Author Archives: Ritesh Pothan

A national bill proposing the legalization of plug-in solar was proposed in the House of Representatives on Oct. 19. Since late 2025, legislative bodies have been passing bills permitting the consumer-level use of these portable solar generation devices within particular … Continue reading →

A new community solar garden in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is now producing power for low-moderate income (LMI) residents. The 704-kW system sits on the city-owned Eastside Maintenance Facility and serves 100 LMI subscribers, with 25 spots remaining. The Minnesota Renewable Energy … Continue reading →

Solar panel efficiency measures the percentage of sunlight a panel converts into electricity. Most residential panels in 2026 operate between 20–23% efficiency under standard test conditions (STC). The higher the efficiency, the more power per square foot — which matters … Continue reading →

As energy affordability emerges as a defining issue heading into the midterm elections, new analysis from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) shows how solar and energy storage are lowering electricity costs in both red and blue states. Growth in … Continue reading →

NeoVolta, an energy storage technology company, is launching a third-party-ownership (TPO) financing platform funded by tax equity partners and designed to deploy solar and battery energy storage for both residential and commercial customers. It will launch with an initial focus … Continue reading →

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, has activated a rooftop solar installation spanning approximately 3.5 acres atop the resort’s convention center. Featuring 4,696 solar panels, the array is designed to supply up to 20% of the … Continue reading →

Generate Capital and TurningPoint Energy celebrated the ribbon-cutting of a new 3.5-MWac community solar project in Sandwich, Illinois, marking another community solar project in Kendall County developed through Illinois’ Adjustable Block Program, now known as Illinois Shines. The project is … Continue reading →

PV Hardware USA (PVH), a solar tracking and foundation solutions provider, is expanding its original Houston manufacturing facility, increasing the company’s domestic production capacity to meet growing demand for solar tracking systems. The expansion will add approximately 34,200 sq ft … Continue reading →

The solar industry has been through a lot over the past 25 years: major advancements, setbacks and plenty of ups and downs. But what needs to change next isn’t the tech. The next chapter of solar depends on how we … Continue reading →

The Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians, in partnership with the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), has completed installing solar and battery storage systems at three Tribal facilities on the Mesa Grande Reservation in San Diego County, California. The … Continue reading →

A group of solar and storage industry members called the Storage and Clean Energy Coalition has filed testimony in opposition to the possible merging of utilities Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. “There is no doubt that the proposed merger poses … Continue reading →

Madison Energy Infrastructure and Verogy have completed a 7.2-MW solar system for Beaver Water District (BWD) in Northwest Arkansas. The project is expected to generate approximately 12,300 MWh annually, meeting 15 to 20% of BWD’s electricity needs. “This solar installation … Continue reading →

Construction began this month on a 2-MW solar array at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, that is expected to produce almost all of the organization’s annual electricity needs. The planned solar array will be built on a south-facing hillside … Continue reading →

A portfolio of community solar projects being sited across Illinois and Maryland will result in about 126 MWDC of shared renewable energy in those states. There are 18 project sites in Illinois, accounting for 115 MW, and two in Maryland … Continue reading →

JinkoSolar has unveiled Tiger Neo 5.0, an all-black residential solar module built on its all-new TAC technology — a combination of TOPCon and HJT. The first version to reach the market, an all-black 48-cell module, delivers a maximum power output … Continue reading →

Duke Energy Florida recently completed construction on the 74.9-MW Bailey Mill Solar Center, a solar site located near Monticello in Jefferson County. “The launch of Bailey Mill is another step toward lowering long-term energy costs for our customers,” said Melissa … Continue reading →

Qcells announced it will offer new versions of its residential solar panels that feature aluminum frames extruded, anodized and fabricated in Tennessee. Qcells will offer domestic-frame options for its Q.TRON AC and Q.PEAK DUO AC panels in the United States. … Continue reading →

Temperatures on a typical Las Vegas afternoon can reach 115°F, which is already near the operating limit for a lot of home solar inverters. An unventilated attic, or a west-facing stucco wall in full sun, exceeds that temperature range. When … Continue reading →

Pisgah Energy has finished a third solar project for Vanguard Furniture, continuing a multi-year partnership between the North Carolina-based businesses. Building on two earlier solar investments in Conover, North Carolina, Pisgah has completed a 848-kW rooftop system at Vanguard’s manufacturing … Continue reading →

The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) today released its Q3 2026 edition of “The 50 States of Solar” report. The quarterly series provides insights on state regulatory and legislative discussions and actions on distributed solar policy, with a focus … Continue reading →

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has found that the domestic solar panel manufacturing industry has been harmed by unfairly priced imports from India, Indonesia and Laos. The affirmative final determination by the ITC means that antidumping and countervailing duties … Continue reading →

Allied Facility Partners, a design-build and performance contracting firm serving K-12, municipal and public-sector organizations across Illinois and Wisconsin, has completed a districtwide rooftop solar project for Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 in Illinois. The completed project includes rooftop … Continue reading →

A 295-kW rooftop solar system is now producing power at Adelphi University in Long Island, New York. Along with its commercial operation, the school announced a new solar energy initiative for its 75-acre main campus. This solar system was built … Continue reading →

Ameresco has completed a solar-plus-storage project at the main office of the Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority (RUSA) in Oregon. The $1 million project is the beginning of a multi-phase transformative energy program aimed at enhancing the resilience, sustainability and cost-effectiveness … Continue reading →

Standard Solar has acquired two solar projects in Washington from OneEnergy Renewables, marking the companies’ first projects together in the state. The projects — Palouse Junction in Connell and Cunningham in Othello — will bring a combined 15.79 MW of new … Continue reading →

