Advocates of the tariff say it is needed because solar-power developers need to be fairly certain that they can make money before investing in solar projects. In January, the Corporation Commission solicited input on a FIT from utilities and solar developers. The feed-in tariff, or FIT, would mirror similar rules in Germany, the world’s largest market for solar power.

The commission requires Arizona utilities to get 15 percent of their power from renewable sources like solar by 2025 and has been working with utilities to develop creative financing plans for renewable energy because it is more expensive than traditional power sources.

The tariffs require an electric utility to pay for the electricity and renewable-energy credits from solar facilities at an agreed-upon and sometimes predetermined rate for an extended number of years. California, Hawaii, Vermont, Maine, Oregon and five cities or utility territories in the U.S. use some form of FIT, according to the Corporation Commission’s research.

Like all utility costs, the expense of buying power through a FIT would be passed on to customers. The regulators are suggesting a limit on electricity bought through a FIT to cap the cost to ratepayers. The cost to an average household hasn’t been determined.

Arizona Public Service Co. has proposed two FIT programs using guidelines from the commission. APS proposes to offer a standard energy contract for small solar or other renewable projects, and a FIT for low-income housing, homeowners associations, apartments and non-profits. Those groups usually can’t take advantage of the standard financial incentives for going solar, but they could develop solar with a FIT.

Source: The Arizona Republic

For more information on this proceeding, visit the Arizona ACC eDocket site and search for Docket E-00000j-09-0505

The conferences feature a two-track program, covering both Community Wind and Small Wind. Each track will include practical “how to” information, overviews on permitting, local, state and national policies, and options for financing. The Small wind program will cover:

• Best Practices for Siting Wind Turbines
• Examples of how Small Wind can work for you
• Updates from the Small Wind Certification Council
• How to select an Installer
• Small Wind Project Economics

Conferences are scheduled in the following regions in 2010:

• Rocky Mountains: October 26–27, Denver, Colorado
• Midwest: November 15-16, St. Paul, Minnesota
• Mid-Atlantic: November 30 – December 1, State College, Pennsylvania

Registration is now open. Discounted prices are available with early registration.

Community Wind Across America promises to cover the full range of what’s needed to advance opportunities for locally-owned wind energy production. It is for all who are interested in developing wind energy, including farmers, ranchers, rural landowners, municipal utilities, elected officials, town planners, tribal representatives, economic development professionals, business leaders, investors, bankers, and community leaders.

Support for Community Wind across America comes from U.S. Department of Energy funding and national sponsor, Nordic WindPower. Colorado Governor’s Energy Office is a platinum sponsor for the Rocky Mountain Region event, which is also sponsored by North American Windpower, WindLogics and Western Area Power Administration.

Source: Windustry

On August 24, an administrative judge with the California Public Utilities Commission issued a proposal to expand what was once called the feed-in tariff program. It might still be called feed-in tariff by some, but it’s quite different from the kind of polices that have made Germany and other European countries hot solar markets.

Instead of setting solar electricity rates that utilities must use to buy power from independent project developers (European style), California’s proposal would require investor-owned utilities to hold two auctions per year and sign power purchase deals from developers with the lowest and most plausible bids.

While the 1-gigawatt proposal aims to lure more project developers, it also comes with complex pricing control mechanisms, said Adam Browning, executive director of Vote Solar Initiative, an advocacy group in San Francisco.

“This program is an elegant solution and provides a very compelling and workable model for generating whole sale distributed generation,” Browning said.

The new procurement process would apply to projects from 1-megawatt to 20-megawatt in size. It also would circumvent a sticky issue that showed up last month when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said states don’t have the authority to set wholesale electricity rates that would exceed “avoided costs.”

Utilities can buy power in order to avoid the expenses of building and operating their own plants. So the term “avoided costs” is often used to describe the prices utilities would spend to buy power, which in most cases comes from fossil fuel power plants that make up a big chunk of the electricity generation facilities in the country. In California, avoided costs refer to the prices for power from combined-cycle natural gas power plants.

The proposal would replace a feed-in tariff program that began in 2007 as a way to encourage water and wastewater treatment plant owners to install renewable energy projects and help utilities to meet a state mandate requiring them to have 20 percent of the electricity from renewable sources by 2010. Each project, which could use solar, wind, geothermal, among others, couldn’t be larger than 1.5 megawatts.

Enlarging the size of eligible projects to 20 megawatts each could make them cheaper to design and build them than the smaller projects. At the same time, proponents have reasoned, the project is not so big as to make it difficult to line up financing.

