Amidst a growing sense of urgency to expedite the transition to a clean energy future, catalysts are paramount. Lasting reforms to our centuries-old energy system will not just magically happen in 50 states and a handful of territories. A planned, patient, and persistent approach is needed. This laborious (some might even say tedious) process takes a stimulus.

Heating and cooling are not “nice-to-haves” in most areas of the U.S. – they are a necessity. However, this basic need creates a disproportionate burden on low-income families. Statistics vary on how much low-income families typically spend on their energy bills, but it’s in the range of 6-20 percent of their annual income, much higher than the national average of 3 percent.

Source: LaCrosse Tribune Vernon Electric Cooperative (VEC) is bringing community-owned solar to Wisconsin. In partnership with national community solar developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC), VEC will provide any member in its service territory the opportunity to own individual panels in a new locally-sited, utility-scale solar PV array. This is the first community-owned solar facility under construction...

The sizable up-front cost of solar has long been a challenging hurdle. So has rooftop siting –roofs are often shaded, in the wrong orientation, not owned by the people who live there, or otherwise unable to host a solar system. What if we could overcome both of these obstacles with one solution—one local solution? A Colorado credit union and solar company might have figured this out.

The Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative has just announced two new opportunities for solar energy stakeholders to get involved in SunShot’s work.

By Laurel Passera, Erica Schroeder McConnell and Joe Wiedman Across the country, shared solar programs and facilities are creating pathways for new groups of customers to participate in local solar generation. But just how much does that “local” aspect matter? Should customers get a choice in the location of their shared solar facility?  IREC continues...

The majority of Americans – including renters and commercial tenants – can’t put solar on their own property. How do we connect those customers with the clean energy they want? Shared renewable energy programs allow multiple customers to share the power and bill-saving benefits of a renewable energy system. If designed correctly, these innovative models...