• October 14, 2026

The first batch of cranberries has been harvested from the marshes where two solar projects are located—one at the Black Cat Agrivoltaic Project in Plymouth and the other at the Ring Road Agrivoltaic Project in Kingston, both situated in Massachusetts. These projects are owned by developer Greenbacker Renewables and installed by Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI). Ian Ward, a cranberry grower who manages wetlands, was deeply involved in the design and construction process to ensure the sensitive wetland environment remained intact. "The DEI team has excelled in understanding and transforming solar energy construction, enabling energy production to coexist with perennial crop systems without causing harm," he said. "These projects demonstrate that with the right approach, dual-purpose solar can be applied across diverse agricultural environments. If we can achieve success in such challenging wetland areas, we can likely implement solar projects almost anywhere." Before the installation of solar facilities, the Black Cat and Loop Cranberry Marsh had become economically unviable and remained abandoned for years. The current solar project provides landowners with additional income through land leasing, making the marsh's cultivation economically feasible again. In addition to the revenue from selling cranberry crops, Ward also receives agricultural management fees. "Developing solar projects on active perennial wetland crops presents an exciting challenge, and we are delighted to witness the success of these harvests," said Pratik Tare, Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of DEI. "At every stage, Ayn's collaboration and commitment are crucial to ensuring reliable and cost-effective construction while safeguarding the productivity of these ancient marshes." The 1 MW Black Cat project is equipped with a 2.7 MWh energy storage system. The 4.4 MW loop project is equipped with a 13.5 MWh battery energy storage system. Both projects were finalists for the North American Photovoltaic Agriculture Awards, and Ward and DEI are founding members of the Solar and Agriculture Foundation (SAFA), an organization representing the interests of the photovoltaic agriculture industry, including developers, agricultural producers, livestock producers, and related organizations.

• October 10, 2026

The Sterling Project in Mohave County, Arizona, has commenced the construction of solar and energy storage systems. ContourGlobal is developing the 509-megawatt solar and 1.4-gigawatt-hour energy storage project, with Tesla having signed a power purchase agreement. The sun's rays have been shining over this land in Arizona for billions of years. The Sterling Project will harness sunlight to generate electricity and store a portion of the energy to power the grid after sunset. Our team designed the project around the specific needs of our clients, enabling it to deliver reliable clean electricity for up to 16 hours each day, said Antonio Cammisera. The local construction team will be responsible for civil engineering, road construction, and on-site logistics to install over 760,000 solar panels and more than 300 battery storage containers. The project is located along a historic stretch of U.S. Route 66 between Topock and Kingman, where infrastructure once supporting westward expansion is now giving way to facilities designed to fuel the next phase of growth. To access the site, the company is constructing the Polaris Road, a 5.2-mile route connecting the historic Route 66 with solar and energy storage projects.

• October 09, 2026

Cedar Creek Energy has completed the construction of the Ramsey II Renewable Energy Station, a 5.046 MW solar project located on approximately 25 acres of buffer land adjacent to the Anoka-Ramsey closed landfill in Minnesota. Cedar Creek Energy designed, procured, and constructed the system on behalf of project owner Kearsarge Energy. Connexus Energy will purchase the electricity generated by the system through a 30-year power purchase agreement. "This project demonstrates everything achievable when utility companies, developers, regulators, and government leaders work together on long-term energy solutions," said Alex Gast, Chief Operating Officer of Cedar Creek Energy. Construction began in March and was completed within six months, with no recordable safety incidents occurring during the process. The array consists of approximately 8,700 bifacial solar panels and terrain-following single-axis trackers designed to adapt to uneven on-site topography and reduce the need for large-scale grading operations. The Ramsey II Renewable Energy Facility was made possible after over a decade of coordinated efforts by Conexus Energy, Ramsey City, Minnesota, and other project partners to redevelop the site. Conexus Energy leased the project site from the state of Minnesota. Legislative action in 2021 helped remove prior guarantees that had hindered solar development. Cidra Creek Energy will continue to support the project through long-term operation and maintenance agreements. This project marks Cidra Creek Energy's first initiative under the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's closed landfill program.

