• August 15, 2025

Residential solar projects are usually built on the roof by default, as homeowners typically have a roof but may not have space in their yard to install solar arrays. If there is enough space outside the residential area to install solar energy, installing and maintaining photovoltaic arrays will be more advantageous and, in some cases, more economical. Taylor Mills runs Advancing Solar Solutions, a photovoltaic contractor located in Ripley, West Virginia. He is one of the few residential installers who works more on ground installations than on rooftops. He estimates that 65% of his business comes from ground mounted solar projects, with a portion coming from rural areas in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, which typically have ample land for such construction. I will never receive a phone call again saying, 'Hey, my roof is leaking, I think it's because of the solar panels you installed.' I no longer have to answer calls to install solar panels on the ground, "Mills said. Although this situation is not common, the cost of installing ground-based solar cell arrays by Advancing Solar Solutions is lower than that of rooftop projects. Mills shared a pricing example for a solar project that installed both rooftop and ground solar arrays for a client, with the latter being cheaper by over $3000. The cost difference is mainly due to Mills' tendency to use Enphase micro inverters in rooftop projects to meet fast shutdown needs and provide module level monitoring for customers. However, some cost saving advantages are not limited to the selection of components. Compared to courtyards, roof space may be limited. Rooftop solar arrays may be able to meet most of a household's energy needs, but the exact quantity depends on available space, while ground mounted solar arrays can provide over 100% of energy, using solar energy to deliver more electricity to the grid, resulting in higher net metering compensation and shorter system investment payback period. Hilary Fiene, Chief Office Manager of Stateline Solar, stated that the prices for residential floor and roof installations are comparable. Stateline Solar's customers are located in rural communities and towns, with approximately half of the company's residential solar power generation coming from ground installations. Rural people can choose rooftop installation instead of ground installation, while those living in the city usually can only choose rooftop installation, "Fien said. The approval process in most towns does not allow for ground installation. However, due to the large number of rural residents in our region, this has given us more opportunities for ground installation. Compared to rooftop projects, the cost of installing support structures on the ground is higher. These systems use steel brackets that need to be driven into the ground, fixed to a concrete base, or secured using non penetrating heavy-duty ballast blocks. Then connect the steel brackets to these brackets to secure the solar...

• August 14, 2025

Pivot Energy, a national independent renewable energy producer, and the University of Colorado Boulder officially started construction on a 5-megawatt DC virtual net metering solar project in Wilde County, Colorado last week. This milestone marks a new phase in the partnership first announced by both parties in July 2024, and will support the university's broader clean energy goals while advancing its climate action plan. Pivot Energy will develop, own, and operate the off-site project, which is expected to be completed in early 2026. According to a 20-year subscription agreement, the University of Colorado Boulder will benefit from the virtual net measurement program established by Colorado Senate Bill 21-261 in 2021. This project allows the university to subscribe to off-site energy production and earn points in its electricity bills, as well as 100% renewable energy credits for the project. The solar cell array will also offset the electricity consumption of the University of Colorado Boulder and advance its Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission target of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The project is cost neutral. Justin Schwartz, President of the University of Colorado Boulder, said, "The collaboration with Pivot Energy is a powerful example of how the University of Colorado Boulder leads the future with goals. We are not just talking about sustainable development - we are integrating it into our operations in a way that is both financially responsible and environmentally beneficial. ” After the completion of the project, it is expected to generate approximately 9.5 million kilowatt hours of solar energy annually. The approximately 8000 solar panels laid end-to-end in the project are enough to fill four football fields. In addition, the project will also integrate agricultural photovoltaic systems. From April to October each year, about 100 sheep will provide on-site "sheep house management" services to manage vegetation. Local ranchers will provide additional pastures at the project site. Mat Elmore, Senior Vice President of Strategic Clients at Pivot Energy, stated, "Pivot Energy is honored to collaborate with the University of Colorado Boulder on this project and looks forward to its commencement. For the largest university in Colorado and Pivot, this is a win-win situation - it not only helps the University of Colorado Boulder achieve its renewable energy goals, but also accelerates the country's transition to solar energy.

