Before you think further about solar panels you might look into this incredible resource…

Solar

SOLAR

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2018, about 17% of the electricity generated was from renewable sources (primarily wind, solar & hydropower), with 1.6% coming from solar.

In early 2019, the Solar Foundation released its National Solar Census, which shows that, since 2017, the total number of jobs in the industry has now fallen for the second year in a row. 242,343 people were employed in solar jobs in 2018, a 3.2% decline on the previous year. That comes after the industry contracted by 3.8% in 2017, primarily as a result of tariffs.

The outlook for jobs in the industry is expected to improve in 2019 due to a backlog of utility-scale projects and new policy incentives in key U.S. states. The Solar Foundation has forecast a 7% increase in jobs for this year, bringing the total to 259,400.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, October 2021

CURRENT NEWS

China’s Remote Deserts Are Hiding an Energy Revolution

By Bloomberg News 11/27/23
Out of the rolling yellow dunes of the Kubuqi desert arises what appears to be an oasis, shimmering blue beneath the northern China sky.
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D.C. region sets new goals for solar adoption

By Lori Aratani 11/25/23
The Washington region’s planning body has endorsed new solar energy goals as part of a strategy it hopes will help the area meet a 2030 goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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These remarkable floating solar panels solve one of the biggest problems with sun-based energy — here’s how they work

By Rick Kazmer 11/25/23
In this case, electricity and water are a great combination, sometimes providing new life for forgotten lagoons that were created for past industrial efforts. Bloomberg reported that an old coal pit can be turned into…
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A Native American tribe is about to put solar panels over its canals

By Michelle Lewis 11/21/23
The Gila River Indian Community signed a project partnership agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers to put solar panels over its canals.
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Column: California strikes another blow against rooftop solar

By Sammy Roth 11/16/23
Just a few weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom returned from a trip to China that he claimed was focused on tackling the climate crisis, his appointees back home voted to slash financial incentives for rooftop…
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One of the world’s largest floating solar panel farms spans over 45 football fields — and could be the key to energy production

By Rick Kazmer 11/16/23
A giant solar panel flotilla in Singapore is proving its viability two years into operations.
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Intersect’s 679MW US solar-storage project starts operations

By Global Data 11/16/23
American clean energy company Intersect Power has begun commercial operations on its 679MW Oberon solar plus storage project in Riverside County in the US state of California.
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US DOE picks three solar companies to install rooftop solar and batteries in Puerto Rico

By Simon Yuen 11/08/23
US residential solar companies Sunrun, Sunnova and power product supplier Generac have been selected by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to install rooftop solar and battery storage systems for vulnerable households in Puerto Rico.
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This Number Helps Explain Why Rooftop Solar Is Becoming More Attractive in Many States

By Dan Gearino 10/19/23
About 5 percent of U.S. households have rooftop solar, a share that may seem like a lot, but it looks low compared to places like Germany (about 20 percent) and Australia (about 30 percent).
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The World Has Already Crossed a ‘Tipping Point’ on Solar Power

By Sana Pashankar 10/19/23
Solar power is set to dominate global electricity markets within the next few decades, and may have already reached an “irreversible tipping point,” according to a study published this week in Nature Communications. The study…
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Major solar panel plant opens in US amid backdrop of industry worries about low-priced Asian imports

By Jeff Amy 10/18/23
A South Korean company has begun production at a huge new solar panel factory in Georgia even as industry leaders say surging Asian imports could dampen efforts to make more solar components in the United…
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3 counties could power over 250,000 homes with clean energy with one change: ‘Imagine our entire state’s potential’

By Jane Donohue 10/14/23
Anew analysis demonstrates that three Southern California counties could power over 270,000 homes by lining their highways with solar energy infrastructure
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KEY RESOURCES

U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Geological Survey Release Online Public Database of Large-Scale Solar Facilities

11/08/23
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) released the largest and most comprehensive database to date on large-scale solar energy projects in the United States.…

5 Ways Community Solar Empowers Solar for All

07/06/23
Solar power is a long-lasting and cost-cutting renewable energy solution, but installing a home solar panel system isn’t feasible for everyone. Luckily, the benefits of solar aren’t limited to those who have panels on their…

