October 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 OCTOBER 2009?
Readers, we’d like to hear from you!
First, please take a moment to fill out a quick six-question survey about how we can make the Connecting to the Grid newsletter a more useful tool for you.
Secondly, I would like to incorporate an interactive component to the newsletter. I know that Connecting to the Grid readers have a wealth of information and questions and I’d like to create a forum to discuss them. Please send any questions or comments to me at [email protected]; I will choose a handful and include them in future newsletters with a response. Please indicate if you would like your name or contact information included with your submission. I will certainly do my best to find answers for your questions and I believe this will help increase dialogue within the interconnection/net metering community.
Note from the Editor – Interconnection Policies, by the Numbers
Last month we looked at a general overview of net metering and I thought it only fair to give interconnection policies their share of the spotlight this month. Let’s begin with some numbers:
- Three states adopted a standard for the first time in 2009.
- Eleven states have enacted or adopted revisions in their interconnection policies in 2009.
- Thirteen states allow interconnections to networks.
- Twenty states plus D.C. have 3 or more technical screens process applications.
- Forty-one states have an interconnection standard, guidelines or working draft rules in place.
[Continued in Newsletter]
State News in Detail
Northeast States
Maine PUC deliberating over community renewable energy act
Massachusetts DPU to hold public hearing on utilities’ proposed NM/IC tariffs
NY DPS will hold technical conference on the state’s RPS program; Governor announces release of funding for solar projects
Vermont PSB issues order setting interim standard offer prices for renewable energy
Mid-Atlantic States
New Jersey BPU announces solicitation results from solar financing program
Midwestern States
Indiana report released detailing renewable energy potential in the state
Iowa IUB uses Illinois’ interconnection standards as a starting point for IC rulemaking
Kansas KCC seeking clarity on net metering/interconnection rulemaking
Michigan PSC seeking comments on interconnection proposal
Nebraska PPD receives renewable energy proposals
Wisconsin PSC continues work on the Advanced Renewables Tariff
Southern States
New Orleans City Council raises system size caps for commercial facilities
Tennessee’s Volunteer State Solar Initiative approved by DOE
Western States
Arizona’s ACC allows SolarCity to enter into PPA with school district
California governor signs net metering, feed-in tariff laws
Idaho’s RMP seeks discount on avoided cost payment to wind generators
Oregon PUC approves interconnection forms and agreements for systems up to 10 MW
Utah PSC working on rulemaking for interconnection up to 20 MW
Other States
Hawaii PUC finalizes feed-in tariff decision
Miscellaneous News
New Jersey Leads Nation in Solar Energy per Square Mile
Toward better solar cells: Chemists gain control of light-harvesting paths
Gov. Schwarzenegger and Secretary Salazar Sign MOU
Conferences and Events
