August 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…
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 August 2009?
Note from the Editor – How Does FERC Influence State Policy?
Certainly changes in Federal policy (like PURPA and EPAct 2005) directly impact states’ abilities to enact, adopt or modify net metering and interconnection policies. There are a number of other direct and indirect mechanisms through which the federal government can influence state policies though, without the need for legislative authority. What are some of these methods and how do they work given the divide between state and federal jurisdiction over net metering and interconnection matters?
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is one of the more significant voices states hear when setting energy policies. FERC, an independent U.S. government agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil, has three overarching goals: 1) Promote the Development of a Strong Energy Infrastructure, 2) Support Competitive Markets, and 3) Prevent Market Manipulation in the energy industries. The Federal Power Act, Section 824 (b), gives FERC jurisdiction in cases of wholesale or interstate commerce power transactions, though it has generally been interpreted to mean that FERC has jurisdiction when a system is interconnected to transmission lines that are capable of transmitting power across state lines. If the transaction is retail or solely intrastate in nature, it is within state jurisdiction. Given this divide, what different hats can FERC wear to influence state policy? [Continued in Newsletter]
State News in Detail:
Northeast States
Maine legislature increases RPS credit for community-owned systems
Massachusetts DPU holds technical hearing on net metering and interconnection model tariffs
New Hampshire PUC formally adopts net metering rule
New York’s ConEd to deploy AMI pilot in NYC
Rhode Island Governor signs legislation that broadens scope of net metering
Vermont PSB continues work on Feed-in Tariff rulemaking
Mid-Atlantic States
New Jersey approves SREC purchases
Midwestern States
Illinois ICC extends deadline for large generator interconnection docket finalization
Kansas KCC begins net metering investigation, issues order on EISA 2007 smart grid consideration
Michigan’s Consumers Energy begins experimental feed-in tariff
Minnesota PUC invites comments on wind turbine setbacks
South Dakota PUC is accepting comments on Interconnection, via the Small Renewable Energy Initiative
Wisconsin PSC continues discussion of Advanced Renewable Tariff
Southern States
Florida’s LCEC cooperative offers net metering for systems up to one MW
Georgia PSC approves expansion of Georgia Power’s solar purchase program for customers
South Carolina PSC approves net metering settlement
Western States
Colorado PUC files supplemental NOPR for interconnection docket
Nevada PUC opens several renewables dockets
New Mexico Governor lobbies against PPA regulation
Oregon Governor vetoes renewable energy bills
Other States
Hawaii allows preferential rates for agriculturally produced power
Miscellaneous News
Feed-in Tariff planned for UK?
Xcel Proposes then withdraws net metering charge
DOE announces nearly $12M for solar grid integration development
Conferences and Events
