A Solar Policy Shows How Solar Protects Households From High Gas Prices

Date: 14 Jun 2022 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

State “value of solar” policies, as in Minnesota, create an incentive to install more solar energy in response to high natural gas prices and reduce long-term impacts on electricity customers.… Read More

What Is the Value of Solar? — Episode 148 of Local Energy Rules

Date: 19 Jan 2022 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Gabriel Chan discuss how to calculate solar energy’s true value, where to improve Minnesota’s Value of Solar, and why we must ground decisions in data.… Read More

Letter Supporting an Accurate Value of Solar

Date: 4 Nov 2019 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The following letter to regulators in Kentucky shares ILSR’s experience with value of solar policy, including the key categories of value to assess, the importance of a utility-independent methodology, the tension between accuracy and usefulness in setting prices, and what to expect from previous exercises in other states.… Read More

Minnesota Community Solar Saves All Utility Customers Money

Date: 3 May 2019 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Despite its pride in having the nation’s largest community solar program––shown by the massive poster on its headquarters front doors (the above photo)––Xcel Energy can often be caught complaining (erroneously) that utility-owned solar would be more cost-effective. In the following analysis, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance explains why Minnesota’s community solar program has actually saved Xcel Energy customers millions of dollars already.… Read More

ILSR Submits Critique of Xcel Energy’s Value of Solar Calculation to Minnesota Regulators

Date: 3 Dec 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In November, ILSR submitted joint comments with Community Power and Cooperative Energy Futures to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commision expressing concerns about Xcel Energy’s 2019 Value of Solar calculation. The comments outline issues with the company’s assumptions and ways to improve them.… Read More

Minnesota Regulators Give Boost to Residential Community Solar

Date: 24 Oct 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In a decision earlier this month, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a 1.5-cent adder to the per-kilowatt-hour compensation offered to residential subscribers of community solar projects offered in Xcel Energy territory in Minnesota. The Commission’s decision gives hope that residential participation will continue, with the adder effective for projects started in 2019 and 2020.… Read More

California’s Landmark Solar Homes Mandate Lowers Cost of Home Ownership

Date: 11 May 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Starting January 1, 2020, every new home built in California will sport solar panels. The landmark ruling of the state’s Energy Commission is expected to lower the monthly cost of home ownership by $40, but it will also have significant benefits for the local economy and the electric grid.… Read More

Supporting Affordable Residential Access to Community Solar in Minnesota

Date: 3 May 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In April, ILSR submitted comments in support of affordable residential access to community solar for review by Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission. These comments concerned a proposed residential adder framework outlined as part of the state’s community solar program and Minnesota Department of Commerce Value of Solar calculation. We argue that, in a recent analysis submitted to the Commission by Xcel Energy, the utility exaggerated costs likely to be incurred under this new framework. Our comments support those made by allies such as Cooperative Energy Futures and advocate for adder calculations that ensure financeability and broad participation among residential subscribers to the state’s community solar program.… Read More

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