July 2013 Connecting to the Grid Newsletter
Laurel writes how the Supremacy Clause and Interstate Commerce Clause, written some 262 years ago, still play a role in the regulation, governance, and market drivers for renewable energy today. Declaration of (Energy) Independence. Florida PSC notes 33% growth in customer-owned renewables. New York raises participation caps for net metering. Colorado group unveils plan for 10-fold increase in solar. And more.
WHAT’S NEW AS OF JULY 2013?
Note from the Editor
Celebrating our Declaration of (Energy) Independence
This month, we witnessed the Nation’s 237th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Earlier in the week, I celebrated by signing my own declaration of independence, a contract to install PV on our newly purchased home!
This got me thinking about the role that our founding documents still play in the regulation, governance, and market drivers for renewable energy today. And in particular, I read up on two sections of the constitution that continue to shape the solar industry, a mere 262 years after Ben Franklin published his seminal text Experiments and Observations on Electricity.
State News in Detail
Northeast States
Massachusetts DPU clarifies several net metering issues
New York raises participation caps for net metering
Mid-Atlantic States
Virginia’s Dominion Power accepts applications for new Solar Purchase Program
Midwestern States
Illinois requests comments on net metering changes
Midwest Court Ruling May Ease Energy Sales Into California
Southern States
Florida PSC notes 33% growth in customer-owned renewables
Louisiana PSC rules to keep net metering
South Carolina PSC plans to take another look at net metering
Western States
Colorado group unveils plan for 10-fold increase in solar
Idaho PSC denies utility proposal, improves net metering
Other States
Hawaii enacts “PV Renter” bill, exempts landlords from the definition of public utility
Upcoming Events
Miscellaneous News
DoD, Interior inch closer to cooperation on renewable energy projects
Download the full newsletter as a PDF: July 2013 Connecting to the Grid Newsletter
FORMAT
While customer-sited net metering and interconnection policies are primarily addressed at the state level, they are also becoming important on a regional basis. This newsletter has been designed to provide state-level policy updates and capture emerging regional trends. Connecting to the Grid is a free, electronic newsletter published each month by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC). Click here to subscribe.
Editor: Laurel Passera
