Once again, Los Angeles, now with 349 megawatts of solar power providing energy to its residents, has taken over the top spot from San Diego, which has 287 megawatts of solar power providing energy to its residents. That’s according to Environment America’s latest Shining Cities report. 

In mixed news last week one report observed that investments in wind, solar and other clean energy technologies grew last week even as another report observed that CO2 emissions rose for the first time since 2014. The reports were issued by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

In January China’s JinkoSolar announced that it would build a solar panel manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, FL, thanks to an agreement with a then unnamed partner. Now NextEra has unveiled that it is the partner in the agreement and it will purchase up to 2,750 megawatts of JinkoSolar’s photovoltaic (PV) panels roughly 7 million units over approximately four years.

Mayors want more solar power in their cities and towns. Last week Environment America announced that 180 mayors from across the US had signed a pledge to push for more solar locally. Even in states where politics don’t seem particularly green, governments want more solar power—like in Utah—which recently passed laws to protect solar.

Following its annual Solar Jobs Census, The Solar Foundation introduced an updated, interactive map of the 250,271 solar jobs across the US. The map illustrates the number of solar jobs in every state, metropolitan area, county, and congressional district. 

Well, that didn’t take long! Environment America announced last December that 70 mayors across the US are pushing for the increased use of solar power. Now more than double—and close to triple—180—have signed on to the letter pushing for more solar power. 

Utah’s Gov. Gary Herbert (R) signed into law two new laws making it easier for Utah homeowners to go solar, help provide cost savings for them, and will protect consumers. The bills he signed into law, SB 141 and SB 157, were supported by the solar industry. 

Under an expanded partnership Sunrun will continue to support GRID Alternatives efforts to bring solar power and solar installation jobs to more low-income people across the US. The organizations will install systems through the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's (NAACP) Solar Equity Initiative this year.

Last week Microsoft signed an agreement for the US’s largest single purchase of solar power by a corporation. In addition, Connecticut’s Governor pushed for bills to expand rooftop solar and to protect the environment in the state. Those are among the top pieces of solar news last week. 

Microsoft is opening a new window for solar power with the US’s biggest corporate power-purchase agreement to date, for 315 megawatts of sPower’s 500 MWs at the Pleinmont I and II solar projects in Virginia. The agreement will help Microsoft reach its goal of sourcing 60 percent of its power for its datacenters from renewable energy by 2020.