Integrated Power Services (IPS), a power management lifecycle service, has acquired Bold Renewables, the transaction effective October 9th. Headquartered in Windsor, Colorado, Bold Renewables provides field service, spare parts and preventive maintenance for Advanced Energy central solar inverters branded Solaron, … Continue reading →

The first cranberries have been harvested from bogs that feature two solar projects in Massachusetts — Black Cat Agrivoltaics Project in Plymouth and Ring Road Agrivoltaics Project in Kingston. The projects are owned by developer Greenbacker Renewables and were installed … Continue reading →

   How much is an electron worth? I’ve been staying inside a lot more this year because the weather in Pennsylvania has been mercurial. Frequent flash flood conditions, hazy skies from traveling wildfire smoke, sweltering heat in record breaking … Continue reading →

Solar and storage system construction has begun for Project Sterling in Mohave County, Arizona. ContourGlobal is building the 509-MW solar and 1.4-GWh storage project, for which Tesla has already signed a PPA. “Arizona’s sun has been shining on this land … Continue reading →

Three phases of Doral Renewables‘ Mammoth Solar Project will soon start commercial operation in Pulaski County, Indiana. Mammoth South, Mammoth Central I and Mammoth Central II represent a combined capacity of 900 MWAC, and with the completion of the entire … Continue reading →

Solar projects are built to generate clean energy, but construction and operations can also generate materials that need to be managed responsibly. At a solar site in Maysville, Georgia, broken and damaged solar panels created a need for a responsible … Continue reading →

Cedar Creek Energy has completed construction of Ramsey II Renewable Station, a 5.046-MW solar project on nearly 25 acres of buffer land adjacent to the Anoka-Ramsey Closed Landfill in Minnesota. Cedar Creek Energy designed, procured and constructed the system on … Continue reading →

North Carolina-based MANNA FoodBank recently completed a 514-kW rooftop solar system at its office and warehouse facility in Mills River. The system, installed by Pisgah Energy and featuring SEG panels and SolarEdge inverters, is expected to produce more than 643,000 … Continue reading →

Clearway Energy Group has started construction on Swan Energy Center, a 650-MW solar facility located on portions of strip-mined land in northwestern Bates County, Missouri. The project is Clearway’s first in Missouri and is contracted under a 20-year power purchase … Continue reading →

D3Energy, a U.S. floating solar developer and EPC contractor, has deployed a floating solar photovoltaic system at Universal Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida. The 1.4-MW floating solar system was energized earlier this year and now operates as part … Continue reading →

HelioVolta today published its fourth annual “SolarGrade PV Health Report,” assessing quality and workmanship across 1,500+ solar assets in the United States that were inspected by HelioVolta’s field engineers. The report’s key findings include: Quality issues can raise a PV … Continue reading →

Legislation that could legalize plug-in solar is active in every corner of the United States. Thirty-five states and D.C. have enacted, passed or are currently deliberating bills concerning plug-in solar, according to a chart maintained by Canary Media. Colloquially known … Continue reading →

The Sisters of Charity of New York, a Catholic mission group that has spearheaded healthcare and affordable housing developments in the state, called on the power of the sun to reduce energy costs for elderly tenants in a Staten Island … Continue reading →

First Solar has filed a lawsuit in U.S. district court against JA Solar, together with American Panel Solutions, alleging infringement of First Solar’s U.S. Patent No. 9,130,074. The ‘074 patent covers methods of manufacturing TOPCon silicon solar cells. “We have … Continue reading →

For grid-scale solar projects connecting to the bulk electric system, NERC compliance is often treated as a post-construction concern, when the obligations take shape much earlier in the design phase. Waiting until commissioning to address compliance can leave owner-operators scrambling … Continue reading →

Amusement park Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles County, California, has energized its 12.37-MW solar project, which was developed in collaboration with Solar Optimum. The project is the largest solar carport installation in California and one of the largest … Continue reading →

DTE Energy has completed construction on the 100-MW Cold Creek Solar Park near Coldwater, Michigan, which is supporting Ford Motor Company’s decarbonization goals. Ford agreed to purchase up to 650 MW of renewable energy through DTE’s CleanVision MIGreenPower program, which … Continue reading →

The second phase of the Black Hollow Sun solar project near Severance, Colorado, is now complete. ContourGlobal developed the full 324-MW project for the Platte River Power Authority. “This project represents years of commitment, perseverance and partnership,” said Jason Frisbie, … Continue reading →

It was a busy day yesterday for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as he signed into law a handful of bills that are positive for the solar industry. He also signed legislation that approves “balcony solar” systems in the state. SB … Continue reading →

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is being updated with new and longer stipulations for renewable energy projects to qualify for these grants. Historically, REAP has provided grants to rural farmers and small business owners for renewable energy projects. … Continue reading →

An inverter’s role in a plug-in solar project is functionally the same as in an interconnected solar project: it converts DC to AC power. Where it differs is how much power it can handle and how it’s interacting with the … Continue reading →

Silfab Solar has outlined a plan to bring online its solar cell production facility in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The community on the North Carolina border has vocalized safety concerns about the operation of the plant. Silfab voluntarily retained TRC … Continue reading →

Pisgah Energy has completed a 680-kW solar system for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in Belmont, North Carolina. During project development, Pisgah Energy discovered that City of Belmont land development ordinances did not allow for the installation of … Continue reading →

Construction has started on Blackwater Solar, a 200-MW project in Roosevelt County, New Mexico. Project developer Ørsted also announced a $100,000 contribution to Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) to support the restoration and conservation of local wetlands near the project site. … Continue reading →

Throughout the first six months after the expiration of the residential ITC, homeowners still found a clear path to savings through solar and storage, according to the “23rd EnergySage Intel: Home Electrification Marketplace Report,” released today. The report analyzed millions … Continue reading →