Leaders of the U.S. solar industry will have one last shot at convincing the current congress to extend a key federal solar incentive before a new republican controlled congress takes over at the beginning of 2011.

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has approved a new energy plan for PNM – the largest utility company in New Mexico, which serves nearly 500,000 customers statewide.

If you’re at all familiar with our site, you know that installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels is a serious investment. System costs are offset considerably by a 30-percent federal renewable energy credit — plus any rebates, credits or other incentives available in your state. Like any investment, solar energy can offer meaningful upside potential. In [...]

With talk of “green shoots of recovery” and “glimmers of hope” in the U.S. economy, there’s a distinct possibility that consumers may actually start spending money again (gasp!). And with a 30-percent federal renewable energy tax credit* — plus a number of new, state-sponsored solar incentive programs either in place or soon on their way [...]

We all know there’s no such thing as a free lunch. But if Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) gets its way, there may be such a thing as free solar panels. Arizona’s largest electricity utility is working on plans to offer 200 Flagstaff customers a discounted electric rate, over time, in exchange for installing free [...]

Texas — which already leads the country in wind generation — is jockeying to become a leader in solar power, too. As Margaret outlined last week, the Texas Senate passed a bill that would increase the subsidies available for solar installations across the state. The bill, which has been forwarded to the House for approval, [...]

This is the first installment of our new Web series, “Get to Know an Installer.” We’re going to introduce you to the people who really make the solar industry tick. We also hope to show you how, exactly, our partner installers work with customers to help them meet their energy goals. So without further ado, [...]

This Thursday, Margaret breaks it down for us with a great introduction to residential solar. Here’s the white paper (PDF) to read and share with your friends: “Getting Solar: 5 Things Homeowners Should Know About Solar Energy.” Feel free to post any questions you have regarding solar power and your home, and we’ll do our [...]

We often remark that the right mix of state and federal incentives  — like tax credits, rebates and renewable energy credit (REC) schemes — can make a HUGE difference in determining if solar PV is a cost-effective solution for individuals and businesses. These types of incentives help either, (1) by lowering upfront costs, (as is [...]

Interested in installing a solar energy system but not quite sure how to best finance it? In this white paper, we introduce five common approaches: low-interest loans; energy efficient mortgages (EEMs); power purchase agreements (PPAs); leasing; and collective purchasing. Here it is, available for download (PDF): “Getting Solar: 5 Things Buyers Should Know About Financing [...]