Big news came from the U.S. Department of Energy this week about important benchmarks that the country has met in terms of solar power, and news about ongoing efforts.   One of the big things that a September 12 press release mentions is the Sunshot Initiative,...

Want another very clear example of what solar power can do in these days of affordable infrastructure, good battery technology and other innovations?   One of the biggest headlines coming out of North Africa right now is a multi-billion dollar plan to link up a...

Today’s energy landscape is confusing to a lot of people. The political landscape is Balkanized – some would like to “bring back coal” while others would prefer to move toward non-carbon-emitting renewables. But what’s really going on in business, on the ground where...

The solar industry is changing almost as fast as it’s growing. You can see a lot of this growth in the state of Virginia -- as massive retailer Amazon moves in to harness enormous amounts of sun power in multiple Virginia counties, big local utilities are also...

Up in Pennsylvania, utilities in the southeastern region are fond of promoting the fact that locals rely on nuclear power plants for roughly 90% of their energy needs. Nuclear is touted as a “clean” power source, with advocates pointing out that nuclear plants don’t...

Solar power in Virginia -- there's a lot going on now, but what about several years ago?   According to Virginia Places, the very first commercial-sized solar project in the state was done at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg. The roof of the library...

We tend to think of solar power infrastructure as big and imposing -- but not all solar projects are like this. Many of the newest ones are very simple and straightforward, and fit in pretty small spaces.   At the same time, solar versatility is booming; instead...

When it comes to clean, renewable energy, it’s not just what you save yourself – it’s also what you save everyone.   One example of this philosophy is evident in a new study by the U.S. Department of Energy that shows big ecological and public health benefits...

What if your solar panels could be any color you wanted?   To a lot of people, there is nothing wrong with the classic black and blue panels. They're not loud colors, and they’re not intrusive in a property design or layout. But as with so many other things,...

Researchers around the world are finding that solar energy is approaching new break-even cost  evaluations, and quickly becoming much more affordable and feasible for property owners.   However, they're also finding that this new potential raises questions about...

The state of Virginia may not be leading the country in solar, but it is a place where solar is growing in a major way.   There is a lot in the news about large VA energy companies diversifying into solar -- for example, Dominion Energy purchasing solar farms all...

If you've been reading about Virginia's solar growth, you know that regional utilities are investing in solar in a big way -- with companies like Dominion Energy purchasing large solar installations in multiple counties. You know that schools like UVA have dedicated...