US solar manufacturers lag skyrocketing market demand

US manufacturers do not produce enough solar panels to meet the nation’s demand, but industry investments and federal tax incentives have been making progress.

Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, Associate Research Scientist, University of Michigan • conversation
May 23, 2025 ~7 min

Utilities choosing coal, solar, nuclear or other power sources have a lot to consider, beyond just cost

To really compare different electricity sources, you also have to look at the roles they play in keeping the lights on and their drawbacks.

Paola Pimentel Furlanetto, Ph.D. candidate in power systems, UMass Amherst • conversation
April 14, 2025 ~8 min


Ann Arbor’s sustainable energy utility aims to build the electric power grid of the future − alongside the old one

With the Trump administration prioritizing fossil fuels, cities and states will have to lead the way on clean energy.

Mike Shriberg, Professor of Practice & Engagement, School for Environment & Sustainability, University of Michigan • conversation
March 10, 2025 ~9 min

Solar farms can host up to three times as many birds as crop fields – new research

A survey of solar farms in southern England revealed surprisingly rich habitat for birds.

Joshua Copping, Conservation Scientist, RSPB & Visiting Researcher, University of Cambridge • conversation
March 4, 2025 ~5 min

What Trump can do to reverse US climate policy − and what he probably can’t change

While he hasn’t released an official plan, Trump’s playbook the last time he was in office and his frequent complaints about clean energy offer clues to what’s ahead.

Gautam Jain, Senior Research Scholar in Financing the Energy Transition, Columbia University • conversation
Nov. 7, 2024 ~8 min

How farmers can install solar panels in fields without damaging the rest of their operation

Agrivoltaics, which pairs solar panels with farming, offers a path to decarbonise agriculture. But how do we make it work for crops and energy? A new tool may hold the answer.

Austin Kay, Researcher in Sustainable Advanced Materials, Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials, Swansea University • conversation
Oct. 17, 2024 ~7 min

How farmers can use solar power without damaging the rest of their operation

Agrivoltaics, which pairs solar panels with farming, offers a path to decarbonise agriculture. But how do we make it work for crops and energy? A new tool may hold the answer.

Austin Kay, Researcher in Sustainable Advanced Materials, Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials, Swansea University • conversation
Oct. 17, 2024 ~7 min

Fusion power could transform how we get our energy — and worsen problems it’s intended to solve

Some processes that support fusion energy fuel climate change and may harm the environment.

Sophie Cogan, PhD Candidate, University of York • conversation
July 5, 2024 ~6 min


Why aren’t there solar-powered cars?

It’s common to see solar panels on rooftops and fields, but they aren’t widespread on cars − yet.

Chen Liu, Associate Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Clarkson University • conversation
April 1, 2024 ~7 min

Solar power occupies a lot of space – here’s how to make it more ecologically beneficial to the land it sits on

Solar development isn’t always good for the land, but pairing it with agriculture can produce multiple benefits.

Matthew Sturchio, PhD Student in Plant and Ecosystem Ecology, Colorado State University • conversation
March 12, 2024 ~8 min

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