The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) voted 4-1 in early December to reject Ameren Illinois’ proposed calculation of the number of solar net-metering customers in its territory. The vote resulted in the reopening of full retail net metering in its service territory, a decision that will allow new solar customers to participate in the net metering program, a widely used solar compensation system.

Net metering (also known as net energy metering or NEM) is a solar incentive that allows you to store energy in the electric grid. When your solar panels produce more electricity than you need, that energy is sent to the grid in exchange for credits. For example, if a residential customer has a PV system on their roof, it may generate more electricity than the home uses during daylight hours. If the home is...

PG&E is raising utility rates in California to help pay for safety measures

Pacific Gas & Electric’s household customers in California will be hit with an average rate increase of 8% early next year. This rate spike is occurring in an effort to help the utility pay for new safety measures and equipment improvements designed to reduce the risk of igniting wildfires in its Northern California service territory.

The higher prices will officially take effect on March 1st and could boost the bills of PG&E’s residential customers by an average of $13.44 a month.

This rate spike is hitting at an unfortunate time, as many people are struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As many people are forced to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, their electricity usage is...

What are the components of a solar panel system?

At Green Solar Technologies, we make solar look easy. But have you ever wanted to hear a breakdown of all the components that make up solar panels? Even though it may seem like magic, it’s actually science and engineering. There are 5 key components in a home solar panel system: solar panels, an inverter, an electrical panel, the power grid, and the sun. In this blog, we'll walk you through how each component works together to create a complete solar panel system.

1. Solar Energy is harnessed from the sun Every solar system collects energy from the sun. A solar system does not create the energy, but instead converts energy from the sun into electricity your home can use. A standard solar panel consists of a layer of silicon cells, a metal frame, a glass casing, and various wiring to allow current to flow from the silicon...

Renewable energy, led by solar power, could make up 80% of the growth in electricity generation over the next decade, according to a report published by the International Energy Agency. Solar power is even being dubbed the "new king" of global markets by renewable energy experts.

With the International Energy Agency calling solar the cheapest form of electricity in history, now consistently cheaper than burning coal or natural gas in most countries, it's evident that Solar's new status as the dominant leader of the power markets is a global phenomenon.

Research shows U.S. solar installations increased 3,000% in one decade. In addition to the growth in renewable energy, utility-scale battery storage increased 20-fold since 2010. California, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada and Texas added the most solar energy between 2010 and 2019. In addition to taking first place for...

Could Solar Energy really be the cheapest source of electricity?

The answer, according to a new report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), is yes.

The IEA reported last week that in some parts of the world, solar power is now the cheapest source of electricity in history, thanks to policies encouraging renewable energy growth.

Sunshine is free, but the technology needed to turn it into usable electricity can be expensive. To encourage more people and companies to switch to solar power, countries can adjust their policies to make purchasing that equipment more affordable. Today, more than 130 countries have policies that lower the cost of building new solar installations. This is the first year that the IEA took such policies into consideration when calculating the cost of solar energy in its annual...

When the COVID-19 panic began to grow, many people feared that the solar industry would be put on hold until economies reopened and life returned to relative normalcy. With the desire to save money and minimize interactions with others, it makes sense that this was predicted once most Americans were ordered to stay at home.

However, the past few months have shown that reality may not reflect this prediction. To the surprise of many people in the energy industry, the desire to go solar actually has increased.

New data from a consumer survey, conducted by The Harris Poll for LG, shows that consumer interest in investing in solar has actually risen since the start of the pandemic. The survey found that not only has there been a 13% increase in people who are now considering solar since the onset of Covid-19, but that increase also outweighs the...

Many businesses have had a difficult time staying afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the current focus of our country is to alleviate the significant health concerns surrounding this pandemic, the economy is taking a hit as well. Businesses are being forced to adapt to the new culture of social distancing and reduced workforce. While most workers still have months before they can go back to normal, we can begin to boost the economy by turning to sustainability. As the healthcare industry remains focused on saving lives, the solar industry is taking the time to look towards our future. Green Solar Technologies believes that solar power has the chance to play a role in our recovery from this pandemic, as well as ensure a greener world once the virus has subsided. There are several big benefits of solar that will help us in this way.

Solar Creates Jobs...