Solar Market Insight Report 2022 Q2

06/08/22
In Q1 2022, the US solar market installed 3.9 GWdc of solar capacity, a 24% decrease from Q1 2021 and a 52% decrease from Q4 2021. This represents the weakest quarter for US solar installations…

Federal Solar Tax Credit Guide (2022)

05/03/22
Since 2005, the federal government has incentivized homeowners to switch to solar through the solar investment tax credit (ITC), also known as the federal solar tax credit. Currently, this tax credit lets you claim 26%…

How solar power works

02/11/22
Solar energy is quickly becoming a more popular and affordable power source for homeowners and businesses. With residential solar energy, you can lower your carbon footprint and see substantial cost savings.

Investing in a Clean Energy Future: Solar Energy Research, Deployment, and Workforce Priorities

09/13/21
The immediate need for action on climate change has been made clear in the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Limiting the rise in global temperatures would help avoid future catastrophic…

Solar Power Solutions Brief

03/10/21
Solar power has expanded dramatically in recent years, becoming the leading technology installed for new power generation around the world. In 2019, it accounted for 45% of global capacity added. Last year, solar power became…

2035 Report

10/01/20
Scientists say we must cut global carbon emissions in half by 2030 to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.

Solar carports: how do they work and how much do they cost?

04/25/20
While a typical carport or patio cover provides shading and is undoubtedly a value-add for a home or automobile owner, its one-dimensional simplicity is a missed opportunity. If you’re a PV fanatic following emerging technologies in the solar industry,…

Depreciation of Solar Energy Property in MACRS

04/20/20
Businesses rely on policy certainty to make long-term investment decisions. SEIA supports smart tax policy that drives continued innovation in the solar industry. Depreciation is one aspect of the tax code that facilitates greater investment…

California Solar Data Current Through: Q4 2019

03/28/20
California has the largest solar market in the U.S. and has been a longtime champion of solar because of the many economic and environmental benefits it provides, including $57 billion in investment in the state.

Calculate your solar panel savings

02/22/20
Use this solar panel calculator to quickly estimate your solar potential and savings by address. Estimates are based on your roof, electricity bill, and actual offers in your area.

Top Solar Energy Facts e-book

01/15/20
Scientists estimate that more than enough solar energy strikes the planet every hour to power the entire globe for a full year.

Solar Power Events

01/06/20
Solar Power Events, the premier events series for the North American solar & storage markets, is presented by Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) & Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA). Alongside North America Smart Energy Week,…

Go solar: top 10 benefits of solar energy

12/06/19
There are many reasons why homeowners go solar, but improving the environment and cutting energy costs are the most common. Many people are aware that solar is a great home efficiency upgrade and are eager…

Coalition for Community Solar Access

07/08/19
The Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) is a national Coalition of businesses and non-profits working to expand customer choice and access to solar to all American households and businesses through community solar. Community solar…

Vote Solar

07/04/19
Since 2002, Vote Solar has been working to lower solar costs and expand solar access. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Vote Solar advocates for state policies and programs needed to repower our electric grid with clean…

Solar Energy Industry Association

12/15/18
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA®) is the driving force behind solar energy and is building a strong solar industry to power America through advocacy and education. As the national trade association in the U.S.,…

Ten Ways Your Community Can Go Solar

03/01/19
The United States has enough solar energy installed to power over 11 million American homes. America’s cities and towns play a key role in driving the adoption of clean, renewable energy. Yet, most have only…

MORE NEWS

A Reality Check About Solar Panel Waste and the Effects on Human Health

By Dan Gearino   10/12/23  
Having sat in many community hearings about solar power development, I am used to vivid descriptions of how photovoltaic panels might as well be dripping with harmful substances that will sicken people and livestock.
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Energy Firms, Green Groups and Others Reach Deal on Solar Farms

By Ivan Penn   10/12/23  
Solar developers, environmentalists, farming groups and tribal organizations said on Thursday that they had reached an agreement that could make it easier in the United States to build large solar farms, which have attracted stiff…
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Column: Solar companies and environmentalists say they’re ready to stop fighting. They’d better be

By Sammy Roth   10/11/23  
The United States has more than enough sunlight and wind to keep electricity flowing to our homes and businesses and factories most hours of most days — if only we could stop fighting over where…
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Half of Americans can’t install solar panels. Here’s how they can plug into the sun.

