept the lead on a per-capita basis. Solar advocates look to improve opportunities for distributed solar throughout the region in 2020.
