April 2009 IREC “Connecting to the Grid” Newsletter

Editor:  Laurel Varnado

NC Solar Center, NC State University

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE

The Connecting to the Grid newsletter is published electronically every month by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) and the North Carolina Solar Center at North Carolina State University.  This is a free publication.  Click here to subscribe.

FORMAT

While customer-sited net metering and interconnection are primarily state issues, they are also becoming important on a regional basis.    This newsletter has been designed to capture any subtle, emerging regional trends.  The state news is presented in geographic categories, primarily because the standard NERC and/or RTO/ISO regions do not always align with state boundaries. Please direct comments and questions about the newsletter to Laurel Varnado at [email protected].

Note:  Scroll to the bottom of this page to download complete newsletter.

WHAT’S NEW AS OF APRIL 2009?

Note from the Editor

Policy Trendsetters Leading the Way

This month I would like to recognize some of the states that have been setting the pace for net metering, interconnection and renewable energy policies of late.  Not only are these states expanding into new policy territories, but they often end up corralling their neighbors to join them along the way.

Among regions, the Northeast could arguably be named the most recent leader in net metering policy.  In 2008, several states in the Northeast overhauled their net metering/interconnection standards including Vermont (SB 209 in March 2008); Rhode Island (HB 7809 of July 2008); Massachusetts (SB 2768 in July 2008); and New York (several bills in August 2008).  These bills help illustrate the Northeast region’s growing role as a leader in this policy arena. Vermont has long been a quiet trendsetter within the region, with one of the older group net metering policies in the country. Its neighbor, Massachusetts, passed the Green Communities Act last year which has initiated a lengthy dialogue at the DPU on the structure of community net metering provisions. Not long after the passage of MA’s bill, Maine has also recently adopted provisional rules for shared system net metering.

New Jersey has almost always been viewed as a trendsetter for net metering policy, not only in its own region but also across the country.  Since New Jersey enacted its 2 MW system size limit, several neighbors including the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania have all reached or surpassed the 1 MW limit on system size eligibility. Also, like NJ, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania have no firm limits on overall net metering participation.  [Continued in the Newsletter]

News Items of Interest

Northeast States

Massachusetts utilities file joint proposed model tariff for net metering

Rhode Island PUC issues net metering order, approving National Grid tariff

Mid-Atlantic States

New Jersey BPU requests comments on allowing SREC ownership for large projects

District of Columbia PSC issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for net metering amendments

Midwestern States

Illinois ICC issues 2nd round of proposed large generator interconnection rules

Michigan PSC adopts net metering and interconnection rules

Missouri PSC sees need for lowering liability insurance requirements

South Dakota PUC issues proposed rules for Small Generator Interconnection

Southern States

North Carolina NCUC issues long-awaited net metering order

Western States

Arizona Attorney General’s office approves net metering rules

California Energy Commission issues proposed decision on authorizing TRECs for RPS compliance

Nevada Utilities file revised net metering and interconnection tariffs

Other States

Alaska RCA holds technical conferences

Hawaii Governor provides update on Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative

Miscellaneous News

IEEE Approves Standard for Connecting Fuel Cells & Photovoltaics to National Grid

LIPA and Con Edison to Move Forward With Plans for Major Offshore Wind Initiative

Florida’s Governor Crist Receives Golden Meter Award

Colorado to get 17 MW Solar Plant

Conferences and Events

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