• March 24, 2026

Due to the expansion of legal protection and the implementation of new safety regulations, the development and construction of Massachusetts Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) have become more feasible. Energy storage is known as the 'Swiss Army Knife' because it can achieve a wide range of applications, including peak shaving, grid stability, and distributed generation grid integration. Despite the multifunctionality and growing energy demand of BESS, its development still faces significant obstacles. Local safety issues and inconsistent municipal permit procedures often delay or hinder projects. Despite these challenges, energy storage remains crucial for the Commonwealth's clean energy transition, with the 2024 Clean Energy Act calling for 5000 megawatt hours of energy storage to be achieved by 2030. A major turning point in the development of BESS occurred in the 2025 decision of the Massachusetts Land Court regarding the Daksbury energy storage project. The case argues that federal "solar power supply" applies to independent BESS systems. Solar energy supply regulations: No zoning regulations or bylaws shall prohibit or unreasonably regulate the installation of solar energy systems or promote the construction of structures for solar energy collection, unless necessary to protect public health, safety, or welfare. The court's reasoning is that the legislative body intends to promote solar power generation through solar energy supply, and the regulation explicitly includes structures that support or promote the use of solar energy, including the construction of independent BESS facilities. The court rejected the argument that BESS facilities must only store solar power to meet the protection conditions of the Dover Amendment Solar Energy Clause, expanded the protection scope to such storage systems, and further argued that the BESS structure meets the meaning of the Solar Energy Clause. Therefore, municipal authorities cannot prohibit or unreasonably regulate such systems. Duxbury's ruling is consistent with Massachusetts' long-standing precedents in supporting renewable energy infrastructure, including Tracer Lane II Realty, LLC v. Waltham, where the Supreme Court held that restricting solar energy development without a reasonable purpose to protect public health, safety, or welfare violates the solar energy provisions of the Dover Amendment. In the past few years, applying for permits instead of installation has been a real obstacle to the development of BESS. Duxbury eliminated one level of complexity by forcing the municipal authorities to make BESS requirements essentially the same as solar energy. After the summer of 2025, Massachusetts has been working together to standardize the licensing procedures for all BESS systems. This takes the form of new zoning regulations, which explicitly mention cases such as Duxbury and Tracer Lane, providing a framework for municipal authorities to clarify which restrictions are no longer appropriate ...

• March 23, 2026

The Ohio Power Site Selection Board (OPSB) unanimously voted to reject the construction of a 94 MW agricultural photovoltaic project in Morro County, Ohio. Open Road Renewables is developing the Crossroads solar grazing center on 570 acres of land between the towns of Cardington, Lincoln, and Westfield. The solar project will be built on several different plots of land in Moro County and will host sheep grazing activities. Open Road initially applied for project permission in February 2025, with a project schedule starting construction in 2027 and operation in 2028. According to reports, Crossroads has obtained possible approval through the licensing process, but has faced local opposition during the public review period in the past few months. During this period, the majority of anonymously submitted comments were against the construction of Crossroads, and according to Canary Media, there were also 34 opposing comments submitted under pseudonyms. The Ohio Environmental Commission intervened in this case to ensure that decisions are based on facts, fairness, and the long-term interests of the people of Ohio. When objective analysis is overturned and public opinion takes precedence over its substantive content, it weakens people's trust in the process and makes it more difficult to build the energy system needed in Ohio, "said Nolan Rutschilling, Executive Director of Energy Policy at the Ohio Environmental Commission. Simply put, Ohio now needs more clean energy generation to address the soaring costs associated with data centers and geopolitical pressures on the energy supply chain. Staff changed this decision at the last minute, creating an uncertain regulatory environment that will hinder future investments by energy developers Although OPSB unanimously voted against the continued development of Crossroads, non voting state senator Kent Smith expressed concern that the committee may reject solar projects during a period of rising energy costs. At the same meeting, OPSB voted to approve a three-year extension of exemptions with Ohio natural gas supplier Columbia Gas and modified the certificates for proposed energy storage and solar projects. On Wednesday, the Ohio Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) also approved an increase in rates for Ohio AEP utility customers. The goal of PUCO and the organization is to have sufficient supply and affordable electricity supply. If we were to deny the ability of solar energy to compete in the Ohio market, I believe this would lead to Ohio consumers artificially raising prices... I am concerned that this project may initially be approved but ultimately rejected. I think this is a dangerous thing for the state's capacity and reliability, "Smith said. Another reason against solar energy is the state legislature. State Senators George Lang (R-52) and Mark Romanchuk (R-22) jointly drafted a bill that, if passed, would change Ohio's definition of "clean energy," which does not include wind, energy storage, or sol...

