One of the issues that limits the growth of Bay Area solar at a utility scale, particularly for photovoltaics (PV), is the fact that current energy storage solutions are not capable of handling the massive amounts of power that would be needed during hours when the sun isn’t shining and the panels aren’t producing electricity. This is why the state is now investing hundreds of millions of dollars into developing a storage technology that can be…

Senator Ed Markey has introduced a bill in Congress that would require utilities across the country to derive at least 25 percent of their electrical production from renewable sources by 2025. The bill is similar to laws that have been enacted in California, Colorado and other states that aim to promote the growth of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power. If enacted, Senator Markey predicts that the bill would create 400,000 American jobs…

A new report by the North American Electric Reliability Corp (NERC) and the California Independent System Operator (ISO) predicts that wind and solar power generation in California will double by 2020. This is exciting news for anyone who follows the solar energy solutions industry. But buried in the NERC’s recommendations is a surprising argument for the importance of natural gas resources to the further expansion of renewable energy. Indeed, this may seem like a contradiction. Solar and…

Anyone who has driven down the Interstate 5 from Orange County to San Diego is likely familiar with the bizarre looking domes of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The owner of the plant, Edison International, announced on June 7 that the 2,150 megawatt (MW) capacity plant will be permanently shut down. This is a troubling sign for the nuclear power industry in the United States, which has had a tough time promoting its technology since the…

A major obstacle to wider adoption of renewable energy, such as Bay Area solar and wind power, for utility companies is the fact that these technologies produced major fluctuations in output that are difficult for grids to handle on a large scale. Solar only creates electricity during the day, and wind turbines generate lots of power when the wind is blowing, but create nothing on days when the air is still. This means that electrical companies must…

The California Solar Energy Industry Association, an organization that advocates on behalf of solar power in the Golden State, has announced the appointment of Bernadette Del Chiaro as the new executive director of the group. Del Chiaro has been involved in the communications and policy areas of the renewable energy industry for over a decade. She was formerly the Director of Clean Energy and Global Warming Programs at Environment California, an environmental advocacy nonprofit, and worked on virtually all renewables…

In an effort to expand access to solar energy among California residents, lawmakers are attempting to establish a “shared renewables” program that would enable thousands of Golden State home and business owners to go solar without requiring them to install their own panels. Rather than generating their own power on-site, individuals would have the opportunity to subscribe to an off-site renewable energy project and receive credit on their utility bills for the amount of clean electricity…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on October 31 that the California Valley Solar Ranch, the world’s largest solar photovoltaic power generation facility, has begun commercial operation, adding 250 megawatts (MW) of solar generating capacity to the state’s electrical grid. The Ranch will sell electricity to Pacific Gas & Electric. The plant, located in San Luis Obispo County, uses a new tracking system that increases output by as much as 25 percent, according to the International Business Times.…

The city of Los Angeles’ Department of Water & Power announced this week that they are now accepting bids from solar power companies to construct a massive PV system. The utility is aiming to construct enough panels to produce roughly 250 megawatts of power. More than 1.5 million residents rely upon the city to provide electricity to their home’s and businesses. This news comes on the heels of recent legislation that mandates all California energy…

People across the United States have undoubtedly heard of Kickstarter, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. Modeled after this tool, California-based startup Mosaic is a business that connects investors to high-quality solar projects, giving them a chance to earn money while also making a difference. According to MercuryNews.com, a Silicon Valley media outlet, Mosaic revealed on April 8 that state securities regulators gave the company permission to offer $100 million worth of new solar energy investments to residents…

Recently, we posted an article about the announcement that California had hit a new record for solar power generation record of 1,897 megawatts (MW). This was seen as a major milestone in the state’s migration to more renewable energy sources, but it’s already old news. That’s because California ISO, the agency that manages the state’s energy infrastructure, announced June 10 that a new record of 2,071 MW had been set. This represents 5 percent of Californian’s peak…

There are many tax credit and rebate programs available to homeowners interested in a California residential solar power system for their home, but one of the most successful has been the California Solar Initiative (CSI), which was introduced in 2007 as a way to encourage the growth of solar energy in the Golden State. A recent report from the California Public Utilities Commission indicates that CSI has been enormously successful in achieving its mission, with…