Virtual Net Metering

Date: 18 Nov 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Net metering is a common distributed renewable energy policy in the United States, allowing individuals to “turn back” their meter (and reduce their electric bill) by generating on-site electricity. But utility accounting systems typically prevent people from sharing the output from a single, common solar or wind project. Virtual (or group or neighborhood) net metering (now … Read More

In Maryland, Community Solar Pioneers Offer Blueprint

Date: 7 Oct 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A pair of rooftop solar arrays in Maryland spotlight how pioneering communities can pool their resources to expand local access to renewable energy. These “community solar” projects are an increasingly popular approach as electricity customers renounce utilities’ reliance on fossil fuel and look for ways to cut their energy costs. This is part of a series … Read More

The Many Categories of Net Metering (Infographic)

Date: 19 May 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Net metering is a common rule for the electricity system in nearly every state, allowing folks who generate their own electricity to get a fair credit on their bill for what they generate. But there’s more to the concept that a single person with solar on their rooftop, from cities wanting to offset energy use across … Read More

Why (Else) is Xcel Energy Trying to Axe Minnesota’s Community Solar program?

Date: 29 Apr 2015 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In a filing Tuesday (April 28), Minnesota’s largest electric utility announced unilateral action within the next 30 days to reduce development under the state’s community solar gardens program by 80%, from nearly 560 MW to 80. It’s the latest in a series of attempts to slow the program, including efforts to cap the program and impose … Read More

Colorado’s Community Solar Program Allots 9 MW in 30 Minutes

Date: 16 Aug 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 1 Facebooktwitterredditmail

When you subtract out shady roofs, renters, and other factors, only about 25% of Americans have a place to install solar power.  With the high upfront cost of a complete system, the potential solar universe shrinks further. That changes with “community solar.” After a long wait on the state’s Public Utilities Commission to finalize the rules, … Read More