Source: Ucilia Wang, Gigaom

Two educational tracks and an exhibition hall full of the latest wind technology will show consumers, renewable energy professionals, dealers, and installers how best to capitalize on wind technology for homes, farms and ranches, businesses, and rural electric cooperatives. This event will show attendees ways to play a bigger role in the use and development of wind generated and used on-site and that it is not just an alternative, but a realistic opportunity to cut energy costs, cut carbon emissions, and make or save money.

The first AWEA Small and Community Wind Conference was held in Detroit in November 2009, and attracted over 2,100 attendees and over 100 exhibiting companies.

The 2010 Small and Community Wind Conference & Exhibition will be held from December 7-9, 2010, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon

Register by November 15 to receive an Early Bird Discount.

Riley County is one of 20 communities in the country selected from approximately 200 applicants to receive the DOE grant. The grant is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and is administered under the DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program.

“ ‘Resourceful Kansas’ is a very exciting program designed to reduce energy consumption, increase efficient energy practices, help Kansas harvest its abundant, nonpolluting wind and solar resources, and cultivate new economic opportunities throughout the state,” said GBA Project Manager Jennifer Gunby. “This innovative program will engage local governments and others in implementing projects that will save energy and demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of sustainable energy and economic development strategies for Kansas and surrounding states.”

Devised as a multi-step program to be implemented over a three-year period, Resourceful Kansas will first add renewable energy features to the recently completed Riley County Public Works (RCPW) facility, which is an award-winning model for sustainable design. “From the earliest planning stages, we did our best to meet the County’s vision of helping save taxpayer dollars by being a leader in the State of Kansas in implementing renewable, energy-efficient systems at County facilities,” said Rod Meredith, Assistant Director of Riley County Public Works. Additional technologies at the public works site will include four solar-powered street lights; a used-oil heater; four wind turbines of 100kW, 40kW, 20kW and 2.5kW; a thin-film PV system; and a solar under-floor heating system.

During the program, the effectiveness of the renewable energy features will be evaluated and the information shared.  Kansas State University’s (K-State’s) Wind Applications Center will compare energy produced by the wind turbines installed at RCPW with data measured from an existing meteorological tower on-site.  The data will also be used for the development of an electrical system model with the goal of producing strategies to permit “islanding” of microgrids, or small localized electrical distribution systems.  K-State’s Wind Applications Center will also assist in developing on-site displays and web displays of the data for the public to view. The information will be made available to schools for educational purposes.

The primary focus of the program will be one-day seminars offered to cities, counties, state agencies, colleges and universities, and agribusinesses across the state. The seminars, coordinated by K-State Engineering Extension, will be held at the RCPW facility, and will provide participants with an unprecedented opportunity to learn first-hand about sustainable technologies and practices to improve energy efficiency as well as the resources available for implementing them.

Following the seminars, GBA Architects and Engineers will conduct on-site energy assessments for selected participants that will address energy usage, renewable energy generation, and transportation impacts. The assessments will include customized cost/benefit reviews and development of prioritized lists of energy-saving technologies and recommended modifications. GBA will also assist participants in selecting the most appropriate improvements, including consultation regarding design considerations, permitting requirements, and funding alternatives. “Our goal is to translate these opportunities into successful, comprehensive projects with immediate, measurable, and sustainable reductions in energy use and air emissions,” said GBA’s Gunby.

During the three years of the project, GBA will monitor the results, including projected reductions versus actual energy savings achieved and estimated project costs versus actual costs, and will summarize the aggregate results of the program.  Resourceful Kansas will conclude with public outreach to ensure that the benefits of the program extend beyond the immediate participants to others throughout the state and region. The team will publicize case studies, including innovative technologies, issues encountered, and lessons learned on a newly established Resourceful Kansas website at www.ResourcefulKansas.org. “By publicizing these stories, we expect to amplify the impact of the individual projects and create a resource and references for others to follow,” said Gunby.

Source: GBA Architects and Engineers

If you want the best news about what’s going on in the states and cities, read the State & Stakeholder Newsletter (August 25, 2010)

Solar Salt Lake: large PV installations in the queue

Salt Lake City:  home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Rowland-Hall St. Mark’s School, the U of U, a highly evolved food culture, and if Utah Clean Energy (UCE) has anything to do with it, Utah will be home to some significant solar installations.

