Solar Farms Taking Root in North Carolina
Helen Livingston's family has owned a 300-acre farm near Maxton for generations. Now 45 acres of the land is covered with more than 26,000 dark solar panels, making it part of a growing movement to harvest electricity from the sun.Solar farms like Livingston's are cropping up all over North Carolina, shining rays of hope on economically depressed areas by bringing jobs, a constant stream of revenue and the potential to attract eco-friendly industry and economic investment.
Solar Leasing Grows in Delaware
Delaware residents are embracing a program that allows homeowners to lease solar panels without making large upfront investments in the technology, the company that offers the service is reporting.SolarCity, which formally entered Delaware in February when it opened a warehouse in this state, recently has made a push on the East Coast to expand its business model of placing its solar panels on customers’ homes, generating electricity that leads to lower customer utility bills.
Utility Scale Solar Farms are Fueling U.S. Growth
It is no coincidence that companies like Innovative Solar Systems have expanded and are now primarily only developing and building solar farm projects that are over 20MW in size. By increasing the size of these solar farm projects in the U.S many things happen: the cost to lease the land goes down, the cost of the equipment is less and of course the labor to construct and build these massive solar farm projects are much less. Softer costs like legal, environmental studies and engineering can also be less if spread over the entire size of the project.
The Reality Of Arizona's Solar Industry
Give or take a few hazy mornings or dust storm-influenced afternoons, the sun shines in Phoenix more than 300 days a year. That’s been one of the consistent selling points on why the Valley — and the state of Arizona overall — should be the center of the universe of the solar industry.Reality, though, indicates something a lot different. We spoke to Tom Kimbis, vice president of executive affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Solar Set for Major Role in US Energy Mix, Says EIA
PV is set to become the second most important source of power in the US after natural gas by 2040, according to the US government's Energy Information Administration (EIS). The EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2014 predicts the overall rate of new electric generation capacity between now and 2040 will slow compared to recent years, but that solar will become an increasingly important part of the picture.
Iowa Supreme Court Ruling to Boost Solar Power, Trade Group Says
An Iowa Supreme Court ruling may spur growth of solar energy in the state, according to an industry group.The decision, "clears the air", Ken Johnson a spokesman for the Washington-based Solar Energy Industries Association, said in an interview today. “It’s going to make Iowa a more viable market for solar investors.”
CEO Of Sunrun: Solar Energy Is On The Rise
Solar energy is slowly but surely making its way into the mainstream, with individual consumers installing panels atop their homes and companies like Apple investing heavily in the energy source.To learn a bit more about the history and state of solar energy, Business Insider chatted with Lynn Jurich, the CEO of Sunrun.
Massachusetts Boy Scouts Go Solar
Massachusetts-based installer Nexamp and Mohegan Council, Boy Scouts of America announced the start of operations of the 6-MW solar facility at the Treasure Valley Scout Reservation in Rutland, Mass. The project – among the largest solar arrays in New England – will provide a steady source of income for the Boy Scouts as well as substantial savings for local municipalities.
Solar Companies Shine a Light on the South Shore
Solar companies are zeroing in on South Shore middle-income families as an untapped market for residential installations. More than 286 solar-related companies are operating in Massachusetts, employing 6,400 people, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. SolarCity, the San Mateo, Calif.-based solar panel installer backed by billionaire investor Elon Musk, is increasing its employee base by about 100 in Massachusetts. It opened a 7,500-square-foot operations center in Pembroke in May, supporting its 2-year-old operations center in Marlboro.
Canadian Solar Sells 10-Megawatt Ontario Power Project
Concord, an affiliate of Vancouver-based real estate developer Concord Pacific Developments Inc., bought the Val Caron project in Greater Sudbury, valued at more than C$60 million ($56.4 million).