By Michael J. Coren   10/10/23  
No roof, no solar power. That has been the dispiriting equation shutting out roughly half of all Americans from plugging into the sun. But signing up for solar soon might be as easy as subscribing…
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Making Solar Energy as Clean as Can Be Means Fitting Square Panels Into the Circular Economy

By Emma Peterson and Wyatt Myskow   10/09/23  
Even for the most enthusiastic boosters of renewable energy, it’s hard to argue that solar panels provide truly clean electricity if, at the end of their lives, many of them end up in landfills.
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Florida is now adding more solar power than any other state

By Eric Wesoff   09/15/23  
Florida has long ranked a distant third place behind California and Texas in installed solar, but it’s now installing more solar panels than any other state — despite a policy landscape that’s considerably more challenging…
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Chart: Solar installations set to break global, US records in 2023

By Eric Wesoff and Maria Virginia Olano   09/15/23  
The solar industry is having yet another record-setting growth year, globally and in the U.S. A perfect storm of policy, incentives and still-plummeting costs has made solar the clear choice for new generation capacity worldwide.
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Bechtel to build 190MWac solar project in Posey County, Indiana

By GlobalData   09/13/23  
US-based engineering corporation Bechtel has secured a contract from Arevon Energy to design and build a 190MWac solar project in Posey County, Indiana.
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Solar Is Keeping the Texas Grid Running. Next Month’s Eclipse Will Be a New Test

By Naureen S Malik   09/08/23  
Texas quickly spiraled into a power emergency on Wednesday night when record September demand and a drop in supply prompted appeals to consumers to conserve electricity to avoid blackouts. Hot, humid weather put the squeeze…
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Democrats’ climate law projected to drive record increase in U.S. solar installations, report finds

By Kelsey Tamborrino   09/07/23  
The U.S. solar industry is expected to grow by more than 50 percent this year amid new investments stemming from Democrats' climate law, according to a market report from the Solar Energy Industries Association and…
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With a Crippled Energy Grid, Puerto Rico Turned to Solar Power. (Spoiler: It’s Working)

By Dan Avery   09/02/23  
On Sept. 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico and devastated the island's aging and inefficient power grid.
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Opinion Electric cars and solar cells rely on Chinese minerals. Here’s how to curb the risks.

By The Editorial Board   08/25/23  
The U.S. transition to cleaner energy technology is underway, supported by new incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act. Benefits to the planet could be significant. Yet so could the geopolitical risks to the United States.…
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At 30%, Solar Panel Tax Credits Are at a High Point for Now

By Ann Carrns   08/25/23  
Americans are increasingly turning to rooftop solar panels to save money on their energy bills, and over the next decade, federal tax credits can help reduce the cost of installing them. Tax breaks for solar…
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Pennsylvania Solar for Schools Program Is a Win-Win-Win-Win

By Matthew Bourne   08/22/23  
The Steelton-Highspire School District is located just outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In a move to overcome years of budget challenges, the districted recently installed 3500 solar panels on an old landfill.
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The new climate law is upending the solar landscape

By Ben Geman   08/14/23  
The year since passage of the big climate law has brought over $100 billion in U.S. solar and storage company investments. Why it matters: New data from the Solar Energy Industries Association — a major…
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How solar has exploded in the US in just a year – in numbers

By Michelle Lewis   08/13/23  
Solar and storage companies have announced over $100 billion in private sector investments in the US since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) a year ago, according to a new analysis released today…
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The RVs of the future are here — and they use free, off-the-grid energy powered by a surprising piece of technology

By Mila Dyson   08/09/23  
You’ve been dreaming of hitting the open road in your RV, but you’re worried about the cost of fuel to power the RV’s functions on arrival. You also might’ve heard that you could run your…
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Solar Farms Out at Sea Are Clean Energy’s Next Breakthrough

By Bloomberg News   07/14/23  
Buffeted by waves as high as 10 meters (32 feet) in China’s Yellow Sea about 30 kilometers off the coast of Shandong province, two circular rafts carrying neat rows of solar panels began generating electricity…
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Strengthening a Minnesota Community with Solar and Resilience

