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 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.

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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

Laurel Passera

Laurel is a Senior Renewables Analyst for IREC attorneys Keyes, Fox & Wiedman, and engages in research and analysis of net metering and interconnection regulatory trends to support IREC’s outreach and communication efforts. In 2009, Laurel was a Southeast Regional Network fellow for the Southeast Environmental Leadership Program and currently sits on Raleigh City Council’s Environmental Advisory Board.