Solar

Electrification

These startups help busy contractors get electrification rebates faster

Rebates help households pay for solar, heat pumps and other climate-friendly upgrades — but contractors get stuck with the paperwork. These businesses are stepping in.

By Alison F. Takemura . 1 April 2024
Solar

Ohio greenlights massive solar, storage and agrivoltaics project

Oak Run will be Ohio's largest solar installation and the nation's biggest agrivoltaics project, spanning 6,000 acres and totaling 800 MW.

By Eric Wesoff . 21 March 2024
Solar

A Boston grocery store is bringing community solar to a low-income area

An 81-kilowatt project on the roof of the Dorchester Food Co-Op will test a community ownership model. New federal climate policies could help make it scalable.

By Sarah Shemkus . 21 March 2024
Electrification

6 burning questions on home electrification, answered

Solar for renters, heat-pump water heaters, home electrification as a service — it's all here in Electrified Life's first mailbag edition.

By Alison F. Takemura . 20 March 2024
Solar

New policy proposal dims hopes of reviving community solar in California

State regulators and utilities could kill off a community-solar plan backed by lawmakers, pro-solar groups, environmental-justice advocates, unions and homebuilders.

By Jeff St. John . 6 March 2024
Electrification

She’s a clean-energy pro. Electrifying her home was still a slog

In just 15 months, Judy Ko got a heat pump, solar, a home battery, insulation, an EV and more. Here’s what was easy about the process — and what was "just crazy."

By Alison F. Takemura . 4 March 2024
Solar

Low-income communities will soon get $7 billion for local solar

Per a new analysis of 35 proposed state programs, the historic climate-law funding would benefit more than 700,000 low-income households. Here’s how.

By Alison F. Takemura . 29 February 2024
Energy equity

Free-solo climber Alex Honnold has another mission: Energy equity

The renowned climber translates his passion for heights into high-impact solar projects, powering change one community at a time.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 27 February 2024
Clean energy

Chart: Nearly all new US power plants built in 2024 will be clean energy

Renewables, batteries and nuclear will add up to 96% of all new power capacity constructed this year, per federal data.

By Julian Spector, Maria Virginia Olano . 23 February 2024
Grid edge

California’s patchwork push to scale up virtual power plants

The state has created more ways for solar-and-battery-equipped homes to get paid to help the grid — but not enough to save the crashing rooftop solar market.

By Jeff St. John . 22 February 2024