Estée Lauder, Kellogg and more are among the latest to commit to RE100, a pledge for companies to commit to powering all their operations with 100 percent renewable energy. With the latest round of additions, 106 companies have now made the commitment—three years ahead of when The Climate Group, which facilitates RE100, planned. 

Currently 36 percent of all senior positions in the solar industry, those earning $75 per hour or more, are filled by white men. Men of color represent 28 percent of workers in top positions, while 21 percent are white women and only 4 percent are women of color. That lack of diversity at the top, and throughout the solar industry, are problems the solar industry hopes to change and it outlined both the causes and potential fixes in the 2017 US Solar Industry Diversity Study by the Solar Energy Industries Association’s Women’s Empowerment Committee and The Solar Foundation. 

Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) customers have the chance to go solar without putting panels on their roofs, thanks to the construction of the final 26 megawatt phase of the 100 megawatt Redwood Solar Cluster outside Bakersfield, CA. All the electricity generated at by the final phase will be sold to Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) Solar Choice program once it comes online in late 2017. The project, developed by 8minutenergy, is employing nearly 200 people, stimulating the local economy throughout Kern County and surrounding areas.

People in Kearney, NE, will have the opportunity to get their energy from the state’s largest solar development without investing in rooftop solar for their home or business. That’s thanks to the 6 megawatt Kearney SunWise Community Solar Project. When it comes online in February 2018, the facility is expected to generate up to 5 percent of Kearney’s peak energy demands—the equivalent to powering approximately 900 local homes.

Thanks to 16 newly announced community solar projects totaling 22 megawatts in Massachusetts, up to 5,000 residents and businesses will have the opportunity to go solar without putting solar panels on their roofs. The projects also will provide nearby communities with decades of property tax revenue, millions of dollars of construction investments and will create jobs all while providing their customers with savings on thier power bills.

The Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) launched the Advanced Energy Buyers Group, a consortium of Fortune 500 companies committed to increase the proliferation of renewable energy throughout the US and global economy. The group, which includes Apple, Amazon, Walmart and Lockheed Martin, was formed to advocate for pro-renewable energy policies that make it easier for companies to fulfill their clean energy goals.

Fitchburg, WI, further along on its goal to generate 25 percent of its power from renewable energy by 2025, now that the city council unanimously approved plans to install 362 kilowatts of rooftop solar across four municipal buildings. The installations will replace 10 percent of Fitchburg’s energy usage when they come online in 2017 saving the town approximately $54,000 in the first year of operation and up to $3 million over 40 years. 

LuminAID’s Give Light, Get Light Program raised enough money in 24 hours through donations and sales on Aug. 30, 2017, to donate and distribute 1,000 of its solar powered lanterns and cellphone chargers to assist people affected by Hurricane Harvey. For every PackLite Nova USB lantern supporters purchased for $29.99 through company’s website that day, LuminAID is sending one to the Houston area. Supporters also had the option to donate $10 to the cause, without purchasing a lantern.

Dominion Energy's Virginia customers will see their power bills drop next month, thanks to grid modernization efforts and the utility’s growing renewable energy portfolio. With an average annual bill of $1,406.40, Dominion customers can anticipate their bill to go down to $1,386.72, that is a yearly savings of $19.68. The reduction brings rates to lower than they were since 2015 and maintains average monthly power bills that are below state, regional and national levels.

Northeastern US governors and Canadian premiers have forged resolutions to create strong renewable energy workforces, improve grid reliability and lower the cost of electricity on both sides of the border. Led by Vermont’s Gov. Phil Scott (R) and members of Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), Americans and Canadians will use the Green Mountain State’s growing clean energy sector as a model to stimulate regional economic growth, while mitigating climate change.