November 2013 Connecting to the Grid Newsletter

WHAT’S NEW AS OF NOVEMBER 2013?

Note from the Editor

Does your state have the right stuff to build a clean energy economy?

To help you answer this question, last month, IREC, along with the Vote Solar Initiative, released our annual  Freeing the Grid report card for state net energy metering (NEM) and interconnection policies.

After seven years of grading state net metering and interconnection policies, we have a bit of perspective on how they have changed over time.  One thing is for sure: we are looking at a vastly different policy landscape than when we started grading them back in 2007. That first year, for example, we saw only five A’s in NEM and none in interconnection. Fast forward to 2013, and there are 17 A’s in NEM and six in interconnection (see the charts below for a breakdown of 2007 vs. 2013 grades).

While the progress we’ve made over the past few years is consequential, we should not stop paying attention to these influential policies. Lagging states still need our help. Moreover, distributed generation market conditions are always changing, obliging states to periodically review their policies to ensure they’re still effective. This year, we revised our grading criteria to keep up with innovations from the leading states.

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State News in Detail

Northeast States

New England states debate sharing costs of new transmission line to transport renewable energy. Read More.

Mid-Atlantic States 

Community solar finds its way to Pennsylvania through alternative ventures. Read more.

Midwestern States

Michigan PSC and Energy Office submit a renewable energy report to the Governor, which determines a 30% mandate is feasible. Read more.

Southern States

Georgia PSC Staff recommends against utility solar fee.  Read more.

Missouri PSC approves solar rebate agreement between Ameren and solar industry. Read more.

Western States  

Arizona ACC hears input from hundreds of protesters in favor of net metering.  Read more.

California PUC sets ground-breaking energy storage goals for state’s Investor-Owned Utilities. Read more.

Colorado solar opportunities continue to grow as three more community-owned solar facilities come online. Read more.

Other States 

Hawaiian Electric lets some PV customers connect to the grid but many interconnections remain at a standstill. Read more.

Federal and Miscellaneous News

IREC News

IREC’s Annual Updates & Trends Report, released at Solar Power International recently, presents information and perspective on the year’s extraordinary growth in  renewable energy and energy efficiency across the U.S., and the research, publications, expert insight and recommendations that are helping shape our clean energy future. Read more.

View an archived version of the newsletter here:  November 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.