Solar generated 12.8% of US electricity in May 2026, exceeding coal's 12.2% share in the first month-long occurrence on record, according to analysis from energy think tank Ember.
The California Public Utilities Commission voted to finalize its community solar program, which solar advocates have characterized as unworkable and destined for failure. The PUC said the decision ensures competitive community solar programs grow responsibly.
EDP Renewables and Salt River Project completed Flatland Energy Storage, a 200-MW/800-MWh battery system in Arizona. The four-hour duration asset is the largest single battery installation in EDP Group's global portfolio and will supply evening capacity to the Phoenix area.
Rhode Island's state legislature advanced a budget Tuesday that preserves funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy targets, rebuffing Governor Dan McKee's proposed cuts to those programs.
Senate Bill 868 passed an Assembly committee 18-0, moving toward establishing rules for balcony solar devices that plug directly into standard outlets with up to 1,200 watts output.
Solar tracker manufacturer ARRAY Technologies has shipped 100 GW of tracker products globally since its founding. The company marked the milestone as evidence of growth in the global solar industry.
Firestorm Books in Asheville is installing a microgrid following Hurricane Helene in September 2024, which caused widespread power outages, flooding, and infrastructure damage across the region.
Open Access Technology International is asking the Trump administration to fund a project using grid-enhancing software to increase power movement capacity without new transmission infrastructure.
Oklahoma's attorney general filed suit to stop a planned aluminum smelter by Emirates Global Aluminium and Century Aluminum. The $4 billion facility would significantly increase power demand in the state.
Three tech companies announced power purchase agreements with U.S. solar developers for roughly one gigawatt of new capacity in Texas and North Carolina. The deals reflect growing corporate demand for renewable energy.
BloombergNEF projects solar installation growth will decline this year before resuming at a more conservative pace. The analyst questioned what trends might reignite industry expansion.
Project finance leaders report continued momentum in the U.S. renewable energy market in 2026 despite rising headwinds from tariff threats, supply chain scrutiny, and geopolitical risk.
A new program in Oakland, California is testing whether electric vehicles can discharge power back to homes and the grid. The pilot could demonstrate a model for wider adoption across the state and country.
The Republican-led North Carolina House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would keep coal plants operating until new nuclear capacity is approved. Democrats have disputed claims the measure would reduce consumer energy costs.
The Tumbleweed project in Kern County began operations on June 1 as the first major U.S. battery installation capable of discharging power for eight hours, double the duration of typical storage facilities.
Neighbors are pooling together to purchase heat pumps at discounted rates, addressing cooling needs amid rising summer temperatures. The approach aims to make efficiency upgrades more affordable for homeowners.
Massachusetts has not yet installed any electric vehicle chargers using approximately $64 million awarded through a Biden-era program that remains in place under the Trump administration.
Balcony solar systems—plug-and-play kits that connect to standard outlets—are growing in popularity as a renewable energy option. Proponents say the systems can reduce user costs without requiring subsidies or government support.
A major transmission line designed to deliver clean power to New York City is now operational, advancing the city's clean energy goals.
Battery-powered vehicles accounted for a record 28% of new cars sold globally this year, according to International Energy Agency data, despite slower adoption in the U.S.
The Ohio Supreme Court reversed part of approval for the 800-megawatt Oak Run Solar Project, the state's largest planned solar installation. The project retains a pathway forward, though its completion timeline remains uncertain.
Utilities have installed 12 million smart meters across PJM's 13-state territory at a cost of nearly $6 billion, but are not sharing the data needed to help customers improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Wake Electric, a North Carolina cooperative serving nearly 60,000 customers, is turning to grid batteries following a July 2022 storm that downed power lines and caused widespread outages across suburban and rural areas.
The U.S. House approved the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act with bipartisan support to speed up geothermal energy development. The legislation aims to increase around-the-clock clean electricity capacity.
Federal energy efficiency rebate programs will no longer cover conversions from fossil-fuel heating systems to electric alternatives, according to the Department of Energy.
Three electric buses in Acton and Boxborough will charge overnight during summer break and feed power back to the grid. The vehicles' nearly 200-kilowatt-hour batteries will be used to support grid operations when parked.
New York and six other Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's March agreement with TotalEnergies to pay private energy firms to abandon U.S. offshore wind projects, targeting the Department of the Interior.
Companies are developing TRISO fuel, a safer alternative to conventional reactor fuel, as the U.S. seeks to revitalize nuclear power. Cost remains a significant obstacle to widespread adoption.
A coal plant in Indiana that the Trump administration required to stay online has not operated in months and cannot resume service until costly repairs are completed. The situation contradicts federal claims that regulatory mandates ensure plant availability.
The California Air Resources Board approved changes allowing polluting industries to earn free emissions allowances by investing in decarbonization. Critics argue the move could undermine California's decarbonization goals.
Michigan and Pennsylvania lawmakers have circulated false claims that Frito-Lay refuses to buy potatoes from farmland previously used for solar installations. The company has denied the assertion.
Two new Virginia laws enable more residents to benefit from community solar programs. The changes allow property owners like farmers to participate in solar leasing arrangements.
The federal solar tax credit did not expire in 2026 but changed form. Homeowners can still benefit from it under the new structure.
Competition in the solar market has grown significantly, with 54% of solar salespeople reporting increased competition over the past year, including 30% citing much more competitive conditions.
Climate insurance provider Descartes Underwriting partnered with Nextpower to offer data-driven wind coverage for power plants, using real-time wind speed data to assess risks from extreme weather events.
The US added 7.8 GW of solar capacity in Q1 2026, surpassing 6 million cumulative installations. Permitting delays are expected to constrain future growth despite solar and storage accounting for 91% of new grid capacity.
Community solar developer Common Energy plans to build five projects totaling 16 MW in greater Chicago, with over 120 locations from nonprofit Trinity Services subscribing to the system.
Cypress Creek Energy has secured $3.5 billion in financing for the first two phases of the Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas, which will include 1.63 GW of solar and 1.9 GWh of battery storage. The project is backed by a virtual power purchase agreement.
Meta and RWE have signed a long-term power purchase agreement for the 298-megawatt Rabbit's Foot Solar project in northeast Texas. The project, which began construction this year, will supply electricity to support Meta's data center operations.
General Motors will develop and manufacture sodium-ion battery cells for Peak Energy's grid-scale energy storage systems, with GM retaining exclusive manufacturing rights. The partnership targets utility-scale storage applications rather than electric vehicles.
The 3,650 MW SunZia Wind Project in New Mexico has commenced commercial operations with 916 turbines, more than triple the capacity of the next two largest US wind farms.
Qcells has started manufacturing silicon solar cells at its vertically integrated Cartersville, Georgia factory, the largest solar cell facility in the US. The $2.5 billion investment will reach full production by Q3 2026 and marks the first fully integrated silicon solar panel manufacturing site in the country.
BYD's Denza Z sports car is equipped with a 500 kW front motor and dual 340 kW rear motors totaling 1,180 kW (1,582 horsepower), according to regulatory filings.