This week in Energy Democracy news:
We continue to monitor the status of Nevada’s net-metering legislation, a new report shows that the growth of variable, renewable energy resources has not harmed grid reliability, and Kansas City leads the U.S. in Electric Vehicle adoption, and a Massachusetts bill creates new opportunities for microgrids.
Featured Stories:
Nevada governor vetoes popular RPS, community solar bills by Robert Walton, Utility Dive
A Massachusetts Co-op Makes A Powerful Vintage by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
Report finds no immediate concerns about grid reliability by David J. Unger, Midwest Energy News
NERC’s own findings suggest that – for now, at least – the nation’s power system has been largely successful in adapting to new technologies, shifting policies and fickle market forces.
Still, the report makes clear that there is a continued, if not heightened, need for vigilance. Both digital and physical threats to the grid are proliferating and becoming more serious over time, according to NERC.
Wind, solar energy have not harmed U.S. power grid: industry study by Nichola Groom, Reuters
The new report, commissioned by the American Wind Energy Association and Advanced Energy Economy, says cheap natural gas is behind most of the decline in the numbers of U.S. coal-fired power plants in recent years, not government subsidies that have bolstered the growth of wind and solar power.
Extra-windy March boosts wind, solar power’s share of Colorado’s energy to 24 percent by Jesse Paul, the Denver Post
Video: Mighty Microgrids — BioCycle REFOR16 Presentation by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
Austin Energy Seeks to Boost Value With a United Fleet of Solar and Storage by Julian Spector, GreenTech Media
Grassroots Group Promotes Local Alternatives To Wisconsin Utilities’ Big Ticket Spending by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
Energy Democracy News Across the States:
Alaska
Cordova hosts U.S. Senate field hearing on microgrids Microgrids by Rachel Waldholz, Alaska Public Media
California
As Solar Pushes Electricity Prices Negative, 3 Solutions for California’s Power Grid by Leslie Kaufman, Inside Climate News
California Lawmakers Model an Electric Car Program After the State’s Successful Solar Initiative by Katie Fehrenbacher, Green Tech Media
The bill would create the Clean Energy Vehicle Initiative — essentially another rebate system — meant to bring 1.5 million electric cars to California’s roads by 2025, and potentially 5 million by 2030. Governor Jerry Brown and the California Air Resources Board have long been calling for 1.5 million electric cars on California roads by 2025.
Colorado
Colorado governor candidate aims for full green energy by Anthony A Mestas, The Pueblo Chieftain
Florida
Florida Governor Signs Popular Pro-Solar Bill Into Law by Joseph Bebon, Solar Industry Mag
Iowa
Decorah, Iowa is latest town to consider parting ways with its utility by Karen Uhlenhuth, Midwest Energy News
An effort is underway in a small Iowa city to create a municipal electric utility that would supplant the service now supplied by Alliant Energy, an investor-owned utility — the latest in a series of similar efforts around the country.
Although the leaders of the initiative acknowledge that it’s a daunting challenge, they believe a locally owned electric utility would provide substantial benefits to the city of Decorah.
Kentucky
Work completed on Fort Campbell solar array by AP News Staff, apnews.com
Maine
Maine legislators get set for net metering vote that could impact PUC ruling by Kim Riley, Daily Energy Insider
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Bills Create New Opportunities for Microgrids, Non-Wires Alternatives by Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge
Michigan
Going Solar: (Not Just for Hippies and Rich People Anymore) by Al Parker, Northern Express
Ann Arbor considers plug-in electric vehicles for city workers by Ryan Stanton, Ann Arbor News
Ann Arbor officials are updating the city’s “green fleets policy” to promote the purchase of plug-in electric vehicles and charging them with solar energy.
The City Council voted 9-0 this week to direct City Administrator Howard Lazarus to move in that direction with the goal of having an updated policy for city vehicle purchases by the end of 2017.
Zero-emission electric schol bus rolls into Ann Arbor area by Kit Maher, Ann Arbor News
Minnesota
Signs For Fast-Charging Stations Now On I-94 In Minnesota by WCCO News Radio, CBS Minnesota
Missouri
Meet the young conservative behind Missouri’s fast-growing solar company by Bryce Gray, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Nevada
Nevada governor to sign net metering revival bill tomorrow by Christian Roselund, PV Magazine
Nev. restored net metering. Is it a national model? by Benjamin Storrow, E&E News [Subscription Required]
Ohio
City considers solar panels as power source by Laura Freeman, Hudson Hub Times
All-electric bus touted as healthier for kids, better for environment by Dan Gearino, The Columbus Dispatch
Texas
Opinions are all over the map on the value of solar power by Ryan Maye Handy, Houston Chronicle
Texas’ lack of statewide metering policy slows adoption of rooftop solar by Ryan Maye Handy, Houston Chronicle
Abbott signs electric car rebates into law by Ryan Maye Handy, Houston Chronicle
How electric vehicles can help cities like Houston fight climate change by Daniel Cohan, Houston Chronicle
Nationwide Energy Democracy News:
US Energy Dept. Makes Bonkers New Pitch For Distributed Solar Power by Tina Casey, Clean Technica
Utility CEOs to DOE: Hands off state energy policies, grid planning by Gavin Bade, Utility Dive Brad
Utility executives convened this week in Boston for the annual conference of the Edison Electric Institute, the trade group for U.S. IOUs. During panel appearances and interviews, they expressed hope that the DOE’s pending review of baseload generation would reaffirm that changes to the U.S. power mix do not threaten reliability.
U.S. Today’s Top Solar Developers Have Become Storage Developers, Too by Julian Spector, Green Tech Media
Thriving Times for Microgrids and Nanogrids. Thank You Batteries and Distributed Gen by Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge
Microgrids and nanogrids — as well as virtual power plants — are increasingly employed to undertake sophisticated management of energy resources beyond their own footprint. They serve not just as local energy, but as grid resources. Two trends drive their expanded use: growth of distributed generation and the improving economics of energy storage.
Tesla is ‘actively talking’ about opening up its Supercharger network to other automakers by Yoni Heisler, BGR News
BMW and PG&E Prove Electric Vehicles Can Be a Valuable Grid Resource by Julia Pyper, GreenTech Media
SEPA report offers guidance on planning for distributed energy resources by Kevin Storie, Energy Services Bulletin
This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter or get the Energy Democracy weekly update.
