Trump DOE proposes 52% budget cut for National Laboratory of the Rockies
The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a fiscal year 2027 budget justification that seeks to slash $264 million from its lead renewable energy research center.
Agrivoltaics maintain or enhance forage quality, study finds
Researchers have analyzed the biomass and nutritional value of grasses and legumes for grazing dairy cattle, growing in agrivoltaics fields. The results showed that forage quality may be maintained or even enhanced in agrivoltaic environments.
SRP flips the switch on 55 MW ‘living lab’ solar project in Arizona
Salt River Project (SRP) has commissioned its first utility-owned solar plant, a 55 MW facility at the Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center. Beyond its immediate generation capacity, the site is being utilized as a testing ground for PV hardware durability and long-duration storage technologies in extreme desert environments.
Virginia expands shared solar, streamlines permitting in affordability push
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a legislative package releasing 525 MW of new capacity and establishing a statewide automated permitting platform.
Maine’s plug-in solar law takes effect in July and some companies are already selling products in the state
Representatives from both APsystems and CraftStrom say their products are already available in Maine, while EcoFlow plans to launch one product as the law takes effect and offer another after it obtains UL listing.
The solar support gap: Why do pro-solar citizens reject local projects?
Researchers from the University of Rhode Island explored why citizens who voiced pro-solar sentiments voted against a solar project development in a 2019 municipal referendum. Their analysis found objections over land use greatly outweigh proximity concerns.
Residential solar company Freedom Forever files chapter 11 bankruptcy
Filings from the company, reportedly the second-largest residential solar installer in the U.S. in 2025, indicate it owes more than $500 million to its creditors compared to assets of between $100 million and $500 million.
U.S. distributed solar capacity grows by 6.8 GW in 2025 as Maine leads on per capita basis
A 2025 update from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) finds that small-scale solar installations accounted for 19% of the 36 GW of total solar capacity added to the national grid last year.
Prepaid leases emerge as residential solar customer pathway to accessing federal tax credits
Installers are increasingly turning to third-party ownership models to bridge the gap left by expiring residential tax credits.
U.S. community solar passes 10 GW milestone despite market contraction
The industry installed 1.4 GW in 2025, a drop from 2024 levels as leading markets like New York and Maine slowed.
