This week in Energy Democracy news:
This week we are featured in a number of great articles that range from inclusive financing policies by utilities, the appeal of energy democracy for cooperatives, and how states are rolling back environmental laws in the Trump era. Check them all out, below!
Featured Stories:
State move to roll back environmental rules in Trump’s wake by Ari Natter, Bloomberg
“A lot of the business groups interested in this have realized they can be successful when they go state to state,” said John Farrell, a director at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a Washington non-profit that advises local governments on community development. For health and environment groups, “there is an element of Whack-A-Mole that goes on when it happens at the state level.”
Companies that are getting free of federal regulations can now target industry-friendly states — think Oklahoma or West Virginia — to get out from under their mandates, as well. By moving state to state, lobbyists can get more traction with lawmakers friendly to their cause.
Economic democracy and the billion-dollar co-op by Nathan Schneider, The Nation
Electricity customers pay for groups that lobby against clean energy, report says by Mark Hand, ThinkProgress
Utility customers foot the costs of “political and public relations” activities of these industry trade groups, the report’s authors contend. Requiring customers to pay a portion of the annual membership dues means customers might be paying for political activities with which they may not agree and from which they may not benefit, the report says.
Electric utility companies routinely receive permission from state regulators to include at least a portion of their dues payments to industry associations in their operating expenses, the Energy & Policy Institute, a research and watchdog group, said in the new report. Those operating expenses are passed on to customers, not to the shareholders of these investor-owned utilities.
Solar for all: How installers can help make the renewable revolution inclusive by Kelsey Misbrener, Solar Power World Online
John Farrell, director of the energy democracy initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a non-profit organization that advocates for sustainable community development, said installers can do their part to help achieve energy justice by providing financing for solar panels that doesn’t require a credit score.
“Something like half of Americans have a subprime credit score, so it’d be very challenging for them to get financing to install solar or to buy a share of a community solar garden,” Farrell said. But, he understands that financing flexibility may not be feasible for some installers. “They’re usually at the mercy of the bank or whoever else is providing their money. But it’s something that they can work on and work toward.”
“Is Bigger Best?” Report – Part 1: Limits to scale in wind by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
“Is Bigger Best?” Report – Part 2: Limits to scale in solar by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
Energy Democracy News Across the States:
California
Why nuclear power has no future in California or U.S. by Damon Moglen, San Diego Union Tribune
Florida
Solar backers support measure to carry out Florida voters-approved tax break by Orlando Sentinel News Team
Renewable-energy tax break bill headed to Rick Scott by Saint Peters Blog News Staff
Georgia
Atlanta commits to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 by Chris D’Angelo, Huffington Post
A resolution introduced by city council member Kwanza Hall and unanimously approved commits city government to develop a plan for transitioning all of its buildings to clean electricity sources by 2025, and for the entire city to go green a decade later.
“We know that moving to clean energy will create good jobs, clean up our air and water and lower our residents’ utility bills,” Hall, who’s also a Democratic candidate for mayor, said in a statement. “We never thought we’d be away from landline phones or desktop computers, but today we carry our smart phones around and they’re more powerful than anything we used to have. We have to set an ambitious goal or we’re never going to get there.”
Atlanta becomes the 27th U.S. city and the first in Georgia to pledge a 100-percent renewable energy goal, according to the Sierra Club.
Indiana
Holcomb signs solar energy bill by Niki Kelly, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Some Hoosiers seek energy policy amid solar battle by Scott L. Miley, Tribune Star
Goodbye, (solar) power to the people by Logansport Pharos-Tribune
Indiana’s new law eventually eliminates net metering – but is the battle over? by Daily Energy Insider
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed SB 309, agreeing with the big utilities that have argued solar users have been compensated much too generously under net metering, a billing mechanism that lets anyone with a solar panel or wind turbine receive a financial credit on their utility bill for sending excess electricity they generate back to the electric grid.
