This week in Energy Democracy news:
A study released last week rules that it is cheaper to retrain coal workers to install solar arrays, Arizona adopts a new method for crediting rooftop solar, and Xcel Energy in Colorado (due to a settlement with solar advocates) is eschewing solar grid-use fees.
Featured Stories
Members reviving Atlanta electric co-op after CEO takes millions – Episode 31 of Local Energy Rules podcast by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
New study: It would be cheap to retrain coal workers for solar jobs by David Roberts, Vox
Even a little solar in an area can compensate, employment wise, for a lot of lost coal. Solar is now making strides in North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, so there is hope for Appalachia yet (though West Virginia ranks 43rd in installed PV capacity).
Arizona’s utility regulator adopts new method of crediting rooftop solar by Julian Spector, GreenTech Media
A landmark settlement in Colorado over solar grid fees: ‘This could be a model’ by Julia Pyper, GreenTech Media
Colorado stakeholders have filed a major settlement agreement that avoids the introduction of a new grid-use fee, which solar advocates feared would stall rooftop solar development in the state.
Energy Democracy News in the States
Arizona
Breaking: Arizona regulators preserve net metering in UNS case by Christian Roselund, PV Magazine
What happens in a rural Arizona rate case will impact entire state by Barry Goldwater Jr. and Tom Sheahan, Scottsdale Independent
Arizona’s utility regulator adopts new method of crediting rooftop solar by Julian Spector, GreenTech Media
California
The SoCal beach town could be driving a renewables revolution by Anne C. Mulkern, E&E News
The city has pledged to switch to 100 percent renewable power by 2035, a goal approved by the City Council as part of a climate action plan (CAP). Del Mar is the second regionally to adopt a CAP with that ambitious renewables goal. San Diego did it late last year (ClimateWire, April 8).
California awards $1.5M to plan advanced microgrid in Santa Monica by Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge
Colorado
Work program trains unemployed oil and gas workers in solar technology by Danika Worthington, Denver Post
A landmark settlement in Colorado over solar grid fees: ‘This could be a model’ by Julia Pyper, GreenTech Media
Colorado stakeholders have filed a major settlement agreement that avoids the introduction of a new grid-use fee, which solar advocates feared would stall rooftop solar development in the state.
Xcel Energy to test new rate structure in Colorado, expand solar under major settlement by Tracy Rozens, Daily Energy Insider
The proposed settlement agreement between Xcel and 22 parties was filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) this week, calling for the testing of new rate designs for residential customers but with no new grid use fees for solar customers.
Connecticut
Former Norwich dairy farm turns into solar energy site by Luther Turmelle, New Haven Register
Florida
Amendment 4: Vote Yes on this beneficial solar proposal on Aug. 30 by Miami Herald Editorial Board
Cost and who profits almost always play central roles. But unlike the controversial solar consumer-rights amendment on November’s ballot, in the primary on Aug. 30, Florida’s voters can approve an almost universally supported constitutional amendment that will reduce the cost of installing solar panels — more incentivizing, less punitive.
The biggest barrier to solar panels is the upfront cost.
Hawaii
Hawaii governor pushes to expand solar power to renters by Kathryn Mykleseth, GovTech
Community solar “will democratize renewable energy by allowing those who do not have access to rooftop real estate to be able to participate in the benefits of the clean-energy transformation,” Ige said.
Ige said Hawaii’s energy community needs to come together to accomplish the state’s renewable-energy goals now that regulators rejected the sale of Hawaiian Electric Industries to Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc.
International
Puerto Rico approves new solar interconnection rules by Lucas Morais, SeeNews Renewables
Iowa
Solar power comes to Mason City library by John Skipper, Mason City Globe Gazette
Maine
Maine solar policies undergo mandated review by MaineBiz
Don’t have solar panels on your roof? You’re still benefiting from solar by Phil Coupe, Bangor Daily News
So close, so far: Can Maine put its near-agreement on solar net metering back together again? by Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive
Michigan
Holland’s on-bill loan program for energy fixes to launch this fall by Amy Biolchini, Holland Sentinel
Minnesota
Q&A: How solar could change the face of low-income energy assistance by Frank Jossi, Midwest Energy News
Nevada
Nevada Supreme Court nixes net-metering ballot proposal by Glenn Myers, PlanetSave
Nevada rooftop solar advocates working to win over lawmakers by Michelle Rindels, Las Vegas Review Journal
New Jersey
New Jersey to offer funds for community microgrids by Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge
New York
A low-income St. Paul neighborhood has an ambitious energy plan by Frank Jossi, Midwest Energy News
Energy Democracy Alliance urges PSC to reveal shared energy plans by Jamie Wilkins, Patch.com
Oregon
Oregon’s energy department joins critics ripping PUC report that would shrink solar incentives by Pete Danko, Portland Business Journal
South Carolina
Q&A: A Republican lawmaker seeks solar momentum for South Carolina by Gillian Neimark, Southeast Energy News
Virginia
‘Dude’ software helps drive efficiency gains for Virginia city by Jim Pierobon, Southeast Energy News
Wisconsin
Private Wisconsin rural co-op expands with solar by Diana Madson, Yale Climate Connections
Racine Solar group purchase set, 18 homes participating by Michael Burke, Racine Journal Times
Nationwide Energy Democracy News
New study: It would be cheap to retrain coal workers for solar jobs by David Roberts, Vox
Even a little solar in an area can compensate, employment wise, for a lot of lost coal. Solar is now making strides in North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, so there is hope for Appalachia yet (though West Virginia ranks 43rd in installed PV capacity).
Relax, your electric car isn’t going to run out of juice by David Roberts, Vox
In corporate march to clean energy, utilities not required by Jan Ellen Spiegel, Inside Climate News
Report: States stand to gain if corporations have better access to renewables by Andy Balaskovitz, Midwest Energy News
The report lists the top 11 states that are “above average” when it comes to clean energy resources available as well as having large industrial energy loads, which includes Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio. The report makes six policy recommendations that would make it easier for large energy users in those states to access renewable energy, a growing trend among corporations globally.
How an obscure piece of technology will help put more solar on the grid by David J. Unger, Midwest Energy News
Solar manufacturers pivot away from big U.S. utility plants by Chris Martin & Brian Eckhouse, Bloomberg News
It’s the dawn of the community solar farm by Chris Martin, Bloomberg
As states debate solar, contentious rate cases give way to broader valuation proceedings by Herman K. Trabish, UtilityDive
Bigger, better, cheaper: Wind power is flourishing in the US by David Roberts, Vox
