Last year seemed like a dark one for the solar industry: stiff competition from China drove American manufacturers to layoffs and even bankruptcy, while the low price of natural gas and the loss of a critical government subsidy weakened incentives for new solar developments. And then there was the long shadow of Solyndra, whose bankruptcy after receiving federal loans cast a pall over other green-energy endeavors.
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Colorado Solar Installations Jump in 2011
Colorado remained fifth in the nation for photovoltaic installations, as the number of megawatts installed jumped 69 percent to 91 megawatts in 2011 compared with 2010, according to a study released today.
New Report Finds U.S. Solar Energy Installations Soared by 109% in 2011 to 1,855 Megawatts
The U.S. solar energy industry installed a record 1,855 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2011, more than doubling the previous annual record of 887 MW set in 2010, according to the latest U.S. Solar Market Insight report. The record amount of solar installations is enough to power more than 370,000 homes, and represents a 109 percent growth rate in 2011.
New Solar Panels Blossomed Despite a Tough Year for the Industry
System prices fell 20 percent because of cheaper components, more options for financing, better installation methods and the shift to larger arrays
Calif. Bill Would Boost Renewable Energy
A bill in California would allow cities to designate areas as renewable energy zones and redirect property taxes to renewable energy projects, its sponsor says.
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Obama's Solar Story Shows Success, Not Failure
But let's not kid ourselves -- Solyndra is a sideshow to the real, incredibly exciting story of solar power over the course of this administration.
Time for State to See the Light on Solar Power
At a time when everyone agrees on the need to create jobs and stimulate the economy, an idea exists that would bring thousands of jobs to New York while also pumping billions of dollars into the local economy: a committed investment in solar power.
ComEd to Deliver More Solar Power
Beginning in July, Commonwealth Edison Co. customers will receive more power from the sun, thanks to a solar project under way in LaSalle County.
The (Solar) Light at the End of the Tunnel
A consultant for the Defense Department reports that introducing solar installations on nine military bases in the Mojave and Colorado Desert could generate 7,000 megawatts of power.
Solar Capacity Rose 54% to 28 Gigawatts Last Year, BNEF Says
New solar capacity around the world increased 54 percent to about 28 gigawatts last year driven by record installations in Germany and Italy, Bloomberg New Energy Finance data shows.