• August 12, 2025

A real estate investment group plans to transform an unfinished nuclear power plant site into an advanced manufacturing park, based on the new polysilicon manufacturer Highland Materials. The original site of the Phipsbend Nuclear Power Plant in Hawkins County, Tennessee, covering approximately 140 acres, is planned to be transformed into a "high-power, heavy-duty infrastructure destination. The nuclear power plant already has a regional transmission interconnection line owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and a 1-megawatt solar project completed in 2017. David Robbins, Managing Partner of Pivot Manufacturing Partners, said, "We are honored to invest in a unique location like Phipps Bend to support the development of Northeast Tennessee. The park integrates excellent critical mission infrastructure, rare high-voltage interconnection systems, and a licensed environment influenced by nuclear heritage - all located in an area eager for transformational capital investment. We are honored to collaborate with Highland Materials to advance their planned factory construction, and look forward to continuing to work with all local partners to make Phipps Bend the preferred destination for the next generation of high-power industrial revival. ” The Phipsbend Nuclear Power Plant was initially developed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the late 1970s as a nuclear power plant. After the Three Mile Island nuclear accident, the project was cancelled in the early 1980s but was ultimately not completed. Although the nuclear power plant has never been put into operation, it still retains important historical heritage: important public infrastructure, strategic position in the TVA transmission network, and regional development concepts rooted in energy intensive industries. At least in the past year, there have been rumors that Highland Materials will establish a new polysilicon product factory at Phipps Bend. The company obtained a qualified advanced energy project credit (48C) of $255.6 million under the Inflation Reduction Act last year. At that time, the company stated that its initial annual production of solar grade polycrystalline silicon would be 16000 tons, and it would expand to 20000 tons, equivalent to producing 11 gigawatts of solar cells annually. Richard Lasseter, CEO of Highland Materials, stated that partnering with Pivot Manufacturing Partners is a crucial step in driving the development of Highland's polycrystalline silicon manufacturing plant in the Phipps Bend project. We are excited about the market opportunities, job opportunities created, capital investment, and continued support from the community and state government that this project brings. ”

• August 11, 2025

Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company, announced the installation of a 200 kilowatt solar system at Levi's Plaza. Levi's Plaza is an office park covering nearly 1 million square feet, located on the waterfront waterfront in the northern part of San Francisco. Jamestown has partnered with commercial energy solutions provider Wunder to deploy the solar system, which was put into use in June of this year. The Levi's Plaza project is part of a broader collaboration with Wunder aimed at evaluating and deploying solar energy in suitable locations for Jamestown real estate investment portfolios and development projects. Rooftop solar energy is part of a $50 million renovation project that also includes eliminating on-site fossil fuels, converting heating systems into electricity, and offsetting remaining emissions. Alex Schwiebert, Senior Vice President and West Coast Regional Market Leader at Jamestown, stated that achieving net zero operational carbon emissions requires a multi pronged approach, and deploying a robust solar system at Levi's Plaza is a key component of this strategy. It has been proven that sustainable development initiatives like this are a key driving force in attracting tenants while also reducing energy costs. ” Levi's Plaza is located along the Embarcadero waterfront in the northern waterfront market of San Francisco. Founded in 1981, it is the headquarters of the iconic clothing brand Levi's. Jamestown acquired this nine building park in 2019 and is committed to preserving the characteristics and significance of its open space designed by renowned landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, while also providing new amenities and higher efficiency for modern employees. The tenant base of Levi's Plaza is diverse, including Levi Strauss&Company, Snap, and Supercell.