On a gorgeous August morning, I met Sara Baldwin, Senior Policy and Regulatory Associate for UCE, for coffee and to find out how solar is faring in a state of 2.2 million, most of who live along the Wasatch Front (north) and the St. George area (south). Sara manages the Solar Salt Lake Partnership project as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities Initiative.  Its ambitious goals, like developing a fully-scoped city and county-level implementation plan for at least 10MW of new solar PV installations in all sectors by 2015 (that’s an additional 10K solar PV systems), will be a challenge; Utah is a state where electricity costs are among the lowest in the country.

A combination of enthusiastic, committed stakeholders, well-directed ARRA funds, and favorable regulatory results is making for a radiant solar climate in Salt Lake City.  A community solar project in St. George, SunSmart,  will grow to 150kW (up from 100kW), ultimately topping out at 250kW.  Though it’s run into a few challenges in getting buy-in from the local community, Baldwin is focused on keeping the momentum for this pointed in the right direction.  And just next month, in September, Salt Lake County will hold a press conference to announce the state’s largest solar project — it is expected to be at least 1 MW, if not higher; this project will be located on the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.  All this in a state with a total population of slightly more than 2 million.  Take a minute and read the full article.

Checked your calendar lately?  It’s almost September, and that means about six weeks until IREC’s Annual Meeting on Monday, October 11 in Los Angeles.  The Preliminary Agenda is out, and (as usual), chock full of talent and timely issues.  Hotel rooms are going fast.  Won’t you join us?

P.S.  Exhibition opportunities are now available for the 4th Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference, March 9-11, 2011 in Saratoga Springs, NY.  Exhibition spaces are limited; it’s first come, first serve.

Read the State & Stakeholder Newsletter, August 25, 2010

On a gorgeous August morning, I met Sara Baldwin, Senior Policy and Regulatory Associate for UCE, for coffee and to find out how solar is faring in a state of 2.2 million, most of who live along the Wasatch Front (north) and the St. George area (south). Sara manages the Solar Salt Lake Partnership project as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities Initiative.  Its ambitious goals, like developing a fully-scoped city and county-level implementation plan for at least 10MW of new solar PV installations in all sectors by 2015 (that’s an additional 10K solar PV systems), will be a challenge; Utah is a state where electricity costs are among the lowest in the country.

“The Implementation Plan is being finalized, and will be released in September,” said Baldwin.  “A diverse group of stakeholders worked hard on this, addressing key issues and barriers to solar, and offering regulatory, policy, and other creative solutions to those barriers.  The Plan draws from feedback from three different solar workshops, explores why people in Utah aren’t choosing solar today, and what will help them choose solar in the future.”  According to Baldwin, the Plan will feature a broad spectrum of measures to increase the amount of solar in Salt Lake County and drive market transformation for sustainable market success.

Part of that sustainable market success is to reach a statewide goal of 20% renewables by 2025. Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) is Utah’s only investor-owned utility and serves 80 percent of the state. Currently, about 4.5% of RMP’s portfolio serving Utah comes from renewable energy sources, but that includes power sources from across RMP’s six-state service territory.  “There aren’t any interim targets,” said Baldwin, “and there are plenty of holes to wiggle through, but there are lots of people in Utah who are very interested in making the 20% by 2025 happen.”

30kW PV installation on the roof of a low-income apartment historic building in downtown Salt Lake City that feature 1-kW/unit.

By all accounts, Solar Salt Lake’s Phase 1 was very successful. “IREC’s Keyes & Fox played such an important role in Phase 1 with their expertise in regulatory issues (i.e., interconnection, net metering),” said Baldwin.  “As Solar Salt Lake enters Phase 2, IREC will continue to be a key partner, helping Utah as we explore innovative financing options, including 3^rd party financing, PPA’s, FIT’s, and how to make them work well here. And we’re looking to IREC, with Jason Keyes, Joe Wiedman and Kevin Fox, for their expertise on community solar, including bulk purchasing programs and lease options.  We really want to explore how you get the entire community to buy into it.”

Though Utah doesn’t have PACE provisions, Salt Lake County will be rolling out a pilot low interest loan program for energy efficiency and renewable energy for residential and commercial entities in the County. “It’s a pilot program designed to demonstrate demand and viability of such a loan program,” said Baldwin.  “We’ve already held financing workshops with the financing community to identify barriers and help them understand these new financing mechanisms. It’s our goal to demonstrate that these new strategies are good business models.”  Good business models, indeed.  More financing opportunities mean more money available to consumers, which means more demand for installations, which translates to busy installers and more local jobs and economic activity.

