Articles
Installation news & updates
Timely pieces on costs, codes, permitting, and the installer market.
Permits & InterconnectionStates Are Automating Rooftop Solar Permits in 2026Virginia's new statewide instant-permit law is the latest sign that automated solar permitting is going mainstream in 2026. What it means for your install.Permits & InterconnectionWhy Solar Interconnection (PTO) Is Taking Longer in 2026Your panels can sit finished for weeks waiting on utility Permission to Operate. Here's why interconnection queues are slow in 2026 and how to avoid extra delay.Hiring & CostWhat Happens to Your Solar Install if the Installer Goes Bankrupt?After SunPower and Freedom Forever failed, this is a real worry. Your panels keep working and manufacturer warranties hold - but the installer's workmanship warranty can vanish.Permits & InterconnectionInstant Solar Permitting (SolarAPP+) Is Spreading in 2026More jurisdictions now use SolarAPP+ to approve residential solar permits automatically - sometimes same-day. Here's what it is and how it speeds up your install.Hiring & CostThe Federal Solar Tax Credit Ended - What It Means for Installing in 2026The 30% federal credit for buying solar expired Dec 31, 2025. Here's how that changes the math for installing in 2026 - and why leases and PPAs still carry a federal benefit.Electrical & Safety2026 Solar Code: Rapid Shutdown and the NEC, ExplainedNewer NEC editions require module-level rapid shutdown and other safety measures. Here's what the current code expects from a solar install and why inspectors check it.
Looking for the fundamentals? See our Guides.