This week in Energy Democracy news:
In California, lawmakers introduced a “Solar Bill of Rights” for home and business owners burdened with fees for generating and storing electricity on their properties. Illinois lawmakers introduced a bill to impliment 100% renewable energy by 2050. Wisconsin also joins the 100% renewable energy bandwagon with a proposal from the governor requiring the state’s utilities be carbon-free by 2050.
Featured:
100% Renewable Energy Needs Lots of Storage. This Polar Vortex Test Showed How Much. By Dan Gearino
Energy analysts saw a useful experiment in that week of extreme cold: What would have happened, they asked, if the power grid had relied exclusively on renewable energy—just how much battery power would have been required to keep the lights on?
Solar Bill of Rights introduced in California by Christian Roselund, pv magazine
The legislation would enshrine a customer’s right to generate and store electricity on their own property as well as connecting to the grid without undue burden and freedom from discriminatory fees, as well as setting compensation for battery exports.
Renewable Energy Projects Power New England Away From Fossil Fuel Dependence by Carolyn Fortuna, Clean Technica
North America’s Resilient Grid for Renewable Energy by Gordon Feller, T&D World
Renewable energy resources remain significantly underutilized in the U.S.
Utilities are starting to invest in big batteries instead of building new power plants by Jeremiah Johnson, The Conversation
The 2019 Community Power Scorecard by John Farrell, Renewable Energy World
In the 2019 Community Power Scorecard, four states excelled, 11 states and the District of Columbia saw above average scores, 15 were mediocre, and 20 states received failing grades at enabling individuals and communities to take charge of their energy futures.
Energy Democracy News Across the States:
California
San Anselmo Town Council Approves Big Electric Vehicle Strategy by John Ramos, CBS Bay Area
Illinois
Aggressive clean energy bill would push Illinois to 100% renewables by 2050 by Kari Lydersen, Energy News Network
Iowa
Iowa solar energy proponents see irony in legislative proposals by Erin Murphy, The Gazette
Kentucky
The original solar bill is right for Kentucky and its energy industry by Stan Wise, Courier Journal
Maine
Solar advocates look to repeal Maine’s ‘fundamentally unjust’ solar rules by Bill Opalka, Energy News Network
Maine governor ends wind moratorium as lawmakers tee up net metering return by Iulia Gheorghiu, Utility Dive
Maryland
Maryland trying to jump-start electric vehicle use by Mike Lewis, Herald Mail Media
Michigan
Dearborn participating in initiative with goal of funding city-owned electric vehicles by Dave Herndon, Press & Guide
Minnesota
MnDOT: State should have 194k more electric vehicles in a decade by Paul Huttner and Cody Nelson, MPR News
Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program Is The Best by John Farrell, Clean Technica
Clean energy groups say Minnesota utilities hide public data as trade secrets by Frank Jossi, Energy News Network
Community solar drives Minnesota’s solar expansion by Christian Roselund
Nevada
Apartments, multi-family housing could tap into rooftop solar under proposed bill by Riley Snyder, The Nevada Independent
New Hampshire
Solar Project Aims to Assist Farms with Energy Expenses by Cheshire County Conservation District, Sentinel Source
New York
Independent power company seeks first 200 customers for renewable energy by Jesse Adcock, Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Smithtown buys electric cars, offers free charges to public by Nicholas Spangler, Newsday
New York utilities, NYISO to collaborate on allowing storage in state’s wholesale and retail markets by Iulia Gheorghiu, Utility Dive
North Carolina
It’s time for energy justice in North Carolina by Front porch blog, Appalachian Voices
Ohio
Smart Columbus exceeds goal for increasing electric vehicle adoption by Rachael Penton, ABC 6
Pennsylvania
Report shows how more Pennsylvania drivers can go electric by Amy Sisk, WITF
South Carolina
Energy Freedom rings in South Carolina by John Weaver, pv magazine
Tennessee
UT gets eight new electric vehicles, WBIR
Vermont
Energy standards lead to partnership by Peter Cobb, Rutland Herald
Virginia
Virginia lawmakers clear path for electric co-ops to expand solar by Elizabeth McGowan, Energy News Network
Washington
To Help Seattle Meet Its Climate Goals, Mayor Durkan Proposes Legislation to Ensure More New Buildings in Seattle Are Ready for Electric Vehicles by Kamaria Hightower, Seattle.gov
Wisconsin
Tony Evers proposes carbon-free electricity by 2050 by Chris Hubbuch, Madison.com
Nationwide Energy Democracy News:
Residential PV + batteries as wholesale energy market suppliers are just the ‘tip of the spear’ by Jennifer Runyon, Electric Light & Power
Transforming Electric Supply for Small-Town and Rural America, Microgrid Knowledge
74% Of American Drivers Say Electric Cars Are The Future – They Just Don’t Buy Them by Michael Gauthier, Carscoops
Electric and electrified vehicles represent a small fraction of the overall market, but a new study suggests 74% of consumers consider them the “future of driving.”
Report: Clean energy could cut New England states’ fossil fuel bills by Bill Opalka, Energy News Network
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont could significantly cut the $8.2 billion they annually spend importing fossil fuels by transitioning to clean energy, according to a new report.
‘Abusive’ contracts. Defunct solar panels after Hurricane Maria. Texas company hit with more than 400 complaints, investigation finds by Eliván Martínez Mercado and Rick Jervis, USA Today
ARPA-E Commits $28 Million to Develop Advanced Floating Offshore Wind Turbines by Justin Gerdes, Green Tech Media
Efforts to deploy floating turbines in the United States, where the technology will be necessary to access strong winds found in deep waters offshore the West Coast, lag behind those in Europe.
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!