Back in April, the Utah State Energy Program began accepting applications for a stimulus-funded rebate program.  Of the $39M allocated to the State from ARRA funding for all energy activities, $3M was dedicated (and split) between PV, solar water heating and wind, with separate allocations for residential and non-residential applicants.  By June, all the money allocated for non-residential PV and residential wind was spoken for.  “There’s a little bit of money left for residential PV,” said Baldwin.  “In fact, some Utah Clean Energy employees are getting bids for solar on their own homes – right now is a great time to invest in solar”

30kW PV installation on the roof of a low-income apartment historic building in downtown Salt Lake City that feature 1-kW/unit.

Using more ARRA funding, Utah’s State Energy Program is currently offering solar PV grants to corporate and non-profits in Utah for projects at least 200kW in generating capacity (DC rated nameplate).  Gross installation costs must be less than $8.00/Watt (and applicants must provide cost share for the remainder).  Deadline for these solar grants (RGA # AR11019) is September 7^th.  Applicants need to register on BidSync (for details, contact a BidSync representative at 800.990.9339, or email Elise Brown).

For the moment, some 300kW of solar PV (residential and commercial) is installed in Salt Lake County.  But large installations for Salt Lake County facilities are on the horizon.  “In September, Salt Lake County will hold a press conference to announce the state’s largest solar project — it is expected to be at least 1 MW, if not higher; this project will be located on the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.  In addition, the Utah Museum of Natural History, currently under construction, will also have a large solar PV installation—in the hundreds of kilowatts. Both of these projects plan to utilize third-party financing, which is possible because of a bill passed during Utah’s 2010 legislative session.”

ARRA funding will also solarize Utah’s schools.  Each of Utah’s 76 school districts will have a small solar PV system with a curriculum component.  A local contractor has already been selected for this project.

Lastly, a community solar project in St. George, SunSmart, will grow to 150kW (up from 100kW), ultimately topping out at 250kW.  “The community can buy shares at $4/watt and net meter as if it were on their roof,” said Baldwin.    “But, this project has run into some challenges in getting buy-in from the local community – we are hoping to better understand this project so future projects can be successful from the get-go.”

For more information about Solar Salt Lake, or Utah Clean Energy, contact Sara Baldwin.

Southwest Windpower is the manufacturer of Skystream, a 2.4 kW distributed wind system that requires trained professional installation. The comprehensive five-day factory training course covers the basics of micro wind-siting and system sizing as well as a hands-on installation session including tower raising and electrical hookup.  Students also learn system maintenance and repair as well as business skills to help grow a distributed wind business. Southwest Windpower requires all dealers who are installing the Skystream wind systems to attend training and pass a written test on the course materials.

“We see the accreditation as lending legitimacy to the whole distributed wind industry as well as giving our dealers an added tool to professionalize and stand out in a growing competitive market,” said Dixon Thayer, CEO of Southwest Windpower. The IREC credential is recognized by other governing agencies such as North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and will help dealers to open up more business from grant funded installations in states like New Jersey and Nevada.

Source: Southwest Wind Power

The impetus behind Cascade’s embrace of wind power was the avoided utility expenditures associated with operating a wastewater treatment plant. In the first year of operation, Cascade stands to save $30,000. With anticipated increases in electric rates, the Village of Cascade should save more than one million dollars over the thirty-year life of the turbines.

Additional revenue will come from the sale of excess power to We Energies.

“With these two turbines, the Village of Cascade has taken a giant step toward energy independence,” said Michael Vickerman. “Its prudent investment in wind energy will enable the community to control its energy budget, saving money for current and future residents.”

Kettle View Renewable Energy, LLC, a wind system installer located in nearby Random Lake, installed and commissioned Cascade’s turbines.

“We are proud that our local efforts on this project made this the first net-zero wastewater treatment plant in Wisconsin,” said project manager Randy Faller. “It speaks volumes to the commitment by the Village of Cascade to generate clean, domestic energy while saving their community money.”

These two turbines double the number of Northwind 100s operating in Wisconsin to four, all installed in the last 12 months. The first two installed turbines serve schools in Wausau and Fort Atkinson.

Northern Power Systems, the Vermont turbine manufacturer, “couldn’t be more pleased that our technologically advanced, American-made Northwind 100 turbines are delivering real energy solutions for municipalities, schools, businesses and farms across Wisconsin,” said Mr. Brett Pingree, Vice President of Americas at Northern Power Systems.

Grants from Milwaukee-based We Energies and Focus on Energy were instrumental in supplementing Cascade’s investment in the project.

Source: Renew Wisconsin