Facebook chose to power its new $750 million Newton Data Center in Georgia with 100 percent renewable energy from solar power that will be developed by the Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC). The datacenter is expected to consume 150 megawatts of power, which is equal to 20 percent of the utility’s current load.

Ohio-based Fifth Third Bancorp said it’s the first bank, as well as Fortune 500 company to source all its electricity from one renewable energy project as well as the first publicly-traded company to purchase all its electricity through solar power alone. That’s thanks to a power-purchase agreement (PPA) the bank signed that will lead to the construction of an 80-megawatt (MW) solar farm in North Carolina. 

The majority of solar power in use across the world today is in solar farms, filled with rigid silicon-based solar panels. As solar power becomes more ubiquitous, it will spread beyond fixed panels to applications that require more flexibility and while flexible solar panels exist, they’re still less efficient than those silicon panels in solar farms. Research, like that ongoing at New York University’s (NYU’s) is aiming to change that. 

New reports out last week show the current and potential strength of renewable energy in the US and world. One report showed that wind and solar power could provide up to 80 percent of the US’s electric needs, while another report showed the spectrum of renewable energy now employees 2.2 million people across the US.

Solar and wind could reliably provide roughly 80 percent of the US’s electric demand. That’s according to a new study from the University of California, Irvine (UCI); the California Institute of Technology; and the Carnegie Institution for Science.

Community solar projects up to 5 megawatts (MWs) in size can now participate in New York’s community solar program, a move that could make community solar projects less expensive for consumers to invest in. The expansion of the program by the state’s Public Service Commission was hailed by solar advocates and others. 

The interactive US Clean Energy Progress Map was introduced today (Feb. 28) to show the impressive economic and jobs impact of wind, solar and energy efficiency projects in localities across the US. The data shows that the industries support 2.2 million jobs and wind and solar had generated roughly $190 billion in investments across the US by the end of 2017.

Cities around the world are increasingly turning to clean and renewable energy, according to the latest analysis by Great Britain’s CDP, released today (Feb. 27). The firm analyzed data from more than 570 of the cities across the world and found that more than 100 of them get at least 70 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources and that 40 of them already get 100 percent of their electricity from renewables. 

The amount of renewable energy powering the US continues to ramp up, driven by wind and solar growth, and closing in on 20 percent of the US’s electric generation. Meanwhile companies continue to make new partnerships that will further expand the use of renewables, like Renault and LG. 

While some islands are already sourcing all their electricity from renewable energy, like Samos, a small island near Portugal, Porto Santo, wants to eliminate its use of fossil fuels completely and become the world’s first “Smart Fossil Free Island.” It just took a big step with a partnership between Groupe Renault and Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (EEM), an energy supplier.