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