Democratic Energy Media Roundup – week of July 13, 2015

Date: 15 Jul 2015 | posted in: Energy | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

This week in Democratic Energy:

  • California leaders back solar projects
  • How caps are holding solar growth hostage
  • Why health benefits should be part of value of solar calculation

Featured Stories

100% Renewable Energy: How to Get There (Video)

The White House Wants To Increase Your Access To Solar Power by Justin Worland, Time

The plan will help finance solar improvements at American homes and expand solar power in federally subsidized housing, the White House said.

A ‘farmers market’ for energy: new portal hopes to increase transparency by Heidi Vella, Power Technology

Democratic Energy Across the Nation

 

California
CAISO Takes Step to Allow Distributed Energy Resources to Compete in Wholesale Energy Markets by Joshua Bledsoe and Douglas Porter, JD Supra Business Advisor

On June 10, 2015, the California Independent System Operator (“CAISO”) released a draft final proposal (the “Expanded Metering and Telemetry Options Phase 2, Distributed Energy Resource Provider”) that, if finalized, would represent an initial step towards a regulatory structure that would result in distributed energy resources (“DERs”) competing in California wholesale energy markets.

Don’t let the sun set on Fresno’s solar success by Oliver Baines III, The Fresno Bee

In just the four years that I’ve been serving on the City Council, solar has gone from a novelty to a mainstream energy option. Impressive recent declines in the cost of solar technology mean that Fresno’s families, schools and businesses are increasingly putting our plentiful sunshine to work producing their own electricity. This local solar power is helping reduce the need for expensive and polluting traditional power plants, savings that benefit us all.

Hawaii
Rooftop Solar Is Critical to Hawaii’s 100% Clean Energy Future by Bryan Miller, GreenTech Media

Lawmakers’ longstanding commitment to clean energy and the public’s overwhelming support for rooftop solar have been critical to Hawaii’s nationally recognized progress to date. This year, Hawaii’s legislature and Governor David Ige made history by enacting legislation to make Hawaii the first state in the country to commit to a 100 percent renewable portfolio standard.

Maine
Maine Legislature Overrides Solar Veto by PV Solar Report

Massachusetts
Policy critique ignores benefits of solar to all ratepayers by Janet Gail Blazer, The Boston Globe
Solar power cap dims credits for town by Ellie Oleson, Worcester Telegram

Environment Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Solar Owners Association, claim the caps are “holding solar growth hostage” and want the cap raised to allow continued incentives for more solar development.

Nevada
Net metering: NV solar cap to be reached earlier than expected by Jason Hidalgo, Reno-Gazette Journal

Nevada’s solar cap stands at 235 megawatts. Once that cap is reached, new solar customers won’t be able to receive the full retail credit for the extra power they send back to the grid. Nevada lawmakers opted not to raise the state’s solar cap or net metering in the last Legislative session.

New York
Governor Cuomo announces solar growth of more than 300 percent from 2011 to 2014 in New York state by The Long Island Exchange

 

Utah
Op-ed: PSC should weigh solar’s moral and health benefits despite Rocky Mountain’s plea by Jean Hill, The Salt Lake Tribune

Renewable resources must be an integral part of our state’s best practices, and not just as feel-good measures. Solar energy has become ever more effective, efficient and affordable. It is also more sustainable than fossil fuel sources, offers creative opportunities in the energy field that could create new jobs and is cheaper over the long term, potentially helping low-income families meet their needs for electricity without having to forgo other necessities.

 

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