Software provider introduces hail detection solution for solar projects
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.
50 states of solar incentives: South Dakota
The state has just 2 MW of installed solar capacity, but its integrated resource plan includes 120 MW of clean energy resources by 2025, which includes 100 MW of wind or solar generation, and 20 MW of energy storage divided equally across the two states.
Sunrise brief: Silicon cost per watt down 96% over last two decades
Also on the rise: Waste-to-hydrogen facility to fuel transportation in California. BP to construct 134 MW project in Ohio for Meta. And more.
The largest solar project in South Dakota begins construction
National Grid is developing the 128 MW facility and has secured a power purchase agreement with Basin Electric Cooperative.
Morning Brief: South Dakota’s largest project has a buyer, largest solar-plus-storage project in the Caribbean
Also in the brief: Safari Energy completes 60th commercial solar development, a 28 MW installation in New Jersey, Nautilus Solar acquires 3.5 MW Rhode Island project, solar aircraft designed to stay aloft for a year makes maiden flight.
Midwest and Northern Tier states added 400 MW of small-scale solar in 2019
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.
Morning Brief: 110 MW coming to South Dakota, Solar United Neighbors to host second annual Pennsylvania Solar Congress
Also in the brief: SunStreet, Lennar and NAHB to demo solar home at the International Builder’s Show, Powerhome installs largest dealership project in the Midwest, a Lancaster construction company set to get 2 MW installation and more.
Lookout Solar: ‘We are the first in Indian country to develop a large-scale solar project’
Currently ranked next-to-last in solar installations, the 140-MW Lookout project could grow PV in South Dakota from 1 MW to 141 MW and provide employment in the country’s poorest county.
Colorado utility sees “opportunistic window” to save money with solar and wind plus storage
Black Hills Energy is seeking 200 MW of solar power or wind plus energy storage capacity as part of an RFP, driven – not by any requirements – but by 2019 summertime bids solar and solar plus storage bids of 2.4¢/kWh and 3.6¢/kWh and the pending step down of the 30% investment tax credit.
Balancing solar development and preservation of agricultural lands in the Midwest
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.
