This week in Energy Democracy:
The ballot fight in Florida is heating up between utility and solar-backed initiatives.
Western Wisconsin hosts a community solar garden summit, featuring John Farrell.
5 things you should know about community solar programs.
Featured Stories:
5 things you should know about community solar programs by Natacha Kiler, UtilityDive
Climate change should spur CT to fast-track renewable energy by Ryan V. Stewart, Hartford Courant
There’s an important ballot fight in Florida between big power companies and the solar industry by Tim McDonnell, Grist
Amendment 1 was created by an organization with a grassroots-sounding name: Consumers for Smart Solar. In reality, though, the organization is financed by the state’s major electric utility companies as well as by conservative groups with ties to the Koch brothers. The measure qualified for the ballot in late January, after nabbing nearly 700,000 signatures from Floridians. A competing measure — pushed by Floridians for Solar Choice, a group backed by the solar industry — did not get enough signatures to make the ballot.
In Florida, the Supreme Court is commonly asked by the attorney general to review ballot initiatives to ensure that what voters will read on the ballot accurately characterizes the legal effects of the measure.
100% renewable energy: fact or fantasy? by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
MREA announces keynote speakers for this year’s Energy Fair by The Portage County Gazette
Just how democratic are rural electric cooperatives? by Matt Grimley, CleanTechnica
Energy Democracy News in the States:
Arizona
Study says rooftop solar good for all utility customers by Ryan Randazzo, AZ Central
California
When communities choose their energy, they get a better deal by Jigar Shah and Russ Hancock, GreenTech Media
Connecticut
Climate change should spur CT to fast-track renewable energy by Ryan V. Stewart, Hartford Courant
Florida
EarthJustice strikes back against “smart solar” group by Florida Politics
There’s an important ballot fight in Florida between big power companies and the solar industry by Tim McDonnell, Grist
Amendment 1 was created by an organization with a grassroots-sounding name: Consumers for Smart Solar. In reality, though, the organization is financed by the state’s major electric utility companies as well as by conservative groups with ties to the Koch brothers. The measure qualified for the ballot in late January, after nabbing nearly 700,000 signatures from Floridians. A competing measure — pushed by Floridians for Solar Choice, a group backed by the solar industry — did not get enough signatures to make the ballot.
In Florida, the Supreme Court is commonly asked by the attorney general to review ballot initiatives to ensure that what voters will read on the ballot accurately characterizes the legal effects of the measure.
Illinois
Illinois clean jobs proposed to help the environment and economy by Tanya Koonce, Peoria Public Radio
Iowa
Solar project aims to lower carbon footprint by Elizabeth Gray, Iowa State Daily
Maryland
Sharing solar power: closer to a reality in Maryland by Veronica Carter, Public News Service
Maine
An untested solar policy without net metering is a recipe for disaster in Maine by Peter Allen, CleanTechnica
Nebraska
Wayward mouse prompts Nebraska Republican’s energy revolution by Geof Kos, Midwest Energy News
Nevada
Net metering and microgrids: do your homework by Lisa Cohn, Microgrid Knowledge
Across the country, utilities are challenging net metering projects and laws, resulting in time-consuming delays and expensive charges and rate adjustments for some —and thwarted net metering projects for others.
Utilities successfully challenged net metering in Nevada, resulting in high rates that make it uneconomic for the producer, says Chandler Sherman, public affairs manager for SolarCity. And California recently tweaked its net metering regulations in response to requests from utilities, but mostly kept the practice intact.
Nevada solar power business struggles to keep the lights on by Jeff Brady, National Public Radio
New Hampshire
Net metering vital to 8.5-megawatt solar plan by Berkshire County Eagle
N.H. Electric Cooperative tries some experiments as utilities face an uncertain future by David Brooks, Granite Geek
N.H. House votes to raise cap on net metering by Paige Sutherland, NHPR
New Jersey
NJ Senate panel advances bill requiring 80% renewable energy by John Ennslin, North Jersey
New York
New York REV shows utilities and regulators how to manage change by Eleanor Stein, UtilityDive
New York staged to begin full community net metering program by William Friedman, National Law Review
The goal of community net metering is to expand opportunities for participation in solar and other forms of clean distributed generation to utility customers that would not otherwise be able to access that generation directly. Many utility customers, such as residents of multi-unit buildings, lack control over sites that can be configured into a location for a clean generation facility.
Oregon
Supporters guide renewable energy plan through end-of-session shoals by Hillary Borrud, Portland Tribune
Kate Brown has signed Oregon’s historic, contentious anti-coal bill by Dennis S. Theriault, Oregon Live
Pennsylvania
Questions over standards as solar capacity outpaces utility demand by Daniel Moore, Power Source Gazette
South Dakota
Central Electric testing solar power by Jake Shama, Mitchell Republic
Utah
Clean energy advocates protest so-called ‘sun tax’ bill by Amy Joi O’Donoghue, KSL
Virginia
Virginia lawmakers punt on a suite of renewable energy bills by Ivy Main, GreenTech Media
More than a dozen clean energy bills were introduced in Virginia this year, including on community solar, renewable energy tax credits and third-party ownership. Yet nearly every bill designed to create new market opportunities for wind and solar was recently tabled or “carried over to 2017.”
Washington D.C.
Exelon-Pepco deal in doubt as mayor, consumers advocate balk at new terms by Suzanne Herel, RTO Insider
Nationwide Energy Democracy News:
Long live the duck – and amy he fly flat by Jim Lazar, UtilityDive
Future of U.S. solar threatened in nationwide fight over incentives by Nichola Groom, Reuters
Don’t let the sun go down on me: the controversy over net metering by Beveridge & Diamond PC, Lexology
The best and worst states to get solar panels for your rooftop by Ben Schiller, Fast Coexist
Why demand charges aren’t the solution to the solar net metering debate by Oliver Davies, Seeking Alpha
US solar market set to grow 119% in 2016 by Joshua S. Hill, CleanTechnica
5 things you should know about community solar programs by Natacha Kiler, UtilityDive



