by Andy Cochrane | Sep 4, 2026
I have seen several companies try to make the solar roof tile idea work, and while I hope something like this becomes practical someday, I was very skeptical about Tesla’s tiles. This Electrek article provides some context. Tesla announced the roof tiles in 2016...
by Andy Cochrane | Jul 31, 2026
Despite federal policy, the adoption of grid tied PV and electric vehicles (EVs) continues to surge in the US. Through the use of simple smart charging to determine the best timing, this can not only save the customer money but also can serve to stabilize the grid. PV...
by Matthew Barrett | Jul 15, 2026
This has been an anxious year, with prices climbing, the stock market jumping, and bad news out of every corner of the globe. In times of uncertainty, I believe solar is one of those rare investments that pays off in all possible futures. Let’s explore that: if we...
by Matthew Barrett | Jun 8, 2026
Last week, I stumbled onto one of the best reminders of why I love my job. A guy I’ll call “Luke” had gone solar in Hawaii, and he was telling people online that the cost of doing so here in the PNW would exceed six figures. When I gently pointed out that these...
by Andy Cochrane | May 6, 2026
Energy prices are climbing at rates we haven’t seen in decades, and if you have been shocked by your recent bills, you’re not alone. Between record-high gas prices and double-digit utility hikes, the perception that something has changed is real. But here’s the good...
by Andy Cochrane | Mar 20, 2026
In a recent Jefferson PUD newsletter, there was a thoughtful essay from Dan Toepper, one of the three JPUD commissioners. At Power Trip Energy we feel fortunate JPUD has three commissioners who manage the present as well as look ahead. His essay is linked here...
by Andy Cochrane | Oct 28, 2025
PSE has announced that they have added the Franklin and Enphase ESS (Energy Storage Systems, or more simply, batteries) to their Flex Program for storage. Customers with previously installed systems will be able to enroll some time shortly after the beginning of the...
by Andy Cochrane | Jan 14, 2025
PSE’s Flex Program Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is the state’s largest utility and has been showing some innovative thinking in terms of transparency and involving customers in demand response. Demand response is a term that describes altering energy usage to...
by Andy Cochrane | Jul 29, 2024
Installing solar panels on the Port Angeles Food Bank will significantly reduce their energy bills and lower their carbon footprint, allowing them to allocate more resources to serving the community. This green initiative not only supports sustainability but also sets...
by Andy Cochrane | Sep 13, 2016
I recently read about two towns in California that have mandated the installation of grid-tied PV systems on newly constructed homes. This government legislation illustrates to me how far residential solar power has come. Just a couple of decades ago, solar power...
