This week California’s Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) announced that will soon have 2,409 megawatts (2.4 gigawatts) of rooftop solar arrays throughout its network of customers. That’s more than every other state had in total solar capacity by March 2016!

With a glut of solar panels in the market, it’s becoming tougher for solar manufacturers to compete. This was driven home this week as SunPower announced that it’s restructuring to remain competitive in changing market, resulting in cutting 2,500 jobs globally and closing one of its main manufacturing plants. 

Energy efficiency is one of the most effective means of reducing household and business energy expenses. It includes things like insulation, windows and heating and air conditioning and doesn’t carry the excitement of solar power, yet throughout the nation it supports more than 1.9 million jobs, according to the latest figures from Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) and E4TheFuture.

Solar power already is being used in forward operating and remote bases by the military to reduce weight and the need for fuel—transporting fuel is one of the deadliest jobs in the military. But now the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working with the military and soldiers to make solar more personal. 

Boulder, CO, continues on its path to creating its own, 100 percent renewable energy-based utility with its latest vote to approve new climate goals. After two years of discussions the city council members voted unanimously to aim to reduce the city and county’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent below its 2005 levels by 2050. 

Google leads pretty much everyone in clean energy, tech companies, major corporations the US military, etc. Now, in 2017 it’s going to reach a new milestone. The company and all of its global operations will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Making it the first giant IT company to reach that goal. 

In the annual NRDC Annual Energy Report, Accelerating into a Clean Energy Future, the nonprofit advocacy organization showed that the progress the US is making in moving to clean energy is undeniable and that it’s reaching a tipping point that won’t allow the country to see-saw back to coal-fired power. 

The US’s schools are always being pushed to become more efficient in terms of the education they provide their students so it only makes sense that their buildings should look to become more efficient, too. That’s likely the thinking behind the new Better Buildings Zero Energy Schools Accelerator, launched by the Department of Energy (DOE) with two states, six school districts and several national organizations. Under the partnership, collaborators are working to create zero-energy design schools and buildings that are cost-competitive with conventional construction costs. 

Late last month the Department of Energy launched Solar in Your Community Challenge. It’s an effort to make it easier for everyone in the US to benefit from the clean energy and potential cost-savings that solar power offers. Now the challenge is going on a tour.

As 2016 comes close to ending the reports are coming in and it looks like 2016 will be the record year for solar. Likewise, they’re showing the future looks bright for the industry as new campaigns are aimed at supporting solar power crop up and the cost of solar keeps falling.