solar energy

Coal has played a significant role in the United Kingdom – and British identity – since the Industrial Revolution. Coal first generated electricity in the country in the 1880s. It was the country’s largest bulk export until 1939. Even the word “smog” was coined in London for the hazy skyline coal power created. But now, the U.K. is the world’s first major economy to quit coal power, beating a climate-focused deadline the government set back in 2015.

A new report shows the nation’s solar workforce grew 6% to nearly 280,000 jobs last year, which is a record high. And a lot of that growth was led by the West.

The plan opens up 31 million acres of public lands to solar development across 11 western states.

More than 10 million U.S. homes sit within three miles of a solar farm. A new national survey looks into how people feel about having these large renewable energy projects as their neighbors.

The $135 million will go towards building and maintaining residential solar installations on a number of reservations.

The Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine involves several entities, including the Desert Research Institute, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Utah, and Arizona State University.

A new federal forecast shows that 2024 could be a landmark year for the energy transition. For the first time ever, the U.S. will generate more electricity from wind and solar than from coal. There are big implications for Wyoming, which is known as the energy state. Wyoming Public Radio’s Caitlin Tan spoke with Rob Godby, who’s an associate professor with the University of Wyoming’s Department of Economics. He researches energy and public policy.

The Western Solar Plan added five more states, meaning more public land has been identified for future projects. But there are concerns over the effect on hunting and fishing on some of these lands.

More and more Americans are turning to rooftop solar panels to lower their energy bills. But having them installed can be expensive – and the cost varies widely across the Mountain West.

Some Wyomingites are saying that a proposed bill could devastate the solar industry in the state, but supporters say the bill would create a more sustainable power grid.