In this week’s weekly news round-up, we discuss an important announcement in electric vehicle technology and We Energies reveals a new large scale solar installation in Milwaukee.
Continue readingWhat’s happening to net metering in California? A Q&A with CALSSA
California has historically been the best market for solar in the US, and the success of the solar industry as a whole can largely be traced back to the success of solar in California. In fact, out of the more than 2.5 million residential solar installations in the US, more than 1.2 million are in California alone!
However, the future of solar in California –and of residential solar in particular–hangs in the balance. In a current review of the future of net metering in the state, a series of proposals before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recommend significantly reducing the value of residential net metering credits. For a sense of the types of proposals submitted, check out this joint proposal from the major utilities in the state, which would reduce residential net metering credits to 23 percent of their value today and impose a monthly fee on solar owners of nearly $80 per month, making new residential solar all but impossible in the state.
Continue readingHow many solar panels do I need for my home?
It’s no use installing just one solar panel–you’ll need more than that to reap the financial benefits of a solar panel system. While the answer isn’t always so simple, we’ve put together some example cases to help you understand, at a high level, how many solar panels you need to install an effective solar array.
Continue readingMast Landing Brewing Company saves money and protects the environment with community solar
Homeowners, renters, and business owners alike can all look to community solar as a way to save energy and protect the environment. For Ian Dorsey, President & CEO of Mast Landing Brewing Company, community solar was the perfect solution to a long-term desire for his company: to reap the environmental and financial benefits from solar without an upfront financial investment that a small craft brewery can’t afford.
Continue readingSolar monitoring systems: Enphase vs. SolarEdge
A solar monitoring system can help you evaluate your PV system’s performance. It offers information about energy consumption and generation, optimizing energy usage, and damage to your solar system, among other data. It’s important to monitor your solar setup in some manner – without monitoring, it can be difficult to figure out if your solar panels are operating at the level they should be.
Continue readingSolar news: March 5th, 2021
In this week’s news roundup, a popular solar loan company hits an exciting milestone, and the U.S. shattered its quarterly storage deployment record (yes, again!).
Continue reading500-watt panels: a technology update not to miss
Technology in the solar industry is advancing at a rapid pace. Solar equipment continues to become more powerful and more resilient while becoming less expensive. With so many news stories to track, it can be easy to miss the occasional new technology. But here’s a technology announcement that shouldn’t be missed: Trina Solar just released 500-watt panels.
Continue readingEVs vs. ICEs: which is better for the environment?
Electric vehicles (EVs) promise a cleaner transportation future – but just how true is that vision? Let’s take a look at a few European studies comparing EVs to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and let the data speak for itself.
Continue readingUsed solar panels: are they right for you?
Some of the lowest prices for solar equipment can be found on sites like eBay, where people can post their used solar panels for sale a discounted price. In this article, we will look into the used solar panel market, and whether buying panels from a reseller is the best option for your home solar setup.
Continue readingSolar leases vs. solar PPAs: solar financing options for a low-maintenance solar energy system
Many solar installers advertise solar leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs) as an easy way to reduce your electricity bill. And they’re not wrong; if you’re interested in a simple, low-maintenance way to install a solar panel system for your home, leasing solar panels may be a good option for you.
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