• October 08, 2026

Located in North Carolina, MANNA Food Bank recently completed a 514-kilowatt rooftop solar system at its Mills River office and warehouse facilities. The system, installed by Pisgah Energy and utilizing SEG panels and SolarEdge inverters, is expected to generate over 643,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually. "It is an honor to install these systems for MANNA," said Evan Becca, President of Pisgah Energy. "Utilizing solar power to support operations is another way this remarkable organization helps promote health and well-being in families across Western North Carolina." For MANNA, this project also represents an investment in the long-term sustainability of its operations. Reducing ongoing energy costs enables the organization to utilize its resources more efficiently and helps preserve more funds for its core work of procuring, storing, and distributing food in the Northwest North Carolina and Qualla Boundary regions. As families in the region continue to face significant economic pressures, this management responsibility becomes increasingly crucial. Today, MANNA and its network of over 300 community partners serve approximately 220,000 individuals monthly across 16 counties and the Quallah border area. Rising costs of housing, food, utilities, transportation, and other essential living expenses persistently strain household budgets, making it imperative to ensure food banks can meet both current and future needs, which in turn becomes a vital component of MANNA's operational sustainability. "Every dollar we can utilize more efficiently is a dollar that can provide greater assistance to the community," said Claire Neill, CEO of MANNA Food Bank. "As neighborhoods across Northwest North Carolina are turning to MANNA and its partner network for food assistance at an unprecedented rate, we have a responsibility to consider the long-term sustainability of our work. Such investments help us reduce ongoing costs while building a stronger, more resilient food bank capable of meeting the needs of our region for years to come.". ” Pisgah Energy successfully secured partnerships for the project, including support from the Footprint Project, a $55,000 donation of solar mounts from Enstall, and a $200,000 BuildUS grant aimed at strengthening energy resilience in rural western North Carolina. Combined with direct payment incentives from nonprofit organizations, this critical funding is expected to help MANNA achieve a payback period of approximately 4.5 years, thereby freeing up essential funds for food procurement and distribution.

• September 30, 2026

The National Day of the People's Republic of China is a national commemorative day for the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is celebrated on October 1st every year and is mainly popular in China and overseas Chinese areas. The origin of the festival: On October 1, 1949, the founding ceremony was held in Tiananmen Square, and Chairman Mao Zedong declared the establishment of the Central People's Government. On October 9, 1949, the first meeting of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference passed Ma Xulun's proposal, requesting the government to designate October 1 as National Day; On December 2nd, the Fourth Meeting of the Central People's Government Committee passed a resolution to designate October 1st as National Day every year starting from 1950, replacing the old "Double Tenth" National Day. Holiday customs: After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the form of National Day celebration has undergone several changes. From 1950 to 1959, large-scale celebrations and military parades were held annually. In 1984, military parades and mass marches were resumed during the National Day holiday; It was not held again until 1998, and was only restarted three times in 1999, 2009, and 2019. Holiday impact: According to Article 2 of the State Council's "National Holidays and Commemorative Days Holiday Measures", the National Day holiday is legally closed for 3 days each year, from October 1st to 3rd. According to the notice from the General Office of the State Council, the National Day holiday in 2026 will be adjusted from October 1st to 7th, for a total of 7 days. National Day is an emerging form of national holiday that carries the function of consolidating the strength of the country and the nation. At the same time, the large-scale celebration activities during the National Day holiday are also a concrete manifestation of the government's mobilization ability and appeal. Displaying national strength, enhancing national confidence, reflecting cohesion, and exerting appeal are the basic characteristics of the National Day celebration.

• September 28, 2026

Solar United Neighbors (SUN) and Reshape America will host an energy-focused event on Tuesday, September 29, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the Monclair Entertainment Center in Denver, Colorado. Residents will learn about how rooftop solar, battery storage, and heat pumps work, as well as how group purchasing and existing incentives can make upgrading to clean energy homes more affordable. The "Powering Our Community" event will provide practical information on solar panels and battery storage, explain how heat pumps can heat and cool homes, and how these technologies help residents reduce energy costs. The event supports the "Switch Together" program, a group purchasing initiative launched in collaboration with Denver City and County to help residents save on solar, battery storage, and heat pump costs. "If you've ever considered installing solar, now is your opportunity," said Hannah Mitchell, Director of Partnerships for SUN's Western Region Switch Together initiative. "Switch Together will guide you through every step. We'll work with you to determine if going solar is right for you and your family.". ” Switch Together leverages collective procurement capabilities to obtain competitive prices from vetted contractors. Residents can register for free without any obligation to advance projects. In 2025, 5,000 new Colorado residents joined the program, with nearly 1,000 installing solar systems. Under that initiative, SUN reported a 20% group discount, or an average savings of $5,135 per participating household. Additionally, in 2025, SUN collaborated with the city government to assist over 20 income-qualified Denver families through a rebate program, providing them with extra financial support. Beyond the group discount, these homeowners saved an average of $6,000 on upfront solar installation costs. "Collaborating with SUN was extremely beneficial and highly cooperative," said Steve Walsh, a former Switch Together participant. "At the time, we didn’t fully understand what was required to achieve solar power generation or how complex the entire process was. SUN walked us through everything step by step. The online resources were particularly helpful, and coordinating the subsidies was crucial for us."

