After all the battles that have been fought and won in the solar war , renewable energy advocates are finally bringing solar energy to the forefront of mainstream discussion. And with the recent advancements of solar photovoltaic technology, going solar is cheaper to the homeowner than ever before—even outpricing coal! This is allowing homeowners to find all of the long-term financial benefits to going solar more immediately achievable.

Having said this, there is still a qualification process that is necessary to approve residential and commercial solar projects. Below I will break down all of the basic qualifications that must be met in order to move forward with a transition to solar energy.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GOING SOLAR

Be the...

Having attended the Solar University for a few years, I have come across many working terms of the solar industry. As fortune would have it, this includes words and phrases pertinent to solar which are often misunderstood, miscommunicated, and misused.

In this blog, I will break down five of the most common solar misnomers, providing correction and elaboration as to their proper usage and phraseology. If you are a homeowner interested in solar energy, or if you work for the solar industry—even if as a Green Solar Ambassador —and would like to revisit your unchecked solar photovoltaic vernacular, read on and share this with your friends. Misnomer: Solar System = Solar Panel Array

Correction: Solar Photovoltaic or Solar PV System, Solar Electric...

There are many utility companies that resist the current public shift to embrace green energy alternatives, but it's no wonder. Ever since the 19 th century, utility companies have held an unchallenged monopoly over the Energy Industry, deriving all or nearly all of their power generation from limited fossil fuel resources. The past decade however has brought on the rise of renewables, with advances in solar photovoltaic technology in particular, making harnessing the power of the sun more feasible and sustainable for everyday homeowners.

This poses an existential threat for utility companies built on generations of infrastructure to service the population with coal, oil, and natural gas. They are being forced to either modernize their business models to remain relevant to the future, or go the way of the dinosaur....

There are solar companies out there who will tell you that when you go solar, you can crank the AC whenever you want. They will suggest that you have 40 electronic devices running all at once and buy a second fridge for the garage. They’ll even claim it doesn’t make a difference if you shut the lights off or not because your solar panels will produce more energy than you will ever need. These are all actual claims taken directly from a real solar advertisement, word for word. Could they be telling the truth?

I posted a blog a while back talking about Solar Spam . That is exactly what this is.

So can your solar panels produce more energy than you’ll ever need? The answer is yes, they hypothetically could, but naturally you will have to pay for the number of solar panels that will...

The Trump Administration is slated to approve the soon-to-be biggest solar power plant in the United States. The Gemini Project is a 690-megawatt power plant will be even larger than the 579-megawatt Solar Star power plant currently holding that record in Rosamond, California.

Plans to build the Gemini project are already in motion and it is expected to be fully operational by December 1, 2023. It will be built in the Mojave Desert along Interstate 15, approximately 25 miles northeast of Las Vegas and will cover 7,100 acres of federal land. Berkshire subsidiary NV Energy will be using the electricity it generates. The $1 billion Gemini project also will come with 380 megawatts of four-hour lithium ion battery storage, providing a reservoir during the evening hours while it’s not producing electricity. Solar Partners,...

So you made the big switch to solar energy. Congratulations! Your energy independence has just begun! It’s okay to celebrate. You’ve been paying power bills your entire life and now you’re finally investing in yourself as the new owner of your solar power-generating home.

It’s great to be free from the endless cycle of utility company dependency. And as the utility rates continue to rise at the rate of approximately 5% per year, you will be immune to these increases with your fixed monthly plan. Things are looking better indeed, but your journey is not over quite yet. You will need to have a few small details in place from this point forward to ensure that your solar photovoltaic system is working in perfect order, generating electricity for you day after day, year after year. Transitioning to solar is after all an...

Have you found yourself in the market for a new career opportunity? Do you want to be part of a growing industry where you can positively contribute to a greener world? I have worked extensively in the renewable energy sector for about three years now, and I can tell you it is a constantly expanding and evolving industry with enormous room for growth.

The business model for solar requires a pantheon of highly-skilled professionals covering the gamut of educational backgrounds and abilities. Everything from marketing to sales to project management—even manufacturers and truck drivers—make up the solar industry landscape. No matter what your skill set or interest is, it is likely that with a little heart and sweat equity, you can in some way enter into this field and make a positive contribution....