Massive swaths of flat rooftops, garages, and surface parking lots go underutilized. They could be producing renewable energy.

In an article for Clean Technica, Steve Hanley describes the promise of rooftop solar panels on large commercial properties and parking lots using three examples. “The beauty part is that using those roofs to generate solar power turns the owners of those properties into prosumers — people who both produce and consume their own locally generated electricity,” Hanley explains. Commercial energy users can more accurately predict what electricity will cost them over the long term.
In Maryland, a $4.8 million state program offers funding for solar power installations on parking garages and lots, which double as weather shelters. The program encourages applications with dual uses, such as projects that support community microgrids and local businesses. In Wisconsin, a Ford dealer in Fond du Lac installed solar arrays on two facilities that can produce half of the buildings’ energy needs.
On the product side, a UK company has developed an ultra-lightweight solar power system that can be installed on rooftops not suited for heavier, traditional panels. According to Hanley, just 5 percent of warehouse roof space in the UK is covered with solar panels. “A recent analysis estimates the total area of unused rooftops in the UK is 165 million square meters (1.8 billion sq. ft), with a potential solar capacity of nearly 25 GW — roughly equivalent to 25 average size nuclear power plants.”
FULL STORY: Rooftop Solar On Commercial Properties & Parking Lots Is The Next New Thing

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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