• August 08, 2025

The Eland solar+energy storage project developed by Arevon Energy is now fully operational. The project is divided into two phases and is located near the Mojave Desert in Kern County. It is one of the largest solar+energy storage facilities in the United States, with a total investment of over $2 billion. The Eland project consists of 758 MW DC solar power generation facilities and 300 MW/1200 MWh energy storage systems. The Eland Phase I project will be put into commercial operation by the end of 2024, while the Eland Phase II project has recently been fully operational - consisting of 1.36 million solar panels and 172 lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, "We are building a greener Los Angeles. Arevon's Eland solar+energy storage project alone can provide enough electricity to over 266000 households in Los Angeles and increase the city's clean energy share to over 60%. This is an important milestone in Los Angeles' transition to 100% clean energy by 2035. ”This is the future of clean energy in Los Angeles - I want to thank the Los Angeles Water and Electricity Authority, Arevon, and all the partners who made this moment possible. ” The energy produced and stored by Arevon's Eland has signed a long-term agreement with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) to deliver it to its members, the Los Angeles Water and Electricity Authority (LADWP) and the Glendale Water and Electricity Authority (GWP). Arevon CEO Kevin Smith said, "The launch of the Eland solar+energy storage project is a milestone achievement for Arevon. Eland is not only the largest project in our investment portfolio, but also provides reliable and affordable energy on a large scale, demonstrating our team's leadership in driving the future development of renewable energy in California. ”The close cooperation between project landowners and community members, as well as our power purchase and financing partners, is crucial to our achievement. We are pleased to provide stable and safe local electricity to Los Angeles residents and contribute to the state's renewable energy goals - while supporting local communities and investing in long-term sustainable development Tesla batteries are locally produced in Las Rop, California, and can efficiently and quickly release electricity during peak usage periods, enhancing California's energy security, especially in extreme heat, power restrictions, and power outages. The construction of Eland 1&2 nuclear power plants has created approximately 1000 job opportunities, and it is expected that the project will pay over $36 million to the local government throughout its entire lifecycle to support school, public service, and necessary infrastructure upgrades.

• August 07, 2025

D3Energy has officially launched a plan to build a 6-megawatt floating solar system for Monroeville Village, which will become Ohio's largest floating solar installation and one of the largest floating solar installations in the United States. The system, led by the village of Monroeville and developed in collaboration with D3Energy, will be connected to the local distribution network in Monroeville, providing clean and renewable energy for households and businesses throughout the community. According to a long-term power purchase agreement, Monroeville Village will purchase electricity from the project owner Gardner Capital. Stetson Tchividjian, Managing Director of D3Energy, said, "We are honored to have collaborated with Monroeville in the early stages of this project. Their foresight and perseverance have been key to our current achievements. Monroeville has long been a leader in the energy sector, and through this project, they will utilize more green energy than many larger counties and cities across the country. They have set a bold example and demonstrated how rural communities can play an important role in promoting clean energy development The project utilizes the existing reservoir in the village, saving over 30 acres of land that was originally needed for traditional ground installation systems. In addition to saving land, floating solar energy also has environmental benefits such as reducing evaporation and improving water quality. D3Energy has formed the same team as the successful delivery of the Del Co Water floating solar project in 2023, and has once again partnered with Gardner Capital and local contractor ARP Solar to provide support for the installation in Monroeville. They have extensive experience in floating solar energy development and extensive field experience in Ohio. At present, the project is under construction and is expected to be put into use in early 2026.

• August 06, 2025

If approved by local and state government officials, the new stadium of Virginia minor league baseball teams will soon be equipped with a 1 megawatt solar system The Richmond Flying Squirrels are a Class 2A affiliate team of the San Francisco Giants and will play the 2026 season at the newly constructed CarMax Park stadium. This new stadium will become a landmark building in Richmond's newly named Diamond District, which is currently undergoing reconstruction. After the end of the 2026 season, Dominion Energy Virginia plans to install over 1700 solar panels on the double layered roof of the CarMax Park stadium and build five solar covered carports in adjacent parking lots. We are pleased that this iconic building in Richmond can provide our customers with reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean electricity, "said Ed Baine, Executive Vice President of Utility Operations and President of Dominion Energy Virginia If approved by regulatory agencies, the project will further strengthen Dominion Energy's growing solar power facilities in Virginia. The sports stadium project will also assist the company in utilizing previously developed land to construct some power generation projects. This solar project embodies a comprehensive collaborative approach that is crucial for achieving Richmond's clean energy goals. It is a great example of how public, private, and community partners can work together to create a more resilient and sustainable future, "said Laura Thomas, Director of the Richmond City Office of Sustainable Development