• March 20, 2026

Terabase Energy announced that its automated solar panel construction platform Terafab is ready for commercial transportation. The first generation Terafab has been deployed in five solar projects, and Terafab V2 has now been launched on the market. Terafab achieves automation of solar energy construction through artificial intelligence and autonomous robotics technology. Terafab Energy CEO and co-founder Matt Campbell said, "Our developed technology enables the deployment of the safest, fastest, and lowest cost solar energy. Terafab is a physical artificial intelligence applied in one of the largest infrastructure constructions in history. ”We shorten the construction schedule every week, which means project owners can earn income earlier, reduce financing costs, and deliver clean electronics to the grid faster. This is the advantage of power generation speed. Factory automation has been widely demonstrated indoors, where indoor conditions are controlled and predictable. Terafab operates in completely different outdoor environments. Terabase has invested years in research and development to design a system that can provide factory level accuracy and throughput year-round in uncontrolled conditions on active construction sites, ranging from fine desert dust and triple digit heat to wind, rain, and mud.

• March 18, 2026

Idemitsu Renewables' Azalea solar and energy storage project achieved commercial operation on December 31, bringing 60 MW of solar energy and 38 MW of AC/152 MWh of energy storage capacity to Kern County, California. According to the long-term power purchase agreement signed with Sonoma Clean Power Authority (SCP), Azalea will provide clean renewable energy to the California power grid. This facility combines photovoltaic technology with battery storage to improve grid stability and optimize energy delivery during peak demand periods. The construction is led by SOLV Energy, a renewable energy EPC service provider. The battery energy storage system stores daytime power generation and schedules energy during nighttime and peak demand periods. The achievement of COD in Azalea highlights our team's ability to deliver complex renewable energy projects with environmental and economic value, "said Cary Vandenberg, CEO of Light Renewable Energy Company. We are honored to collaborate with forward thinking organizations such as United Bank, Mizuho Bank, Deutsche Bank, and Sonoma Clean Energy to advance California's clean energy goals. The project will generate sufficient clean electricity annually to power approximately 20000 households in Sonoma County and Mendocino County.

• March 17, 2026

Three companies are collaborating to build a community solar investment portfolio in New Mexico, consisting of 8 projects and 48.4 megawatts. These arrays are one of the first to be built in the New Community Solar Program in New Mexico. Pluma Construction in New Mexico is developing a community solar product portfolio with the support of ForeFront Power. Standard Solar has acquired these projects and will own and operate them upon completion. Solstice Power Technologies will handle customer subscription matters during operation. Making community solar plans a reality in New Mexico will greatly benefit residents across the state, "said Chris Pacheco, founder of Pluma Construction. This is an important step in New Mexico's pursuit of a clean and affordable energy future. We are pleased to partner with Forefront Power and now with Standard Solar and Solstice, who will drive operations, subscriptions, and customer acquisition. As these projects unfold, their leadership will reassure me and my fellow New Mexico citizens. ” These projects will be built on both public and private land - several of which are located on land under the New Mexico Land Trust Fund. The first few projects have been completed, and the remaining projects are expected to be launched throughout the year. Eric Partyka, Director of Business Development at Standard Solar, said, "The community solar market in New Mexico is growing rapidly, and the real milestone is getting the project into operation to start generating electricity and save users' monthly electricity bills." "As a long-term owner and operator, we are pleased to partner with Pluma and ForeFront to help put this product portfolio into commercial operation. We will continue to operate these sites with the discipline and reliability expected by users, so that customers can see sustained bill savings and communities can access sustainable clean energy as the project scales up. ” The first community solar project in New Mexico was completed by Affordable Solar in Texas in October. The state enacted the Community Solar Energy Act in 2021, but its implementation has been slow due to regulatory and utility barriers.

• March 16, 2026

Shelf manufacturer DCE Solar is installing the first Tracker Twin single axis tracker manufactured by Axial Structural Solutions in the United States. Tracker Twin is a dual row single axis tracker designed in collaboration between DCE and Spanish manufacturer Axial Structural Solutions. The tracker is being manufactured domestically in the United States. Tracker Twin is designed specifically for the structural stability and adaptive site configuration of utility scale solar projects. Compared to other tracker models, its dual row architecture reduces the number of driver units required for tracking. DCE founder and CEO Bill Taylor said, "This installation reflects our confidence in our products, partners, and employees." "Our collaboration with Axial allows us to introduce a highly engineered tracker platform to the US market while leveraging DCE's integrated platform advantages in rack, installation, and electrical design. Launching Tracker Twin in the United States is an important milestone, and our team is executing with the discipline and precision required for this scale. ” The first project using Tracker Twin is currently under construction in New York. Its installation subsidiary DCE Services is responsible for the mechanical and electrical construction of the project.

