solar energy

A renewable energy building boom is changing the landscape — and the economic fortunes — on Colorado’s Eastern Plains

The milestone comes as solar production continues to grow rapidly in Texas, where it has recently begun outpacing coal over the course of a year.

Some local officials worry solar could take a big bite out of agricultural land. So far, it has amounted to less than 1%, trade group says.

CEO Sundar Pichai announced the investment with Gov. Greg Abbott during a press conference Friday.

A study led by Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman) included representatives from the renewable energy industry, a nonprofit and Oklahoma State University.

Texas' Solar for All program was intended to bring solar panels and batteries to low-income neighborhoods and create jobs by training workers to install the technology.

An Evergy spokesperson said solar projects approved by Kansas and Missouri will be generating electricity for customers in time to qualify for existing tax credits.

Federal incentives to lessen the financial burden of solar panel installations are ending earlier than originally planned after the July 4 passage of the tax and spending law.

Several planned projects would have brought solar to communities in the Midwest and Great Plains for the first time. Others would have expanded existing efforts. Now, the projects are on hold after the Environmental Protection Agency abruptly terminated $7 billion in funding.

States, territories, tribal governments, municipalities and nonprofits were set to get $7 billion to develop residential solar installations in low-income communities. The grant program was designed under the Biden administration and recipients were announced in 2024.