This week in Energy Democracy news:

Ballot initiatives in Florida and Nevada end up on different sides of the solar divide, Arizona’s public utilities commissioners are up for re-election (as is the future of the state’s renewable future), and our answer to Ken Bone’s energy question is republished.

Featured Stories:

Why going local makes sense for the clean energy transition by John Farrell, CleanTechnica

U.S. distributed generation users face massive utility pushback [maps] by John Farrell, The Energy Mix

A deep dive to answer Ken Bone’s energy question by John Farrell, Alternet

Q&A: New report challenges assumption that bigger solar is better by Frank Jossi, Midwest Energy News

Farrell’s research suggests that with transmission costs from remote wind and solar farms, having the source closer to users begins to make sense.

“Power that’s delivered at the distribution level might have a different value than generic wholesale power generation that comes on to the transmission system,” said Farrell, a nationally known solar expert.

Capturing local energy dollars – Episode 35 of Local Energy Rules podcast by John Farrell, CleanTechnica

In time, all cars will be electric, driverless, and running on renewables by Gas & Electricity Blog

Insider reveals deceptive strategy behind Florida’s solar amendment by Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald

The policy director of a think tank supported 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.

How Ariz. became a hot spot in the West’s solar battles by Benjamin Storrow, Environment & Energy News

The election has roiled this Southwestern state’s politics and captured the attention of utility watchers nationwide. The new commission will decide everything from net-metering rates to fixed charges on consumers’ bills, making Arizona the new Nevada in the sprawling national debate over residential solar.

Energy Choice ballot question would create thousands of jobs, analysis show by Sean Whaley, Las Vegas Review Journal

Energy Democracy News Around the States:

Arizona

Future of independent solar power hinges on elected regulators by Associated Press, Your West Valley News

How Ariz. became a hot spot in the West’s solar battles by Benjamin Storrow, Environment & Energy News

The election has roiled this Southwestern state’s politics and captured the attention of utility watchers nationwide. The new commission will decide everything from net-metering rates to fixed charges on consumers’ bills, making Arizona the new Nevada in the sprawling national debate over residential solar.

 

California

Conservative desert town on the cusp of emerging solar trend by Anne C. Mulkern, Environment & Energy Publishing

 

Colorado

Local bans on fracking hang in the balance in Colorado ballot fight by Marianne Lavelle, InsideClimate News

A Colorado bank offers a powerful case study for supporting solar in low-moderate income communities by Mike Mendelsohn, GreenTech Media

 

Florida

Don’t be misled by Amendment 1 wording by Keith Costello, Sun Sentinel

Insider reveals deceptive strategy behind Florida’s solar amendment by Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald

The policy director of a think tank supported 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.

Florida ballot measure could halt rooftop solar, but do voters know that? by Martin Lamonica, InsideClimate News

The real scam behind anti-solar Amendment 1 by Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board

Measure in Florida that claims to back solar power may discourage it by John Schwartz, New York Times

Solar battle rages in swing-state Florida by Timothy Cama, The Hill

 

Illinois

In Illinois, new rules expected to make solar faster and cheaper by Kari Lydersen, Midwest Energy News

Illinois lawmakers have adopted new interconnection standards that will make the solar siting and installation process significantly quicker and cheaper, clean energy advocates and utilities say.

The Illinois state standards, adopted Oct. 11, are based on a rule establishing best practices that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) adopted in late 2013. The standards are being held up as a model for other states, including Iowa and Minnesota, which are currently going through interconnection rule-making processes.

 

Iowa

City of Ames utility discussing possible solar power generation project by Roger Riley, WHO-TV

 

Louisiana

10 new electric car charging stations installed in downtown Baton Rouge by Associated Press, WDSU

 

Maine

Arguments over homeowner solar take focus at Maine PUC hearing: Who pays? by Tux Turkel, Portland Press Herald

A parade of residents and small-business owners told the Maine Public Utilities Commission on Monday that its proposal to reduce financial incentives for homeowners using solar panels would stifle the growth of solar and already is having a chilling effect on installations. Several who testified at a public hearing said the commission should withdraw its proposal and let the Legislature set solar policy.

Net metering row in Maine by Danielle Ola, PV-Tech

Solar benefits all ratepayers by Steve Hinchman, Portland Press Herald

 

Michigan

Ending ‘electric choice’ would be financial shock to schools by Tim Paraino, MLive

Advocates face roadblocks while pursuing community solar in Detroit by Andy Balaskovitz, Midwest Energy News

Independent power producers in Michigan band together to fight major utility by Andy Balaskovitz, Midwest Energy News

 

Mississippi

New rules may help boost solar power in Mississippi by Evelina Burnett, Mississippi Public Broadcasting

 

Nebraska

City buying its first electric car by Kristin Streff, Lincoln Journal Star

 

Nevada

Energy Choice ballot question would create thousands of jobs, analysis show by Sean Whaley, Las Vegas Review Journal

 

New York

What does solar need to thrive in New York state? by Sean Garren & Carlo Lanza, GreenTech Media

New York staff recommends transparent rate reforms, ‘full value’ of DERs in new report by Robert Walton, Utility Dive

New York resets distributed energy rates, maintains residential net metering by Katherine Tweed, GreenTech Media

For the past year, stakeholders have been at the table hammering out how to more fully value distributed energy generation, most of which is solar PV, while not completely upending the existing market.

“At the very highest level, we feel this is good progress,” said Melissa Kemp, policy co-chair of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association.

 

Wisconsin

From trash to treasure, solar garden approved for old landfill site by Nikki Junewicz, WEAU News

 

Nationwide Energy Democracy News:

Q&A: New report challenges assumption that bigger solar is better by Frank Jossi, Midwest Energy News

Farrell’s research suggests that with transmission costs from remote wind and solar farms, having the source closer to users begins to make sense.

“Power that’s delivered at the distribution level might have a different value than generic wholesale power generation that comes on to the transmission system,” said Farrell, a nationally known solar expert.

11.4 Million EVs are expected on America’s roads by 2025. Will the grid be ready? by Olivia Chen, GreenTech Media

Compensation for solar power not enough, nonprofit report finds by Ryan Handy, Fuel Fix

Are utilities actually subsidizing rooftop solar users? by Joseph Bebon, Solar Industry Magazine

Keep it simple, state: Community solar developers say complex regulations stifle growth by Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive

U.S. distributed generation users face massive utility pushback [maps] by John Farrell, The Energy Mix

Interconnection: The key to realizing your distributed energy policy dream by Cathy Malina, GreenTech Media

42 state (and DC) try to screw with solar by Frank Andorka, PV-Magazine

The net-metering battle: The first battleground of the solar wars by Energy Solutions Partners, Seeking Alpha

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