This week in Energy Democracy news:
Over 200 mayors from all 50 states signed onto a letter calling for more solar power deployment. They cited the both economic and environmental benefits. Solar photovoltaic panels have declined in cost by 99% over the past few decades thanks to smart public policy. A new study illustrates the economic viability of Minnesota reaching its renewable energy goals by 2050. Plus, electric vehicles adoption is spreading in the central U.S.
Featured:
216 mayors signal support for more solar power in updated letter by Jason Plautz, Utility Dive
“Cities and towns are natural centers of electricity demand, have the rooftops and infrastructure needed for installing solar panels, and can craft policies to help residents and utilities make the switch to solar power,” the letter states.
Renewable Energy Is Surging, but Not Fast Enough to Stop Warming by Benjamin Storrow, E&E News
How Did Renewable Energy Fare at the Ballot Box? By John Farrell, Renewable Energy World
How Cities Can Fund Their 100% Renewable Ambitions by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
DC advances bill to mandate elimination of fossil fuels by 2032 by Josh Siegel, Washington Examiner
The district has a current goal of obtaining 50 percent of its power from renewables by 2032, and the change reflected in the bill represents the most aggressive, fastest-acting climate change legislation in the country. It would also allow the district to enact regional agreements with neighboring Virginia and Maryland to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
What made solar panels so cheap? Thank government policy. by David Roberts, Vox
Solar PV has defied all projections, continuing to get cheaper and deploy faster — even as experts predict, again and again, that it will level off.
Energy Democracy News Across the States:
Arizona
APS spent millions defeating Prop 127. Is a clean energy compromise ahead? By Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive
California
PG&E debt drawdown raises concerns of potential bankruptcy due to fire costs by Gavin Bade, Utility Dive
California PUC chair says state won’t let PG&E go bankrupt by Gavin Bade, Utility Dive
California Invests In “By Location” Distributed Energy Resources by Charles W. Thurston, CleanTechnica
Wildfires Are Threatening California’s Renewables Strategy by Brian Eckhouse, Bloomberg
Illinois
How batteries could replace the need for some backup transmission lines by Kevin Stark, Energy News Network
‘Lottery ticket’ comment highlights potential pitfall of Illinois solar program by Kari Lydersen, Energy News Network
Maine
Maine’s solar policy is more costly than expected. Lawmakers can lessen this cost. By Vaughan Woodruff, Bangor Daily News
Maryland
Maryland Puts Value Of Solar At $7 Billion Over 10 Years by Charles W. Thurston, CleanTechnica
Massachusetts
Massachusetts public health officials want gas health and safety studies by Sarah Shemkus, Energy News Network
Falmouth Town Meeting Rejects Solar Moratorium by Brad Cole, The Falmouth Enterprise
MBTA turns to solar arrays at South Shore train stations by Joe DiFazio, The Patriot Ledger
Michigan
Michigan utilities have a $7 billion plan to modernize state’s power grid by Andy Balaskovitz, Energy News Network
Minnesota
Minnesota co-op websites get failing grade on disclosing power sources by Frank Jossi, Energy News Network
Study says Minnesota can economically reach renewable energy goals by 2050 by Mike Hughlett, Star Tribune
Montana
Montana regulators, NorthWestern sued over renewable energy law by Tom Lutey, Billings Gazette
Nevada
Democrats calling for higher Nevada renewable energy standard by Yvonne Gonzalez, Las Vegas Sun
New York
Community choice aggregation programs gaining traction in New York by Jared Anderson, S&P Global
Ohio
Shading Out Solar: State Policies In Ohio Valley Dim Future Of Energy Jobs by Brittany Patterson, Ohio Valley ReSource
Pennsylvania
Report lays out 15 ways Pennsylvania can grow solar by Marie Cusick, Energy News Network
Rhode Island
Renewable energy: Bids would add 350 megawatts of offshore wind by Alex Kuffner, Providence Journal
Vermont
Guidebook outlines best practices for inclusive clean energy projects by Bill Opalka, Energy News Network
West Virginia
Solar community fights monopoly utilities’ end run around net metering rules by Ben Delman, Solar United Neighbors
Wisconsin
New Buildings In Milwaukee Could Be Required To Install Solar Panels Under New Proposed Legislation by J. Carlisle Larsen, WPR
Nationwide Energy Democracy News:
Solar Loans Emerge as the Dominant Residential Financing Product by Julia Pyper, Green Tech Media
Solar loans emerged as the dominant financing solution for residential systems in the first half of 2018, as existing loan providers scaled up through major installer partnerships and new loan providers grew via relationships with regional installers, according to the latest U.S. residential solar finance report from Wood Mackenzie.
America’s Wind Farms Are Ready to Go It Alone by Chris Martin, Bloomberg
For a quarter-century, the industry has been supported by federal tax credits that helped it attract $250 billion in investments and create 100,000 jobs, according to the American Wind Energy Association. That support ends next year, but analysts and executives say the credits have done what they were supposed to do: make the industry competitive.
Electric Vehicle Progress in the Central US by Charles Griffith, Ecology Center
Over the past several years, a number of states in the central part of the US have also been busy developing their own EV programs. Although the region has not achieved the same level of EV adoption—yet—there is a growing ambition and steady progress.
When Will Electricity Market Rules Catch Up With Wind & Solar Demand? by Carolyn Fortuna, CleanTechnica
Federal climate report: US energy, transportation sectors not prepared for warming by Gavin Bade, Utility Dive
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!
