Category: Solar Energy in Oklahoma

While Oklahoma Targeted the Wind Industry Tax Credits, Louisiana Did the Same Over Solar Credits

While the move by the Oklahoma legislature to sunset some of the tax credits for the wind industry took effect July 1, hundreds of millions of dollars in other tax credits remain for the state. But one state is doing something to clear its backlog of credits. Louisiana plans to spend $15 million eliminating tax …

Continue reading »

The Solar Energy Fight in Arkansas

A solar energy fight is underway in Arkansas and on one side are environmentalists while on the other side are power companies and even the State Attorney General. The fight is focused on net metering and whether the state should eventually create a two-channel billing system  which would use a different electricity rate for surplus …

Continue reading »

Electric Cooperative Expands Solar Energy Development

The Western Farmers Electric Cooperative recently dedicated 18 solar projects with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Tuttle Solar Project location. The Cooperative is adding 21 megawatts of solar power across the state including five utility-scale solar farms and 13 community solar sites. The expansion into solar power was initiated several years ago. The company says …

Continue reading »

OKC Mayor Requests MAPS 3 Convention Center Solar Panel Cost Estimate

The MAPS 3 convention center architect has been asked by Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett to provide a cost estimate to study the feasibility of installing rooftop solar panels above the 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall, according to a report by The Oklahoman. The roof is massive and provides a large site that could be utilized for …

Continue reading »

New Mexico Considers Solar Panels on State Buildings

In Santa Fe, New Mexico, the State Senate’s okayed a move to explore installing solar panels on state buildings. The Senate voted 36-4 this week to direct the state General Services Department to pursue contracts with solar providers. It’s a move to state money on electricity costs over time with no up-front public investment. It …

Continue reading »

Solar Energy Looking Bright in Oklahoma With Addition of Two New Solar Farms

Solar energy became the top new energy source in the U.S. for 2016 with new installations doubling last year. Since January of this year, Oklahoma has welcomed two new solar farms aimed at providing a green and renewable source of energy for the Sooner State. In late October, construction began near Marietta on two acres …

Continue reading »

Sierra Club’s Saturday Summit to Focus on State’s Solar Power Capacity

  The Oklahoma Sierra Club will sponsor a Saturday Summit in Oklahoma City on Saturday featuring Solar Energy. Attorney and former Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, Pawnee Mayor Brad Sewell, Oklahoma City Councilman Ed Shadid and several solar executives will speak during the October 1 event to be held in the south conference room of …

Continue reading »

L’Oreal Expanding its Solar Power Projects in Arkansas and Kentucky

Cosmetics maker L’Oreal USA says it’s building thousands of solar panels at its operations in Arkansas and Kentucky. The company calls it a move to help cut carbon emissions and also create two of the largest solar-powered projects in each state. At least 4,000 solar panels will be installed at the L’Oreal operation in North …

Continue reading »

The Future is Bright for U.S. Solar Power Growth

U.S. solar power capacity grew by more than two gigawatts during the second quarter of 2016, representing an astonishing 43 percent increase from the same period last year, according to the latest U.S. Solar Market Insight Report released on Monday by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association. “We’re seeing the beginning of an …

Continue reading »

FTC Approves Tesla Bid to Acquire SolarCity

The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday approved electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors, Inc.’s bid to purchase SolarCity Corp. for $2.6 billion. The FTC fast-tracked the deal “because the merging companies have few or no overlaps.” Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, said in July that merging Tesla with SolarCity would create the “world’s only vertically integrated sustainable …

Continue reading »