• September 24, 2026

Local solar installer Pisgah Energy recently completed several solar projects for Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO), a nonprofit community developer based in Asheville, North Carolina, dedicated to creating more affordable and sustainable futures for families in the region. MHO's latest residential communities—Starpoint Apartments and Lakeside Villas—are equipped with solar panels, which will help improve air quality and reduce energy costs. With the completion of these projects, the developer can now proudly showcase renewable energy across its six multi-unit affordable housing communities. Recent solar investments were partially funded by a planned charitable donation. In 2020, the late Erna Earle made a significant contribution to the solar infrastructure of MHO communities in honor of her late husband and MHO founding volunteer Norman W. Earle. MHO sincerely appreciates the Earle couple's generosity and their legacy of community service and environmental stewardship. "At Mountain Housing Opportunities, affordability and sustainability are mutually reinforcing," said Jeffrey Barton, President and CEO of MHO. "Partnering with Pisgah Energy to introduce solar power at Starpoint Apartments and Lakefront Villas reflects our ongoing commitment to green building practices and the health of the environments our residents inhabit. These solar arrays will reduce operating costs for these properties, helping maintain their affordability while decreasing the community's carbon footprint. This is a dual investment in our planet and our people.". ” Pisgah Energy collaborated closely with MHO to design, develop, and install rooftop solar arrays for Star Point Apartments and Lakeshore Villas. These five systems, totaling 212 kW, utilize SEG panels and SolarEdge inverters, and are projected to generate over 300,000 kWh of renewable energy annually. "We are honored to collaborate with MHO, providing services for their solar installation project at Maple Crest Apartments," said Evan Becka, President and Senior Project Developer at Pisgah Energy. "We are delighted they invited us back to design and construct photovoltaic arrays for Star Point Apartments and Lakeshore Villas. It is truly a privilege to support MHO's outstanding work in our community."

• September 23, 2026

Residential solar design and financing company Aurora Solar has expanded its services in the United States and is now extending its reach to the UK. "In the U.S., the industry has just endured one of the most challenging periods in modern history, while in the UK and Europe, it is rapidly growing. That's why our answer is to build more, not less, for the renewable energy community," said Charlie Hedges, CEO of Aurora Solar. "We are investing in all aspects of the Aurora Solar platform: home electrification, new financing models, more refined drone designs, and Aurora's UK operations. We are shaping a new era of solar and electrification, providing installers with the tools to succeed globally.". ” Aurora's proposal has been updated to include electrification technologies such as HVAC, electric vehicle chargers, and energy storage. It is reported that the company has also upgraded its drone imaging capabilities. In terms of financing, Aurora now offers homeowners prepaid leases and power purchase agreements for solar energy. Residential customers can also utilize Aurora's solar marketplace, which provides solar and energy storage project estimates from local installers. For commercial contractors, Aurora's subsidiary HelioScope now offers peak shaving modeling capabilities, among other services.

• September 22, 2026

Polaris Clean Energy has completed the 120-megawatt Hart Solar Project in Osceola County, Michigan, generating clean power sufficient to meet the needs of over 21,000 households. Executive Energy Services and the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA) have signed a power purchase agreement for a portion of the Hart Solar Project's electricity output. "Harth Solar represents a significant investment in Michigan's energy future, demonstrating how strong partnerships can help deliver clean energy solutions to communities across the state," said Brian Hartman, President and CEO of NorthStar Clean Energy. "By collaborating with organizations such as Executive Energy Services and MPPA, we are helping clients achieve their energy goals while strengthening Michigan's energy infrastructure through increased renewable power generation. We are proud to celebrate the project's completion and the positive impact it will have on communities for years to come.". ” The project created over 300 construction jobs and will generate tax revenue for local services and infrastructure. Hart Township also received approximately $600,000 from EGLE's "Renewable Energy Ready Community" incentive program to fund community improvement projects. Additionally, the CMS Energy Foundation donated $100,000 to the Lakeshore Food Club, a local food bank, to further support community well-being and access to essential resources. Patrick Borland, CEO and General Manager of MPPA, stated: "Hart Solar exemplifies MPPA's commitment to helping our members secure reliable, economical, and carbon-free power supply resources, thereby strengthening and realizing their long-term pledge to diversify their power supply portfolios." "Through collective action, public power communities of all sizes can share the advantages necessary to achieve economies of scale, making utility-scale renewable energy projects like Hart Solar a practical and long-term resource for their customers and communities."