Rural Renewable Energy Alliance

10/09/2026

Friday Fun Fact from RREAL! Austrian wheat grows 14% better with partial shade from solar. More positive proof of Agrivoltaics!

Every time a dry summer wrecks a harvest somewhere in Europe, the aftermath follows a similar script: farm groups ask for relief money and governments

10/02/2026

Friday Fun Fact from RREAL! 1 in 4 counties in the U.S. have some ban, moratorium, or impediment to Clean Energy development. That might not seem fun for Clean Energy promoters, but flipping the script - 75% of counties are open for business. The storyline here is that the restrictive counties are potentially missing out on economic opportunities and property owners are being unfairly restricted of their property rights.

Some residents oppose renewables. Others see property rights — and the chance to benefit from energy developments on their land — as fundamental. This fall, county leaders will decide.

09/29/2026

RREAL September 2026 Newsletter

SOLAR FOR HUMANITY - Projects in flight! Our first four solar installations for Habitat for Humanity families are in various stages of the preparation process. Our installation partner, Wolf River, is securing permits and interconnection agreements, installations will occur in the next few months. T...

09/25/2026

Friday Fun Fact from RREAL! In germany, retired solar panels are being repurposed for balcony (plug-in) solar. After inspection and testing, a retrofit-kit is allowing panels to continue to be used, delaying the end-of-life disposal.

A reuse project in Kassel, Germany, has repurposed 300 used solar modules to create 150 balcony PV systems, with tiered pricing aimed at improving affordability. The 13-year-old panels were inspected and refurbished, with local organizations providing technical, logistical and financial support.

09/18/2026

Friday Fun Fact from RREAL! Having recently watched the "The Sheep Detectives" movie influenced my selection of this article for today's fun fact. Sheep grazing under solar panels produces better wool! Another example of the win-win of Agrivoltaics!

Grazing sheep beneath solar panels cuts maintenance costs while producing wool that outperforms wool from conventional pastures, suggesting a new model for how farms might share land in a climate-conscious future.

09/11/2026

Friday Fun Fact from RREAL! It's been at hot summer in Europe. In June, 25% of electricity generation was from solar. This was the largest source for the month as well. The chart shows growth in solar capacity in 1H26.

In the first half of 2026, solar power became Europe's largest electricity source, generating 282 TWh and reducing gas imports by over EUR 30 billion amid rising fossil fuel prices and heatwaves. Despite slight market growth, challenges like policy uncertainty and grid bottlenecks may hinder future....

09/04/2026

Friday Fun Fact from RREAL! Enterprise Energy and Native Sun Community Power Development collaborated on this solar powered boat. Don't expect to waterski behind this one! In the land of 10,000 lakes, there are 613,000 registered motorized boats, second only to Florida. That is about one boat to every 6 MN residents.

It was smooth and quiet sailing for an electric boat on Bde Mka Ska Monday afternoon. The watercraft has an array of solar panels on top that charge and power its motor.

08/21/2026

Friday Fun Fact from RREAL! North Carolina Electric Co-Ops are turning to Battery storage to address rising prices and more frequent outages.

Member-owned electric cooperatives in North Carolina are adding batteries that can store power and reduce blackouts' impact on customers.

08/14/2026

Friday Fun Fact from RREAL! Utility scale battery storage increased installed capacity by an average of 70% per year for the last 3 years!

Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government

08/13/2026

Had a good day talking energy, playing games, and watching the parade at Backus' Cornfest! Thanks to Maggie W. from Minnesota Power an ALLETE Company for helping out!