Georgia utilities earned high marks this year in an annual report on the state of solar power in the South.

The deal adds to an existing contract with Atlanta-based Cherry Street Energy.

We are at the height of the Sun's activity in its eleven year cycle, known to astronomers as the solar maximum. This means that over the next several months there's going to be a lot of solar activity. It's got us thinking back to 1859. That's when astronomer Richard Carrington was studying the Sun when he witnessed the most intense geomagnetic storm recorded in history. The storm, triggered by a giant solar flare, sent brilliant auroral displays across the globe causing electrical sparking and fires in telegraph stations. This encore episode, Regina talks to solar physicist Dr. Samaiyah Farid about what's now known as the Carrington event and about what may happen the next time a massive solar storm hits Earth.

Want to hear us cover other parts of the solar system? Email the show at shortwave@npr.org to let us know!

A push to expand community solar in Georgia is running into opposition from the state’s largest electric utility, which has been under pressure in recent years to increase rooftop solar.

Georgia Bright attracts low to moderate income Georgia homeowners with solar leasing.

Low- and moderate-income Georgia homeowners have a new opportunity to benefit from solar panels on their roof without spending tens of thousands of dollars upfront. 

In west Georgia, a humble 4-acre piece of land on the shoulder of Interstate 85 is buzzing with bees and soaking up the sun’s energy via 2,600 panels of solar power. This project is the brainchild of The Ray, a nonprofit created by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation.

22 private-sector projects catapulted Georgia toward the top of the list.

Solar, the most affordable form of energy in Georgia, has momentous support from both sides of the political aisle — and it’s combating climate change.

Germany was a pioneer in the solar power industry, but succumbed to competition from China. Now, Germany — and the European Union — are trying to revitalize the industry once again.

The Georgia House could cast a vote on as early as this week on a bill that would give the Public Service Commission the sweeping power to regulate solar panel installers.

The state Public Service Commission approved a $1.8 billion rate increase requested by Georgia Power on Tuesday that embraced most of an agreement between the agency’s staff and the company presented last week.

Runoff from a growing number of giant solar farms polluting rivers and streams in rural South Georgia is becoming a major concern, an official with the state Environmental Protection Division said Monday.

The slowdown is caused in part by an ongoing federal investigation into alleged tariff evasion by foreign solar cell manufacturers.

Alderman Nick Palumbo says Savannah is poised to become Georgia's largest municipal provider of solar energy.