Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating activities:
Net loss	$ (217,498)	$ (174,600)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Noncash losses	3,432	2,545
Depreciation and amortization, net of amortization of deferred grants	73,570	51,059
Bad debt expense	722	1,158
Interest on lease pass-through financing obligations	9,051	9,425
Noncash tax expense (benefit)	13,146	(5,312)
Noncash interest expense	8,024	5,349
Stock-based compensation expense	14,026	10,427
Reduction in lease pass-through financing obligations	(14,149)	(16,059)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	9,183	(5,999)
Inventories	(14,573)	(27,993)
Prepaid and other assets	(5,135)	3,039
Accounts payable	(22,220)	37,605
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	8,014	5,568
Deferred revenue	7,176	31,856
Net cash used in operating activities	(127,231)	(71,932)
Investing activities:
Payments for the costs of solar energy systems, leased and to be leased	(530,295)	(408,861)
Purchases of property and equipment	(10,397)	(8,416)
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired	(5,000)	(14,575)
Net cash used in investing activities	(545,692)	(431,852)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from state tax credits, net of recapture	9,081	4,975
Proceeds from recourse debt	354,400	279,000
Repayment of recourse debt	(307,400)	(192,224)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	249,820	150,000
Repayment of non-recourse debt	(18,113)	(8,938)
Payment of debt fees	(13,614)	(14,751)
Proceeds from lease pass-through financing obligations	14,242	73,300
Repayments of lease pass-through financing obligations		(88,918)
Contributions received from noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	422,207	215,724
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	(27,749)	(20,248)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options, net of withholding taxes on restricted stock units and issuance of shares in connection with the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	4,704	3,188
Proceeds received and (offering costs paid) related to initial public offering	(437)	223,541
Payment of capital lease obligations	(9,668)	(2,670)
Change in restricted cash	(937)	(7,343)
Net cash provided by financing activities	676,536	614,636
Net increase in cash	3,613	110,852
Cash, beginning of period	203,864	152,154
Cash, end of period	207,477	263,006
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest	17,776	7,740
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Costs of solar energy systems and property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	22,871	8,447
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	9,817	7,224
Vehicles acquired under capital leases	$ 12,637	13,160
Noncash purchase consideration on acquisition of business		18,718
Deemed dividend on Series D and E preferred shares		24,890
Deferred offering costs not yet paid		$ 1,463