• March 12, 2026

MBS International Airport is a municipal airport in Freeland, Michigan, and its multi-stage solar powered garage project is about to be completed. The first phase of the project was completed in September and connected to the grid on February 27th. Energy efficiency and solar company Veregy is currently constructing two phases of the project. A 342 kW solar canopy array covers nearly 200 parking spaces. After completion, MBS became the first airport in Michigan to have a solar powered covered parking lot. The garage is equipped with lighting and bird deterrent devices, and the airport is installing electric vehicle chargers for passenger cars and electric aircraft. The second phase of the project will have a 646 kW solar canopy and 216 kW ground solar energy. MBS was recently named the Michigan Department of Transportation's Commercial Airport of the Year, partly due to its solar energy projects and electrification initiatives. These upgrades are fully funded by the airport. James Canders, Executive Director of MBS, said: "MBS is proud of our partnership with Veregy, which enables us to transform the terminal parking lot into a dual purpose power plant and passenger convenience facility. ”Being named MDOT Commercial Airport of the Year is a testament to the hard work of our team. This project not only reduces our energy consumption, but also provides our passengers with a first-class service level that cannot be found anywhere else in the state. ” After the completion of the second phase of the project, the airport plans to hold an official ribbon cutting ceremony in the spring of 2026.

• March 11, 2026

Tracker manufacturer FTC Solar has signed a five-year, 1GW supply agreement with US developer Strata Clean Energy. FTC Solar President and CEO Yann Brandt said, "When we completed our first 500 MW 2P project with Strata, we are thrilled to collaborate with them again to develop another 1 GW of future projects. ”We are proud of our product portfolio, which we believe includes the fastest and easiest to install trackers on the market. We will continue to drive innovation to ensure we provide our customers with the best products and services on every project The previous three-year 500 MW supply agreement was launched in September 2024 to provide Strata with FTC's Voyager 2P (Two Person) solar tracker. The first project in the latest supply agreement will begin construction in 2027. We have seen significant improvements in labor efficiency and cost savings with the use of FTC trackers, "said Markus Wilhelm, CEO of Strata. Their tracker is very easy to install, and we appreciate their continued focus on innovation and customer support. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the coming years The Federal Trade Commission is preparing to expand its domestic supply of solar trackers, citing concerns about upcoming foreign entity and domestic project requirements. The company acquired the remaining shares of Alpha Steel Company, a joint venture steel plant located in Xili, Texas. FTC has already produced solar tracker components, such as torque tubes, at Alpha Steel. In addition, in August, FTC launched a new Pioneer+High Wind tracker, which is a new model of its 1P (all-in-one) Pioneer single axis tracker designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.

• March 10, 2026

Avangrid, a member of Iberdrola Group, has completed the installation of a 166 MW DC tower solar project in Morro County, Oregon. This project uses SEG solar panels assembled in Houston. The project is expected to achieve commercial operation by the end of this year. This is an important milestone for Tower Solar, demonstrating how investments in US energy infrastructure can drive national economic growth, "said Jose Antonio Miranda, CEO of Avangrid. Assembling modules in Texas supports employment and manufacturing in the United States, and project construction is cultivating local labor. Once completed, operations will strengthen the region's power grid with new electricity to meet growing demand. This project will provide energy for the Portland General Electric (PGE) power grid and help support the new QTS data center campus in the area. SEG Solar CEO Jim Wood said, "SEG Solar is honored to support Avangrid's tower solar project by providing high-quality modules produced at its Houston factory. ”This project demonstrates our ongoing commitment to product quality, excellent manufacturing, and building strong partnerships in the US market. Tower Solar is located west of Bodman, Oregon, on approximately 900 acres of industrial land owned by Morro Harbor. Avangrid has created approximately 200 construction jobs, most of which are held by regional union workers. Tower Solar is expected to pay approximately $20 million in PILOT and property taxes to support various public services, including education. Tower Solar will supply power to the PGE grid through Green Future Impact (GFI), a voluntary program aimed at helping large municipal, commercial, and industrial clients achieve their ambitious sustainability and carbon reduction goals by developing new clean energy facilities in the region. PGE's GFI program allows major clients to choose non emission energy sources without increasing costs for other clients. All customers benefit from energy, but plan participants need to pay additional fees for the clean energy they choose.