By Gabe Epstein   07/06/23  
Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood is a community of approximately 6,000 residents, most of whom have a household income of less than $35,000 annually. To support economic stability and energy resilience in this neighborhood, Duluth-based nonprofit…
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China to restrict exports of chipmaking materials as US mulls new curbs

07/04/23  
China will control exports of some metals widely used in the semiconductor industry, its commerce ministry announced on Monday, the latest salvo in an escalating war over access to high-tech microchips between Beijing and the…
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U.S. EPA Launches $7 Billion Program To Bring Solar Energy to Low-Income Households

By ESG News   06/29/23  
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a $7 billion grant competition through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to increase access to affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy for millions of low-income households. Residential…
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Biden administration announces $7 billion residential solar grant program

By Zack Budryk   06/28/23  
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced a $7 billion grant competition to expand access to residential solar energy in low-income communities. The funding, paid for by the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) $27 billion Greenhouse Gas…
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Solar sprawl is tearing up the Mojave Desert. Is there a better way?

By Sammy Roth   06/27/23  
High above the Las Vegas Strip, solar panels blanketed the roof of Mandalay Bay Convention Center — 26,000 of them, rippling across an area larger than 20 football fields.
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Solar Is Booming in the California Desert, if Water Issues Don’t Get in the Way

By Wyatt Myskow   06/26/23  
Solar farms stretch out mile after mile along Interstate 10 around Palm Springs, creating one of the densest areas of solar development in North America in the heart of California’s Colorado Desert. But the area’s…
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Near-Term Solar Installations Are Set To Explode In The US

By Wood Mackenzie   06/13/23  
The US solar industry’s growth trajectory is incredibly strong. Within just a few short years, the industry will be regularly installing 40-50 gigawatts (GW) of capacity according to our latest outlooks. This is quite the…
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California’s $100 Billion Electric Bullet Train Will Be Fully Solar Powered

By Alan Ohnsman   06/12/23  
Elon Musk unveiled his futuristic hyperloop concept in 2013 by taking swipes at California’s high-speed rail project, deriding it as “a bullet train that is both one of the most expensive per mile and one…
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Solar Power in US to More Than Double by 2028 as IRA Spurs Usage

By Will Wade   06/08/23  
The US solar market is on track to more than double over the next five years as the landmark Inflation Reduction Act boosts domestic manufacturing.
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Scientists develop mega-thin solar cells that could be shockingly easy to produce: ‘As rapid as printing a newspaper’

By Lajja Mistry   06/03/23  
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed paper-thin solar cells that can be attached to any kind of surface to convert it into a power source. Thinner than human hair, these cells…
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Solar investment set to overtake oil production and attract over $1 billion a day in 2023, IEA says

By Anmar Frangoul   05/25/23  
Global investment in energy is slated to hit roughly $2.8 trillion in 2023, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency, with over $1.7 trillion of that set to go on clean energy…
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House fails to override Biden veto maintaining solar tariffs

By Zack Budryk   05/24/23  
The House of Representatives fell short of the required two-thirds majority to override President Biden’s veto of a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution resuming solar power tariffs.
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Biden Vetoes Legislation That Would Reinstate Tariffs on Some Solar Panels

By Zolan Kanno-Youngs   05/16/23  
President Biden vetoed legislation on Tuesday that would have reinstated tariffs on solar panels from Chinese companies in Southeast Asia that had been found to be imported into the United States in violation of trade…
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Portable Solar Energy Systems for Home & on the Go

By Sarah Lozanova   05/03/23  
Solar panels aren’t just found on rooftops and solar farms anymore — there are now numerous portable solar modules on the market for camping, RVs, and emergency preparedness. You can buy solar chargers with a…
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U.S. Sen. Manchin joins effort to repeal Biden solar tariff waiver

04/28/23  
April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin on Wednesday threw his support behind a legislative effort to repeal President Joe Biden's suspension of tariffs on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian nations that…
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California Enters ‘Uncharted Territory’ After Cutting Payments to Rooftop Solar Owners by 75 Percent

By Dan Gearino   04/27/23  
A new era has begun for rooftop solar in the country’s leading market, California. People in the solar industry are exhausted from a rush of sales to customers who wanted to get ahead of new…
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Why resuming tariffs on Chinese solar firms threatens U.S. climate goals

By Maxine Joselow   04/27/23  
Good morning and welcome to The Climate 202! Happy almost Friday. We’re starting our morning by watching this adorable video of seals acting like puppies.
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What’s best for the climate: Reshoring solar panel production or just buying cheap from China?

