Utah

Researchers used noise measuring devices to identify physical processes within solar cells that cause energy loss and lower efficiency.

The social media company increased its in-state solar portfolio to 814 MW, and said it runs its operations on 100% renewable energy.

D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments announced commercial operation of the Cove Mountain and Cove Mountain II solar projects, both part of a PPA frenzy that Facebook undertook beginning last fall.

Mining group Rio Tinto said it will spend nearly $3 million on a facility in Utah to recover tellurium, a critical mineral used in solar panels.

Also in the brief: A rural Virginia county grapples with the pros and cons of a proposed $200 million, 149 MW solar farm, Utah’s solar advocates plan to fight decision by state regulators.

In a long-fought battle, Utah’s PSC just decided to lower the rooftop solar export credit rate from 9.2¢/kWh to about 5.8¢/kWh. Both solar advocates and the utility are expected to be unhappy with the decision.

Solar from customer roofs in Utah is worth somewhere between 1.5 cents/kWh and 22.6 cents/kWh, depending on your calculations and who you ask — a ridiculously wide range.

Also in the brief: Solar in schools

Facebook now has contracts for 694 MW of solar power in Utah (63% of the state’s solar generation capacity) in its pursuit of becoming entirely renewably-powered by the end of this year.

Also in the brief: San José Clean Energy and Peninsula Clean Energy have launched a joint request for offers for the purchase of 1 million MWh annually of new, long-term renewable energy.