March 2013 Connecting to the Grid Newsletter
WHAT’S NEW AS OF MARCH 2013? Note from the Editor Solar Amplified, Benefits Maximized Cloud cover and inconsistent winds are natural assumptions when it comes to integrating renewable energy. Their variable and non-dispatchable nature requires utilities to take a number of precautions when integrating some types of renewable energy. Utilities take precautions because they…
WHAT’S NEW AS OF MARCH 2013?
Note from the Editor
Solar Amplified, Benefits Maximized
Cloud cover and inconsistent winds are natural assumptions when it comes to integrating renewable energy. Their variable and non-dispatchable nature requires utilities to take a number of precautions when integrating some types of renewable energy. Utilities take precautions because they are required to ensure the safety, reliability and power quality of the grid, and thankfully, they take this responsibility seriously. Many utilities have recently gained considerable experience integrating renewables and have started to allow higher penetrations of solar on the distribution grid than previously allowed. Distribution-level interconnection can save a lot of money for developers, compared to transmission interconnections, and substantially lower the cost of the developing new renewable generating capacity.
State News in Detail
Northeast States
Connecticut agency releases comprehensive state energy strategy
Massachusetts updates its interconnection rules
Mid-Atlantic States
New Jersey solicits answers for aggregated net metering development
Midwestern States
Michigan sees major benefits from renewable energy adoption
Southern States
North Carolina report measures economic impact of renewable energy
Gainesville, FL selects 50 projects for Feed-in Tariff
Western States
Idaho PUC continues to examine net metering issues
Other States
Hawaiian Electric offers competitive bidding waiver for large solar projects; Hawaiian Electric adds remaining DG capacity feature to its website
Upcoming Events
Miscellaneous News
PJM plans for major grid updates
IREC releases DG Blueprint for California
Download the full newsletter as a PDF: March 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