Does your city generate a lot of solar energy? Rankings offer surprises.

Sustainable energy is popular far from liberal strongholds, particularly among Central Valley farmers.

By MARTIN WISCKOL | Orange County Register

Solar energy use throughout the state and the nation is expanding rapidly — and it’s not just liberal strongholds embracing the transition away from fossil fuels.

While Los Angeles produces the most total solar power nationwide, Bakersfield and Fresno generate more on a per person basis — and all three outproduce San Francisco, according to the new “Shining Cities 2020” study by Environment California.Read More


Power purchase agreements: what you need to know

By Kerry Thoubboron

There are many $0-down financing options available for going solar, including both ownership (i.e. solar loan) or third-party-owned (i.e. leases) solutions. Many homeowners looking for an easy, low-cost, maintenance-free way to install a solar panel system move forward with a power purchase agreement (PPA). In this article, we’ll give you an overview of solar PPAs and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this financing solution to help you decide whether it’s the best option for you.Read More


Report: 38 Percent Energy CFOs Say Solar Will Be the Most Dominant Form of Alternative Energy by 2023

By Meredith Galante

In a new study, Energy Goes Green, released by BDO, energy sector CFOs reported that solar power will be the most dominant form of alternative energy in the United States by 2023.

The study details forces driving the transition towards alternative energy sources. The survey features the thoughts of 100 CFOs at oil and gas and power generation companies, revealing that energy executives are focused on striking a balance between navigating short-term uncertainty and volatile markets, but also planning for a green future.Read More


Lifestyle Choices Impact How Humans Age. The Same Goes for Wind and Solar Plants.

U.S. wind and solar farms are living longer, more productive lives than ever before, according to Berkeley Lab researchers.

By RYAN WISER AND MARK BOLINGER

Aging is a fact of life, for people and equipment alike. But the negative impact of aging on wind and solar power plants is being reduced thanks to maturing technologies and commercial practices. Researchers at Berkeley Lab have taken a new look at how wind and solar generators are performing in the field, leveraging data from the sizable U.S. utility-scale wind and solar fleets.

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Bipartisan Appeal: Solar Can Span the Aisle and Bridge the Gaps

As Seen In: SEIA.org/blog

As Congress considers how best to revive our ailing economy, investing in homegrown solar energy could jumpstart investment and create jobs. Solar energy isn’t a niche technology: there are now more than 2.5 million solar systems installed in every state and before the pandemic 250,000 Americans had a solar job.

The latest polls show overwhelming support for expanding clean energyRead More


Solar O&M Shortcuts Lead to Higher Costs Later, Experts Say

By EMMA FOEHRINGER MERCHANT 

Two separate analyses from Origis Services and Wood Mackenzie suggest that cost-cutting now for maintaining solar projects leads to greater expenses down the road.

Prices for utility-scale solar operations and maintenance contracts have dropped across the globe in recent years, driven by competitive auctions and fewer services being provided. But prices at the bottom of the range (approximately $3 to $5 per kilowatt per year) are not without their drawbacks, experts say.  Read More


“Sense” explains how COVID has changed home energy usage

By Chris Crowell

Based on an analysis of changes in home energy trends across the country since COVID-19, Sense found that the average home electrical usage increased 22 percent compared to 2019, a reflection of people using more electricity while they stayed home. With this increase, most consumers will pay 22% more on their April electricity bill compared to April 2019, with a typical increase of $22-$25, and higher in states with steeper utility rates.Read More


The Future Of U.S. Solar Is Bright

 

This is the first of a multi-part series on the state of the main sources of energy in the US and how they compare globally. The series will cover solar, wind, oil & gas, coal, nuclear, and geothermal (so far) and will answer the same four questions for each.Read More


Take Advantage of Current Markets, Lock in DRP Coverage

By Anna-Lisa Laca, Daily Herd Management  |  May 14, 2020

When USDA awarded contracts to dairy processors for the Food for Family box program, milk markets reacted positively and for the past few days have been experiencing a rally. Don’t let this opportunity to enroll in Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) pass you by, warns Jenny Wackershauser.Read More


How to read your PG&E bill

By Kerry Thoubboron | March 16, 2020

If you live in California, there’s a good chance that you’re a customer of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). This company, based in San Francisco, provides natural gas and electricity to about 16 million people throughout northern California, making it one of the largest utilities in the United States. Many electricity customers throughout the country receive their electric bill every month and pay it without really diving into the details of what they’re actually paying for…and we’re here to help break it down. In this article, we’ll review the most important parts of a PG&E electricity bill, and how that changes once you install solar panels.

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