The Empire State’s solar industry has attracted nearly $1.5 billion in private investment, putting its goal of producing 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030 in reach.

After being part of a coalition that tried to slow third-party solar growth in the Sunshine State as recently as October, the state’s biggest utility announced plans to add eight new solar power plants by early next year.

In four years, the company has originated more than $1 billion in solar loans, reaching the goal it set when it was founded in 2012.

The Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census finds solar created one of every 50 new jobs in the United States in 2016, increasing by 51,000 in 2016, or 25% over 2015.

Through no fault of its own, the energy-storage manufacturer revealed on its most recent earnings call that the continuing SunEdison fiasco cost it $500 million in revenue in 2016 – but it lived to tell the tale.

The latest round of financing brings the total raised in 2016 to $165 million, which allows the company to pursue an aggressive growth strategy moving forward.

The Boston-based solar developer, founded in 2016, purchased the significant project pipeline to establish itself as a national player in the U.S. solar market.

The Valentine Solar Project, located in Kern County’s Mojave Desert, is expected to start selling electricity to Southern California Edison in 2019.

The 70 MW system is just one aspect of the plant’s commitment to 100% sustainability – but the company says it will be seven-times larger than the largest rooftop solar system currently installed.

A new report by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) indicates businesses want to settle in states with good clean-energy infrastructures.