• August 05, 2025

Wood Mackenzie has released a new report exploring the impact of the Package of Beautiful Acts (HR1) on the US residential solar market. The analysis team found that canceling the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under Article 25D would hinder short-term growth, but the long-term potential remains strong. It is expected that growth will resume after 2028. The latest insight report by Wood Mackenzie, "Short term Challenges and Long term Potential: Evaluating the Potential Market for Household Solar Energy in the United States," points out that compared to the "business as usual" baseline scenario in the second quarter, HR1 predicts that household solar installed capacity may decrease by up to 46% by 2030. Cancelling the Household Investment Tax Credit (ITC) will make it more difficult for homeowners to afford solar energy, causing significant disruption to the market in the short term. Many companies will no longer be able to continue operating, "said Zoe Gaston, the head of Wood Mackenzie. However, the market will eventually adapt, and the remaining participants will diversify and find ways to cut costs. In addition, the rise in retail prices will continue to make the value proposition of household solar energy more attractive Despite these short-term challenges, the report reveals enormous long-term opportunities. It is expected that by 2050, the total addressable market (TAM) for residential solar energy will reach nearly 1500 gigawatts. This analysis uses the data of the U.S. Census Bureau and Wood Mackenzie to estimate that by 2050, there will be about 92 million self occupied single family homes in the United States. After excluding inappropriate properties and properties with existing solar installations, there will be more than 70 million new residential solar energy in the next 25 years. Even in Wood Mackenzie's conservative 25 year low value scenario (assuming TAM penetration rate is only 12%), the market will still increase residential solar capacity by 150 gigawatts by 2050. However, in 25 years, many things could change, including advances in technology and products, evolution of business models, and cost reductions, all of which could accelerate the growth of household solar energy, "Gaston added. We expect the final outcome to be more positive than the low value scenario we predicted

• August 04, 2025

California apartment owners and managers who provide housing for low-income residents can now save significant energy storage system costs through the state's Multi Family Affordable Housing Solar (SOMAH) program. The new incentive measures enable eligible properties to pair energy storage systems with solar systems at lower prices, thereby increasing residents' energy resilience and reducing long-term electricity costs. The energy storage system must be paired with the new SOMAH solar device. Based on the system size and tenant benefits, incentive measures can cover up to 100% of the cost of eligible energy storage projects. As long as the energy storage system primarily serves tenant units, public areas, or both, it can receive funding. By capturing excess solar energy, energy storage systems can reduce utility bills, provide backup power during power outages, and support California's transition to clean and resilient energy. Anna Taleysnik Mehta, Senior Project Manager of SOMAH at the Sustainable Energy Center, said, "In the event of a planned power outage or emergency, the energy storage system can ensure that the lights are on, the refrigerator is cooling, and the phone is charging. Using stored solar energy during the peak electricity price period is also a wise move to manage the energy costs of real estate Over the next seven years, the state has allocated nearly $184 million to incentivize energy storage projects. To qualify, energy storage projects must meet existing SOMAH eligibility requirements, including serving low-income households subject to contract restrictions, and be located within the utility service areas of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, Liberty Utilities, or PacifiCorp. Other recent changes to the SOMAH program include expanding the funding for roof maintenance required for installing solar energy and simplifying the approval and payment processes in areas with lower participation in the program. SOMAH is a program of the California Public Utilities Commission that provides clean solar energy and monthly water and electricity credits to hundreds of thousands of low-income residents who would otherwise be unable to use renewable energy at home. Since its launch in 2019, SOMAH has allocated and reserved over $240 million in incentives to support more than 100 megawatts of solar power capacity, serving over 59000 tenants across the state. This is the largest low-income solar project in the United States. SOMAH's unique community-based approach ensures long-term economic benefits for low-income families and homeowners, helps accelerate the development of the multi family residential solar market, and creates employment opportunities for disadvantaged and low-income communities.