A new report by market research firm IHS states that the solar industry and its customers will not be seriously affected by various changes to net energy metering (NEM) policies that have been proposed in several states across the country. Although there have been concerns that alterations could make NEM less generous for solar customers, the IHS study indicates that the industry will continue to see similar levels of growth in 2014 to what it experienced in 2013, according to DigiTimes.com. The…

Crews have finished construction of the California Valley Solar Ranch, a 250 megawatt (MW) capacity plant near San Luis Obispo, California, that is now the biggest operating solar generator in the state. It was built by SunPower and will be run by NRG, producing enough electricity to power 50,000 homes. The facility covers 4,700 acres, although only about 1,500 of that is actually covered by panels and buildings. The remaining 3,200 are being set aside for permanent…

Gina McCarthy, the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was confirmed last week by the U.S. Senate after having spent several months waiting for Senate Republicans to come to an agreement with President Obama. McCarthy, who has worked for many years in the EPA, will be taking over the agency at a time when it has begun taking a more active role in regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Hill, a political news site,…

As we’ve written before on this blog, leasing and financing options for residential solar energy solutions have made this technology accessible to more families than ever before. New data from the California Solar Initiative (CSI), as analyzed by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), shows that these programs have been enormously successful with homeowners. The EIA states that two-thirds of new solar installations completed in 2012 and 2013 under the CSI were third-party owned, meaning they…

Some homeowners may find that the biggest obstacles preventing them from purchasing and installing a solar panel array on their house are restrictions and policies put in place by their homeowners association (HOA). Due to a number of reasons, these groups often have serious reservations about allowing their members to build such systems on their rooftops. In response to this problem, the Solar Foundation (TSF), an organization that promotes solar energy, has released a guidethat seeks…

On March 26, the Lancaster, California, City Council passed an ordinance as part of the city’s zoning code that will require new homes to feature solar energy solutions, making it the first U.S. metro to push this kind of initiative forward. According to Greentech Media, a leading industry news source, the new regulation states that housing developers must implement a solar system of 1 to 1.5 kilowatts in all residential homes built on lots of 7,000 square feet or…

The public is slowly becoming more aware of the dangers of climate change and the need to decrease human production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. As such, utility companies and investors are spending more time and money developing renewable energy projects that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, provide a limitless source of electricity, and strengthen the economy. One such project is being built in the Mojave Desert, and promises to usher in…

Many utilities have resisted the growth of distributed solar generation (DSG) because they are concerned that it could eventually undermine their traditional business model. Their argument is that, as more customers switch to Northern California solar energy, rates for non-solar customers will rise, which will encourage even more customers to switch to a photovoltaic (PV) system. Additionally, they believe that solar customers are not paying their fair share of the fixed costs of maintaining a…

Solar power used to be relatively new concept that existed only on a small scale or in experimental projects that had little hope of being commercialized. As such, many Californians still think of it as a quaint technology that wouldn’t be viable or affordable. But photovoltaic panels have come a long way in the last few decades, and it’s no longer the case that solar energy is cost-prohibitive. In fact, it has become affordable for millions…

Media coverage of Northern California solar energy tends to focus on the benefits of solar electric systems and the value they provide in terms of lower electricity bills. One area that you may not know as much about is solar heating and cooling (SHC) systems, particularly when it comes to water heating systems that rely on sunlight instead of natural gas. A new plan from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) lays out a plan…

While more people across the United States are continuing to realize the benefits of solar energy solutions, we understand that having panels installed on your roof is still a big decision that requires a great deal of consideration. In a recent article, New York media outlet the Buffalo News highlights what you should keep in mind when shopping around for solar panels: Degradation rates and warranties – Over the years, panels will begin to produce less power,…