Maine
Solar power advocates take fight over credits to Maine’s top court by Darren Fishell, Bangor Daily News
Massachusetts
Massachusetts should raise its net energy metering caps by Dave Gahl, PV Magazine
Michigan
Small city sets big clean-energy goal by Sara Peach, Yale Climate Connections
Minnesota
Solar energy coming to more homes & businesses, brings jobs by Kate Raddatz, WCCO News
Minnesota developer tapped for new community wind venture by Frank Jossi, Midwest Energy News
St. Peter moves forward on offering solar energy options by Dana Melius, St. Peter Herald
Critics say Minnesota omnibus bill sets back clean energy by Frank Jossi, Midwest Energy News
Although Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a measure in March that would have removed PUC oversight of fixed charges brought by rural electric cooperatives on solar customers, the same proposal is in the omnibus energy bill.
Missouri
Bill to raise utility costs for solar customers still moving through MO legislature by Jason Taylor, Missouri-Net
Under the proposal from Republican Travis Fitzwater of Holts Summit, power companies could tack an additional 75 percent of existing grid fees on those who supply their own solar energy.
Striving for sustainability: City looks to meet renewable energy goals by Tom Coulter, The Missourian
Nevada
Lawmakers reach compromise on bill charting future of rooftop solar by Riley Snyder and Michelle Rindels, The Nevada Independent
New Mexico
ABQ city councilor moves forward with $25 million solar measure by Rachel Sapin, Albuquerque Business Journal
South Carolina
South Carolina House stalls renewable energy tax breaks that solar advocates wanted, halting bill this year by Andrew Brown, Charleston Post and Courier
Utah
Growth of solar industry in Utah comes with questions by Sean Dolan, Herald Journal
Vermont
Creating an energy democracy by Laura Mistretta, Rutland Herald
Virginia
Pro-solar momentum swells in Virginia by Frank Andorka, PV Magazine
Nationwide Energy Democracy News:
State move to roll back environmental rules in Trump’s wake by Ari Natter, Bloomberg
“A lot of the business groups interested in this have realized they can be successful when they go state to state,” said John Farrell, a director at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a Washington non-profit that advises local governments on community development. For health and environment groups, “there is an element of Whack-A-Mole that goes on when it happens at the state level.”
Companies that are getting free of federal regulations can now target industry-friendly states — think Oklahoma or West Virginia — to get out from under their mandates, as well. By moving state to state, lobbyists can get more traction with lawmakers friendly to their cause.
Economic democracy and the billion-dollar co-op by Nathan Schneider, The Nation
Q&A: How rural co-ops can help lead the smart grid transition by David J. Unger, Midwest Energy News
Utilities try new tactics to discourage solar, but still aren’t getting what they want by Christian Roselund, PV Magazine
Report: Distributed generation is rising, but most utilities not ready by Rod Walton, Electric Light & Power
The value of the microgrid as a complementary technology by Diarmaid Williams, Decentralized Energy
Solar plus storage microgrids shows strong promise by Chip Palombini, Microgrid Knowledge
Electricity customers pay for groups that lobby against clean energy, report says by Mark Hand, ThinkProgress
Utility customers foot the costs of “political and public relations” activities of these industry trade groups, the report’s authors contend. Requiring customers to pay a portion of the annual membership dues means customers might be paying for political activities with which they may not agree and from which they may not benefit, the report says.
Electric utility companies routinely receive permission from state regulators to include at least a portion of their dues payments to industry associations in their operating expenses, the Energy & Policy Institute, a research and watchdog group, said in the new report. Those operating expenses are passed on to customers, not to the shareholders of these investor-owned utilities.
Solar for all: How installers can help make the renewable revolution inclusive by Kelsey Misbrener, Solar Power World Online
John Farrell, director of the energy democracy initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a non-profit organization that advocates for sustainable community development, said installers can do their part to help achieve energy justice by providing financing for solar panels that doesn’t require a credit score.
“Something like half of Americans have a subprime credit score, so it’d be very challenging for them to get financing to install solar or to buy a share of a community solar garden,” Farrell said. But, he understands that financing flexibility may not be feasible for some installers. “They’re usually at the mercy of the bank or whoever else is providing their money. But it’s something that they can work on and work toward.”
This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter or get the Energy Democracy weekly update.
