This week in Energy Democracy news:
Utility-scale solar projects are now competitive with coal and gas. In Minnesota, Minneapolis considers the role of renewable energy credits in its plan to become the first large American city to transition to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2022. Idaho looks to Wyoming wind farms to replace coal. Plus, rural communities embrace community solar in Virginia.
Featured:
An offer utilities can’t refuse: The low cost of utility-scale solar by Herman Trabish, Utility Dive
“Recent bids in utility solicitations show how cost-effective utility-scale solar is,” John Farrell, director of the Energy Democracy Initiative at the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR), told Utility Dive.
Of New Power Generation, How Much is on the Roof? Quarterly Update — 2018 Q1 by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
Does Minneapolis plan rely too much on renewable energy credits? By Frank Jossi, Energy News Network
In June, the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution calling for a transition to 100 percent renewable electricity for city operations by 2022, which would make it the first large American city to hit that target.
How weakened fuel rules could lead to EV haves, have-nots by David Ferris and David Iaconangelo, E&E News
How low can solar prices go? GTM predicts under $15/MWh in 2022 by Robert Walton, Utility Dive
Webinar: Shifting Power From Utilities To Consumers Via Solar Plus Batteries by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
Power Worth Less Than Zero Spreads as Green Energy Floods the Grid by Jesper Starn, Bloomberg
The Rise Of The Urban Rooftop by Laurie Winkless, Forbes
With two-thirds of the world’s population predicted to live in cities by 2050, the stress on urban infrastructure looks set to outpace even the most carefully-laid plans. But if we look at aerial images of any city center, we can quickly spot plenty of unused space – the rooftops.
Energy Democracy News Across the States:
Alaska
What can Alaska learn from Connecticut’s green bank? By Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska’s Energy Desk KTOO Public Media
Arizona
Inside Arizona’s Latest Clash Over Renewable Energy Targets by Emma Foehringer Merchant, Green Tech Media
California
California’s EV Growth Benefits Outweigh Energy System Costs, Report Says by Alyssa Danigelis, Energy manager Today
Electric vehicles gradually spark Valley interest. Will powering up be a problem? By Tim Sheehan, The Fresno Bee
California Returns Fire at Trump’s Call to Rescind Its Authority by John Lippert, Bloomberg
Efficiency leads projected 10% job growth for California’s advanced energy sector: AEE by Iulia Gheorghiu, Utility Dive
Snapshot on Sustainability: Generation – Distributed by Sofia Siegal, U.S. Green Building Council L.A.
Smoke From California’s Wildfires Is Dimming Solar Power Output by Chris Martin, Bloomberg
Exit fee: Deciding the fate of California’s utilities and customer choice movement by Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive
Florida
Solar Energy Becoming Increasingly Popular In Florida As Homeowners Save Money On Power Bill By Rick Folbaum, Miami CBS Local
Idaho
How Wyoming Wind Farms Help Idaho Replace Coal by Tina Casey, CleanTechnica
Louisiana
Charging ahead: Electric vehicle stations gaining some traction in Louisiana by Sam Karlin, The Advocate
Maine
490-acre solar farm proposal raises concerns in Farmington by Rachel Ohm, Central Maine
Maryland
Maryland launches community solar program, creating new green energy opportunities — but also potential conflicts by Scott Dance, The Baltimore Sun
Massachusetts
Massachusetts utilities file US-record offshore wind contracts at $65/MWh by Gavin Bade, Utility Dive
Massachusetts Lawmakers Pass Bill that Opens New Prospects for Microgrids by Elissa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge
Minnesota
Renewable energy in Minnesota receives a battery boost with Connexus project by Mike Hughlett, Star Tribune
Distributed Generation and the Minnesota Value of Solar Tariff by Ellen Anderson, The Environmental Law Reporter
Mississippi
Mississippi law makes solar power unfeasible for many by Adam Northam, The Daily Leader
Nevada
Nevada Hits Milestone For Newly Revived Rooftop Solar Market by Besty Lillian, Solar Industry Magazine
Nevada pushes distributed resource planning regulations ahead of ballot initiative by Iulia Gheorghiu, Utility Dive
New York
New York recommends “stopgap” measures to modify solar compensation by Christian Roselund, PV Magazine
Road Tripping on Solar Power to Zion National Park by Emma Pernod, The Sierra Club
NY Green Bank Announces Strong Quarter, Community Solar Growth by Besty Lillian, Solar Industry Magazine
Pennsylvania
How solar projects can transform low-income communities by Sarah Kennedy, Yale Climate Connections
Virginia
Virginia’s rural co-ops learning lessons with community solar by Elizabeth McGowan, Energy News Network
Vermont
Vermont climate panel urges action as carbon emissions rise by Elizabeth Gribkoff, VT Digger
Vermont Utility Charts Major Growth In Solar Net Metering by Betsy Lillian, Solar Industry Magazine
Washington
Will Washington State Voters Make History on Climate Change? By Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic
Wisconsin
Wisconsin brings energy pricing transparency into strategic assessment by Catherine Morehouse, Utility Dive
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Nationwide Energy Democracy News:
As Powelson steps down, greens call for FERC seat to stay vacant by Gavin Bade, Utility Dive
Report: Trump to nominate DOE policy head McNamee to FERC by Gavin Bade, Utility Dive
Hydrogen Fuel Cell & Battery Electric Vehicles — Technology Rundown by Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
Is the anti-pipeline playbook starting to work? By Ellen M. Gilmer, E&E News
Two critical legal victories over the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines in Appalachia could signal a long-awaited turn of the tide for the tireless anti-pipeline crowd.
DNC reverses ban on fossil fuel donations by Lisa Hagen and Timothy Cama, The Hill
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) overwhelmingly passed a resolution on Friday evening saying it welcomes donations from fossil fuel industry workers and “employers’ political action committees.”
E.P.A. Staff Objected to Agency’s New Rules on Asbestos Use, Internal Emails Show By Lisa Friedman, New York Times
Electric Car Mileage Share Expected To Hit 20% By 2030 by Vanja Kljaic, Inside EVs
Midwest Utilities Contemplate a Future Less Reliant on Coal by Emma Foehringer Merchant, Green Tech Media
Exclusive: Draft details Trump’s plan for reversing Obama climate rule by Emily Holden, Politico
The new climate proposal for coal-burning power plants, expected to be released in the coming days, would give states wide latitude to write their own modest regulations for coal plants or even seek permission to opt out, according to the document and a source who has read other sections of the draft.
Here’s what charging your electric car will look like in 2030 by Joe Romm, Think Progress
This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell or Marie Donahue on Twitter or get the Energy Democracy weekly update. Also check out over 50 episodes of the Local Energy Rules podcast!
