SoylentNews

fork(2) [soylentnews.org] writes:

      While there's been so much news and commentary about the SolarCity/Tesla marrying up, there are a couple of non-buyout things of interest that have been happening with the solar energy company.

      First, Science World Report [scienceworldreport.com] reports that SolarCity has discovered its solar panels are performing better than expected.

SolarCity reported that solar power systems will last 35 years. It is 40 percent more than what the market was initially expecting.

      SolarCity's primary finding is that the annual efficacy loss or power degradation of solar panels supplied is greater than 35 percent. It is lower compared to the industry-wide selection of non-SolarCity panels, SolarCity reported. The latter is expected to be of use for a period of 25 years only.

      Second, the Providence Journal [providencejournal.com] (Rhode Island) reports that:

As Governor Raimondo signed a package of bills Thursday that she said was intended to position Rhode Island as a leader in the renewable-energy sector, a California-based company that has been operating in the Ocean State since last summer said it intends to expand here.

            SolarCity, one of the largest installers of residential solar panels in the nation, employs about 20 people in Coventry. The company could now expand that operations center to employ 75 to 200 people, as it does in other such centers in New England, said Leon Keshishian, a regional vice president who handles East Coast solar installations.

            The new laws should pave the way for the company to install more residential solar systems in Rhode Island -- and hire more salespeople, installers and technicians, Keshishian said in an interview.

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