By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Maryland’s status as a solar state has waxed and waned over the years. Under Governor Larry Hogan, the ups and downs have been rather violent. On at least two occasions – most notably the Clean Jobs Act in 2016 – Hogan has vetoed legislation that would have encouraged solar and other clean energy development. And unfortunately, the legislature lacked the votes necessary to overturn them – at least in the Senate. But if Hogan decides to stand in the way now, he’ll have his own Public Utilities Commission with which to contend. After all, the … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Illinois has been in the news a lot over the past year, touting its solar revolution as started by the Future Energy Jobs Act of 2016. Heck, even SolarWakeup got in on the act, holding one of its prized SolarWakeup Live! events there to celebrate. And while much of the hype has been anticipatory, there are real successes going on, too. And one such success is that 19 Walmart and Sam’s Clubs stores will be adding solar to their rooftops by the end of 2019. For those of you who don’t know, both Walmart and … Read More →

The Energy Show: By Barry Cinnamon People complain about their high electric bill almost as often as they complain about the price of gas. And for two good reasons. First, utilities consistently raise their electric rates — not only for inflation, but also to increase their profits. So even if you don’t change your habits, your electric bills will generally keep increasing (like my waistline). Depending on where you live, these rate increases can average 3% -7% per year. The second reason is that we are using more and more electricity. Our 21st century lifestyle is much more energy intensive: … Read More →

By Tony Clifford, CDO of Standard Solar We often talk about how popular solar is, and poll after poll after poll continues to prove it. Polls consistently show overwhelming popular support for solar, and it’s not even close. The latest survey, a messaging poll by Global Strategy Group on behalf of the Solar Energy Industries Association, adds more fuel to the fire. It turns out that no matter what side of the political divide you are on, you support solar—as long as you are educated about the benefits and strengths of it as an electricity source. For example, the survey … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Most solar observers who look at the Midwest and identify what state leads that group of states almost inevitably settle on Minnesota as the far-and-away leader. (Here’s the obligatory note suggesting that Illinois is hot on Minnesota’s tail and that it had better keep moving forward if it wants to remain the name on everyone’s lips when it comes to a Midwestern solar leader). But the Land of 10,000 Lakes (which is actually closer to 15,000, but who’s counting?) is well known for its progressive solar policy, particularly when it comes to community solar, where … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent New York has developed something of an inferiority complex about its renewable energy and storage market. They ceded leadership first to New Jersey, then Vermont (yes, VERMONT, of all places) and now Massachusetts gets the majority of headlines in the Northeast. So New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, no shy retiring flower himself, has made it his life mission to seize back the headlines from his fellow Northeastern states by setting aggressive goals for both renewable energy and storage growth – and he’s not hesitant to tell anyone who is listening how fantastic his plan is … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent In light of other solar industry news on the policy side, it’s easy to forget the hardware portion of the industry is still chugging along despite the obstacles put in front of them like tariffs and other chicanery by policymakers beholden to the fossil fuel interests. But innovations are still going on in the module market, including bifacial modules. Bifacial (literally: two faces) solar modules can generate energy not only from the front side, but from the back side as well. The sunlight on the ground is reflected to the glass-covered back side of the … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent With a decided lack of leadership at the national level on moving clean energy policy forward – and in some cases taking significant steps backward instead – the power to affect change in environmental policy necessarily is defaulting to the city and state level. That’s why the latest numbers from Environment America’s Research and Policy Center’s announcement yesterday that more than 200 mayors across the United States – 216 in fact – have signed its letter calling for more solar energy is such an exciting development. Even more exciting is the fact that the signatories … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent As more renewables are added to the United States’ electrical grid, management of those resources becomes ever more critical. Software that can help utilities integrate more renewables on the grid is becoming ever more critical, and companies that can bring such software to life are leading the way toward a more futuristic, customer-centric grid. Which is why a new partnership between PPL Electric Utilities and GE is so fascinating. PPL Electric Utilities and GE Power Digital announced yesterday a joint initiative to develop and test software to manage and control electricity from renewable and stored … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent I’ve complained for years that the utility business model in the United States is broken. The idea that a centralized electricity production system is more efficient and effective than a decentralized model is one that certainly deserves to be challenged (if not, as would be my preference, tossed aside entirely). Now the Rocky Mountain Institute has released a report suggesting that if there is to be an energy transition in this country – away from polluting fossil fuels and in the direction of clean, renewable energy – that changes to the utility business model aren’t … Read More →