In 2017 40 states and Washington, DC, have already considered changing their solar policies for rooftops and more. To help states and regulators implement fair and equitable net-metering and solar energy reimbursement rate structures solar advocates from across the country have come together to develop Principles for the Evolution of Net Energy Metering and Rate Design.

Last year the amount of solar power installed across the world grew 50 percent over the previous year, with 76.6 gigawatts (GWs) of new solar installed worldwide compared to 51.2 gigawatts of solar power installed in 2015. The figures come from the latest report from SolarPower Europe, “Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2017-2021.” The report found that overall 306.5 Gws of solar power were installed by the end of 2016.

Last week saw new twists and turns in the Suniva bankruptcy even case while a new solar farm in Arizona is coming in at historically low prices. Meanwhile, the renewable energy industries continue to grow in the US and across the world as more new technologies are tested and implemented.

When modern electric vehicles (EVs) first came out, some charged that the vehicles would pollute as much regular vehicles because they were charged by grid-power, which primarily came from coal. Now, Climate Central has issued new research showing that EVs in most states are now the US’s cleanest vehicles—even cleaner than hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

A new, 100 megawatt (MW) solar farm being built by NextEra Energy for Tuscon Electric Power (TEP) will produce electricity at less than 3 cents per kilowatt hour—that’s a historically low price for solar in the US—if not the world. The system and an accompanying 30 MW energy storage system are slated to come online by the end of 2019. 

Russell County Public Schools in Virginia are receiving $5.6 million in bonds to finance solar and energy efficient improvements in 16 buildings at 9 schools, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) announced. That’s thanks to the VirginiaSAVES, which is the state’s first statewide Green Community Program. 

In its latest Renewable Energy and Jobs—Annual Review 2017, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) found that more than 9.8 million people were employed in renewable energy in 2016. The report covers a broad spectrum of renewable energy technologies, including wind, solar, bioenergy, hydro and other technologies.

To say the least the Suniva bankruptcy has been interesting. However, it’s placing most of the US solar industry—and the 260,000 people it employs—at risk over a controversial filing with the International Trade Commission (ITC). The commission decided to hear the petition this week. Now it appears one of Suniva’s investors is behind the filing, saying it would drop the case if someone purchases the equipment it financed.

Vandenberg Air Force Base in California will soon host the Air Force’s largest behind-the-meter solar farm, a 28 megawatt solar farm where all the energy produced is consumed onsite. The project, being built by SunPower, will produce roughly 54,500 megawatt hours annually—about 35 percent of the base’s energy needs at cost-competitive prices. 

In Hawaii, which has the nation’s most aggressive renewable energy portfolio standard, Sunetric and Sunnova have partnered to offer home solar power with energy storage systems, allowing customers to join the state’s customer self-supply (CSS) program. The new systems have no up front costs and are repaid via a monthly lease.