The U.S. Armed Forces continued to arm themselves with more solar last week. But even oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia are attempting to grow the amount of renewables they have in their energy supply. So perhaps it’s fitting that a solar boat is touring the world—again to bring its solar message to ever more people. But that’s just a showcase, organizations like Kiva are helping bring solar to more people across the world. Meanwhile in the U.S. states like Colorado are considering legislation to add more solar and even real estate companies are starting to market land for solar as opposed to other options. 

The U.S. Armed Forces have set a goal of installing 3 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2025, and thus far they’ve been delivering on that promise, adding in solar at installations across the U.S. Most recently, for instance, Sullivan Solar has completed two arrays at the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. In this case it completed a 221-kilowatt array on Edson Range and a 125-kilowatt array on Chappo Dining facilities. Other branches of the military are also quickly adding in more solar across the country. The Armed Forces are undertaking these projects to help reduce their reliance on foreign fossil fuels, like oil and gas that comes from Saudi Arabia.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia is looking to take advantage of its sunny natural resources by adding in more solar power. The oil-rich country is using millions of barrels of oil to power its electric and desalinization needs. But it could free up those millions of barrels of oil for export if it switches to solar and wind power. It would also keep the country from burning oil during the summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The MS Turano PlanetSolar—a solar-powered boat that’s already circumnavigated the globe plans to start breaking its own records. Last week it left its dock at Rabat in Morocco with plans to navigate the Atlantic and beat it’s previous record for a solar-powered boat to cross the Atlantic. The boat’s first circumnavigation of the globe included stops throughout the world, showcasing the boat’s ability to be powered purely by the sun. This time its also studying the jetstream.

Projects like PlanetSolar show solar off to a variety of audiences, but projects like the microlending programs offered through Kiva are creating new businesses in developing nations, allowing more people to bring money into local economies and improving lives. The organization has developed a number of green loan programs to support solar in a variety of countries where it can help people charge phones and provide light at night for eating, reading and studying.

In the U.S. state-level legislation continues to move forward. In some states proposed legislation would curtail the solar industry. In others, like in Colorado, legislation would help expand the solar industry. Legislators in the Centennial State are considering a bill that would expand the renewable portfolio standard for rural electric cooperatives and larger municipal utilities. While investor-owned utilities in the state are already required to source 30 percent of their power from renewables by 2020, municipal and co-ops were only required to source 10 percent of their electric from renewables by 2020. Under the new legislation they would have to source 25 percent of their grid power from renewables.

Meanwhile real estate companies like Crescent Communities are realizing the advantages of leasing land to solar. The North Carolina-based company announced last week that it will market thousands of acres for solar development.