From the cement and steel that make our buildings sturdy to the food products that sustain us, the U.S. manufacturing sector produces the building blocks of our modern society. But these products come at a price. Manufacturing accounts for a quarter of all energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States.  Driving down these emissions is a top priority at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), where we’re seeking out and investing in innovative solutions to decarbonize the largest source of industrial emissions: heat generation. Heat is essential and pervasive in manufactu ..read more

When people think of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) they think of Mars, the moon, and what lies in the stars, but NASA also turns that scope back on Earth to better understand the planet we inhabit. NASA focuses on the large, the small and everything in between.1 Through the Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER) Project, NASA can provide environmental information to a global audience. According to its website, the project “provides solar and meteorological data sets from NASA research for support of renewable energy, building energy efficiency and agricultu ..read more

According to the Environment America Research and Policy Center, from 2013 to 2023, Pennsylvania ranked 49th for renewable energy growth as a whole, lagging behind only Alaska.1 The reason for this is simple — Pennsylvania’s outdated Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS).2 If Pennsylvania doesn’t update this outdated standard fast, the state risks being left in the dust as the country moves into a clean energy future. Back in 2004, Pennsylvania was relatively forward-thinking when it came to renewable energy targets.3 In the early 2000s, there were a handful of states that passed portfo ..read more

Two billion people lack access to safe drinking water today.1 The impacts are dire — on human health, on food security, on gender equality, and more. When we look at who lacks clean water, the alignment with energy poverty is stark. It’s rural people, mostly (but not exclusively) in Sub-Saharan Africa.2 These patterns live on, not because we lack the technology, but because we continue to assume that large-scale solutions, whether the electric grid or conventional water systems, will someday reach these rural villages, given enough time. We need to think bigger — or rather, smaller. We need to ..read more

Although artificial intelligence and machine learning have captured the world’s imaginations, a powerful but lesser-known technology is at work all around us, touching our lives every day. It’s the unseen force behind daily conveniences — calculating the quickest route on your mobile phone, ensuring timely package deliveries, and streamlining your airline and hotel bookings. It’s at work in the energy industry, too — addressing challenges associated with battery storage, the variability of wind and solar power generation, and the design and operation of complex energy industry processes. This ..read more

Over the last few years, it has become very common for detractors of utility-scale solar to create websites and Facebook groups to organize opposition to local projects. Often, these online resources are rife with misinformation. For example, one website called No To Solar, created by a Michigan group that seeks to ban the use of agricultural land for solar development, makes the following claims, among others:1 “Solar panels emit a substantial amount of heat which negatively affects the environment. It is likely that solar farms are making climate change worse.” “The EMF (electromagnetic fiel ..read more

Thank you to everyone who participated in the American Solar Energy Society’s 53rd National Solar Conference on May 20-23! We are overflowing with gratitude. Given that it’s a presidential election year, SOLAR 2024 emphasized community and network-building opportunities focusing on advocacy and education needed to expand upon best practices and new ideas for implementing a quicker energy transition. Leaders converged from government, industry, trade, academia & the community come to exchange valuable ideas. The impact of climate change is upon us, and each one of us makes a difference. Scr ..read more

ASES is committed to furthering the professional development of students and other people starting out in the renewable energy and sustainability industries through providing educational and networking opportunities. Our goal is for our students and emerging professionals to be involved in SOLAR 2025 through scholarships and internships, as well as presenting, attending, or volunteering. We want students to be empowered to be a part of the renewable energy and sustainability industries. During the conference, students will be able to: Discover what’s next in solar policy, microgrid resilience ..read more

Energy jobs? U.S. citizens usually don’t give energy much thought… except as we might worry about the price of gasoline or the monthly electricity bill. Yes, we might also fret a little as we think about how fossil fuels contribute to the growing burden of climate change. A Shift in Perspective There is so much more to the energy-jobs story than is generally understood. This is especially true as engineers, materials scientists, and even energy and resource economists are coming up with new critical insights on how energy shapes our larger social and economic wellbeing, as well as the climate ..read more

Last fall, Solar Today readers learned about rising opposition to large-scale renewable energy development in communities nationwide. Author Joel Stronberg mentioned groups like the Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions and Citizens for Clear Skies, whose names belie campaigns that promote misinformation and dismiss urgent clean energy goals.1 Stronberg cited a 2023 study from the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law that cataloged nearly 300 renewable energy projects across 45 states that experienced serious organized opposition between March of 2022 and May of 2023 — a 40% increase in such proje ..read more