Land use

Solar

California’s first solar-covered canal is now fully online

The 1.6-MW pilot system is among a growing number of initiatives to put solar over waterways. The approach could generate gigawatts of power nationwide.

By Maria Gallucci . 10 September 2025

The roughly 110-foot-wide portion of the canal-top solar project near Hickman, California. (Turlock Irrigation District)

Land use

Trump admin’s new anti-renewables rule rooted in fossil-fuel misinformation

The Interior Department’s directive casts solar and wind energy as bad for the environment, without weighing costs of oil, coal, and gas, critics say.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 25 August 2025
Clean energy

Maine moves to fast-track clean energy before federal tax credits expire

The state is prioritizing projects built on PFAS-contaminated land as it looks to kickstart installations that can help it reach 100% clean energy by 2040.

By Sarah Shemkus . 24 July 2025
Solar

An Ohio solar project overcomes local opposition and misinformation

State regulators greenlit the Frasier Solar development, taking into account that opposition was not unanimous. That’s good and bad news for future projects.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 14 July 2025
Solar

Why the solar industry is counting Ohio’s newest energy law as a win

Although legislators highlighted the law’s potential to spur “dispatchable” power like gas and nuclear, its tech-neutral incentives can benefit solar, too.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 29 May 2025
Carbon capture

Ohio bills aim to sideline local critics of carbon capture projects

Some landowners could be forced to let companies inject CO2 beneath their properties, and the state would get exclusive say over project permitting.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 11 April 2025
Clean energy

Nevada solar-plus-storage project gets green light to use public land

The installation, with 200MW of solar and 600MW of storage, comes as the Bureau of Land Management releases its plan to streamline solar development in the west.

By Keaton Peters . 30 August 2024
Land use

How the Biden admin is trying to boost renewables on public land

The Bureau of Land Management is making it easier to develop clean energy projects in the West, while trying to balance ecosystem protection — a tricky task.

By Eric Wesoff . 24 April 2024
Solar

Ohio greenlights massive solar, storage and agrivoltaics project

Oak Run will be Ohio's largest solar installation and the nation's biggest agrivoltaics project, spanning 6,000 acres and totaling 800 MW.

By Eric Wesoff . 21 March 2024
Hydropower

Hydropower out of whack thanks to record heat and precipitation

In California, hydropower output is expected to double this year. But in the hydro-dependent Northwest, abnormal heat could cause it to shrink by 19%.

By Julian Spector . 5 October 2023
Solar

Can America's canals double as solar farms?

Studies show that putting solar panels over waterways could boost clean energy and conserve water. The first U.S. pilot project is getting underway in California.

By Maria Gallucci . 26 July 2023