Don’t Underestimate Balcony Solar
Balcony solar isn’t really about small panels on apartment railings. It’s about the moment a consumer starts to feel agency over their energy.
Shutterstock.com
iStock.com/domin_domin
Xcel Energy Wins Approval of Controversial Minnesota Virtual Power Plant Pilot
Xcel Energy Minnesota won approval of its controversial virtual power plant pilot that divided the distributed energy community.
Master1305/Shutterstock.com
Almost Bankrupt, This Electric Co-op Saved Itself by Ditching the Status Quo
Rayburn Electric Cooperative’s story offers a provocative message for utilities: Ditch the status quo.
DC Studio/Shutterstock.com
The Factory Boom Is Real—Until You Try to Plug It In
As data centers absorb growing amounts of grid capacity and interconnection delays stretch for years, even modest industrial loads are struggling to secure power. The result is a shift in how factories are sited—and a growing role for onsite energy.
Suppawong Yaed/Shutterstock.com
States Deliver a Record Year for Distributed Energy Policy
2025 was a record year for distributed energy policy, with states accelerating action on solar, storage, EVs, and resilience. New Pew data shows just how widespread the shift has become.
Shutterstock.com
Good Times Ahead for Home Solar…Just Not This Year
WoodMac finds home solar contracting in 2026 but is bullish about its future. Community solar also has slowed, but not everywhere.
Maryland Governor Proposes $100 Million Distributed Energy Auction
First proposed by Senators Brian Feldman and Bill Ferguson, the DER auctions would be held annually beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
SAG stock/Shutterstock.com
What Now for Distributed Energy? A Project Buyer’s Perspective
Electrons are not political — everyone needs them. And maybe it’s our industry’s own fault. We didn’t do enough to say, “Look, these projects are economic.” It’s a no-brainer in certain states to have solar on your roof.
LifeJourneys/istock.com
Why is the Business Vibe So Weird for Distributed Energy?
What is the distributed energy forecast for 2026? A mix of survival and gold-rush fever as incentives disappear, but demand for energy surges.
bombermoon/Shutterstock.com
New Federal Data Shows Record Renewable Energy Additions Coming in 2026
If the Trump administration is at war with renewable energy, it appears to be losing, based on an EIA report.