By Mark Harris   04/27/23  
upIn a world of gloomy climate news, solar panels have been a ray of sunshine. Back in 2010, thousands of experts were asked how quickly the costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems would fall. Their…
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Oklahoma is about to get one of the largest solar cell factories in the US

By Michelle Lewis   04/27/23  
Enel North America has named Oklahoma as its preferred choice for its planned 3-gigawatt (GW) solar panel and cell factory.
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US solar boom on hold as industry awaits subsidy rules

By Joe Lo   04/24/23  
U.S. President Joe Biden’s plan to challenge China’s dominance in solar panel manufacturing hinges in large part on rules his administration will soon release defining what it means for a product to be American-made, according…
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Scientists Develop Semi-Transparent Solar-Powered Roof for Greenhouses

By Paige Bennett   04/06/23  
Scientists have created solar roofs for greenhouses, but these aren’t just any solar panels. A team from UCLA developed semi-transparent organic photovoltaics with added stability, so plants within the greenhouse can still receive sunlight while…
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TV show illuminates forgotten story of female solar energy pioneer

By Erin Blakemore   04/01/23  
Mária Telkes isn’t a household name. But after watching “The Sun Queen,” premiering on PBS’s “American Experience” on Tuesday, you may ask yourself why.
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Two weeks until California slashes rooftop solar incentives

By Sammy Roth   03/30/23  
It’s been nearly a decade since California lawmakers ordered the state’s Public Utilities Commission to revamp a rooftop solar incentive program called net metering. In two weeks, we’ll finally begin to see the consequences of…
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The state that generates much more renewable energy than any other

By Dan Gearino   03/09/23  
Here’s a state-by-state tally of the leaders and laggards for wind, solar and other renewable energy in 2022.
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U.S. solar installations fell 16% in 2022, but market rebounding -report

By Laila Kearney   03/09/23  
The quarterly report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and research firm Wood Mackenzie revised up previous estimates for the year and projected a broad market recovery ahead as the country's solar industry was set…
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Minnesota regulators approve $256M solar farm for farmland in Dodge County

By Mike Hughlett   03/09/23  
County officials had objected because it would be located on more than 1,500 acres of prime farmland.
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Scientists make breakthrough with ‘miracle material’ that may revolutionize solar panels: ‘This could be an absolute game changer’

By Ben Stern   03/02/23  
Solar power is becoming cheaper and easier to get, but that doesn’t mean that it’s perfect. Solar panels that are usually made from silicon have large up-front costs and generally last between 25 and 30…
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The forgotten story of Jimmy Carter’s White House solar panels

02/21/23  
The glass, aluminum, and stainless steel panels reclined at low angles and basked in the sun as the men in suits and ties, flanked by reporters, took to the West Wing roof to look at…
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Republican Operatives Are Astroturfing Opposition to Solar Power

By Molly Taft   02/20/23  
Several grassroots groups opposed to solar projects in local areas may have one thing in common: a Virginia-based group with powerful GOP connections advising them on strategy. National Public Radio and environmental news collective Floodlight…
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Biden earmarks billions for rooftop solar under climate law

By Jennifer A Dlouhy   02/14/23  
In the government’s initial moves to allocate the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, it gave home and community solar a boost but dodged a decision on creating a national green bank.
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Solar Panels Are the Midwest’s New Cash Crop as Green Energy Booms

By Brian Eckhouse and Naureen S. Malik   02/07/23  
The greening of red-state America, well underway in the Sun Belt, is now accelerating in the Midwest. Ohio and Indiana — two Republican-led US states long dependent on coal power — are on the verge…
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Solar Energy Technologies Office

02/07/23  
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the American-Made Net Load Forecasting Prize, which is designed to increase adoption of the state-of-the-art in net load forecasting. The net load…
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