This week in Energy Democracy news:
An analysis of Germany’s customer-centric energy revolution, a Q&A around our latest report, and regulators fighting back against solar fees across the country.
Featured Stories
Distributed Generation Under Fire (2015) by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
Q&A: New report challenges assumption that bigger solar is better by Frank Jossi, Midwest Energy News
The many categories of net metering (infographic) by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
Massachusetts regulators limit fixed charges, reject new fees for PV systems by Christian Roselund, PV Magazine
When not trying to dismantle net metering, utilities across the United States are continually attempting to undermine the economics of customer sited-PV with new rate structures and higher fixed charges. However, as study after study finds, state regulators usually do not grant much of what utilities request.
Germany’s clean energy revolution focuses on empowering individuals by Craig Morris & Arne Jungjohahn, Huffington Post
Like the Germans, American communities would benefit more from their citizens investing in local renewables instead of giving their money to big utilities largely owned by Wall Street investors.
Energy Democracy News Around the States
Arizona
Dark money is re-shaping Arizona’s energy fights by Elizabeth Shogren, High Country News
Arizona’s draft value of solar order leaves much to be desired by Christian Roselund, PV Magazine
California
Rooftop solar is booming, despite political battles by Sammy Roth, Desert Sun
Florida
On Amendment 1, vote ‘No’ by Bill Johnson, Sarasota Herald Tribune
Insider reveals deceptive strategy behind Florida’s solar amendment by Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald
The policy director of a think tank hired by Florida’s largest electric utilities admitted at a conference this month what opponents have claimed for months: The industry attempted to deceive voters into supporting restrictions on the expansion of solar by shrouding Amendment 1 as a pro-solar amendment.
Illinois
Chicago-area mapping tool sparks interest in community solar by Kari Lydersen, Midwest Energy News
International
AGL says local renewables would offer more security than current grid by Giles Parkinson, RenewEconomy
Germany’s clean energy revolution focuses on empowering individuals by Craig Morris & Arne Jungjohahn, Huffington Post
Like the Germans, American communities would benefit more from their citizens investing in local renewables instead of giving their money to big utilities largely owned by Wall Street investors.
Maine
Don’t erode solar incentives by Karen Marysdaughter, Bangor Daily News
Crucial battle over solar panel incentives goes to Maine PUC by Tux Turkel, Portland Press Herald
Maryland
Maryland launches review of electric-distribution systems by Frank Andorka, PV Magazine
Massachusetts
Massachusetts regulators limit fixed charges, reject new fees for PV systems by Christian Roselund, PV Magazine
When not trying to dismantle net metering, utilities across the United States are continually attempting to undermine the economics of customer sited-PV with new rate structures and higher fixed charges. However, as study after study finds, state regulators usually do not grant much of what utilities request.
Massachusetts’ new rate-case ruling is good news for distributed energy by Jeff St. John, GreenTech Media
Michigan
Solarize Michigan shows final home before sun sets on solar program by Mark Tower, MLive
Michigan: No longer up for debate, clean energy best bet by Ariana Gonzalez, National Resource Defense Council
The nation is making the case for clean energy, Michigan is making the case for clean energy, and both are making the case for you. If you’re worried about jobs, rest assured the clean energy economy is booming.
Ending our reliance on coal benefits Detroiters by Guy Williams, Detroit News
Lawmakers working on energy bill package that could impact Michigan schools by Nick Minock, WWMT-TV
Minnesota
Building upgrades give downtown St. Paul smaller energy footprint by Elizabeth Dunbar, Minnesota Public Radio News
Nevada
Nevada task force recommends restoring net metering as PUC welcomes 2 new regulators by Peter Maloney & Gavin Bade, Utility Dive
Why some Las Vegas casinos are gambling on solar by Tovin Lapan, City Lab
5 takeaways: Task force pushes for net metering, energy efficiency, consumer protection by Daniel Rothberg, Las Vegas Sun
New York
New York and the standby tariff: A breakthrough for clean, distributed energy by EDF Energy Exchange, Energy Collective
Ohio
Proposed legislation would further weaken Ohio clean energy standards by Kathiann M. Kowalski, Midwest Energy News
Utah
Advocates, residents and city leaders spar over Provo’s solar charges by Ami Joy O’Donoghue, Deseret News
Wisconsin
A question of need: Court to hear challenge to high-voltage line by Chris Hubbuch, LaCrosse Tribune
“Hosting a transmission line doesn’t necessarily bring you a lot of economic benefit,” said Farrell of the ILSR. “A lot of times it doesn’t even give you a way that you can put power into that system because a high-voltage line is kind of bringing it from one point to another point. There’s not a lot of on and off ramps.”
What’s more, investing billions of dollars in transmission leads to a phenomenon known as “path dependence.”
Factories miffed at high Wisconsin power prices by Thomas Content, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Madison to see more renewable energy projects by Dana Kampa, The Badger Herald
Nationwide Energy Democracy News
Turns out solar power is the only thing Americans can agree on by Sabrina Imbler, Grist
Is the tide turning on state-level solar policy fights? by Jesse Grossman, Solar Industry Magazine
Utilities continue filing requests to increase fixed charges, but reports show regulators have denied the majority of these requests. Compromise solar valuation regulatory decisions occurred in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. Meanwhile, policymakers in New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island have taken progressive solar action, and voters overwhelmingly supported expanding solar access in Florida.
Energy storage financing is coming into its own by Julian Spector, GreenTech Media
Advocates seek to bring industry into energy efficiency conversation by Kari Lydersen, Midwest Energy News
Wind is the new corn for struggling farmers by Jennifer Oldham, Bloomberg
Wind energy, the fastest-growing source of electricity in the U.S., is transforming low-income rural areas in ways not seen since the federal government gave land to homesteaders 150 years ago.
A peace treaty: How utilities can benefit from residential energy storage by Anna Gretz, Solar Industry Magazine
EV sales set quarterly record in America by Steve Hanley, Gas2
Solar split: How a new petition is dividing rooftop and utility-scale installers in SEIA by Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive
All of the new electricity capacity brought online in the U.S. in August was from solar or wind by Arsalan Malik, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis
Cities shifting to decentralized energy finds report by Tildy Bayar, PennEnergy
