The U.S. economy has largely recovered, but few sectors of the economy have seen the success of the solar—and it’s got the jobs to show it. Last year alone the solar industry created more than 31,000 jobs in the U.S., totaling over 173,800, that’s 21.8 percent more than it employed in 2013. 

Investing in solar rooftops offers a better return on investment than investing in the S&P 500 in 46 of 50 of the U.S.’ top cities. That’s the determination of a new report from the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center. 

Residential solar is continuing to attract more funds, showing that the residential solar industry will remain hot in 2015. Last week two of the nation’s largest home solar companies separately announced large new funds to support more residential solar across the U.S. Together SolarCity and Sunrun raised $545 million. SolarCity raised $350 million with J.P. Morgan and Sunrun raised $195 million with Investec.

Construction on what will be India’s largest PV manufacturing facility in Mundra, Gujarat, will get underway soon. SunEdison and Adani Enterprises signed a memorandum establishing a joint venture aimed at building the largest vertically integrated solar photovoltaic manufacturing facility in India. The project will be funded with up to $4 billion. The companies plan to start construction later this year after studies are conducted.

Last year the world spent more on solar than on any other clean energy technology. That’s according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), which found that funding for many types of clean energy grew in 2014 to $310 billion—the first time growth in the sector was up since 2011. 

Florida was one of the sour spots for solar in 2014. The Florida Public Service Commission voted to end the state’s rebates after 2015 in December. But it looks like the state might start taking better advantage of its moniker “Sunshine State” moniker in 2015 thanks to a petition launched by Floridans for Solar Choice and Conservatives for Energy Freedom for a 2016 ballot initiative. 

Solar power, with help from the solar industry, made an appearance in the annual “State of American Energy Report” from no less than the American Petroleum Institute (API). The report shows that even the dinosaurs of energy are increasingly aware of solar’s influx in the energy industry, and they don’t see it as just a threat. 

Yesterday (Jan. 6) California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) became the first governor in California to serve 4 terms—his first two were in the 1970’s, But with ambitious propositions, including sourcing half of California’s electric needs with renewables in the next 15 years he comes roaring back in like a lion.

Today at the International CES show in Las Vegas Misfit Wearables introduced the solar-powered Swarovski Shine, a smart activity tracker that doesn’t look like a miniature tv-screen on the wearer’s wrist. The device is being called the first solar-powered wearable. 

Over the past few months a number of Democrats and Republicans Representatives have expressed concern over solar leasing practices. Most recently 12 Republicans wrote a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking it to investigate whether some solar leasing companies are misleading homeowners into solar contracts by over-promising energy cost savings over the life of the contract.