A new regulatory ruling in Oregon, reflecting recommendations from IREC, improves how clean energy connects to the grid

Minnesota recently became the first state in the nation to adopt a new national interconnection standard that could spur more clean energy projects.

Last month, IREC joined Fresh Energy and the Environmental Law & Policy Center to file a joint motion with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, which includes a proposal that would help the state implement interconnection changes based on a compilation of best practices and lessons learned from other states.

Say you’re thinking about adding another story onto an old house. You probably wouldn’t want to start building without first having a structural engineer make some calculations to ensure the house could support the addition. Now keep that image in mind as you consider interconnection policy as one of the main load-bearing walls in our solar market “house.” If not properly designed to match the growing market conditions, state interconnection policies may cause the house to come crashing down…or at least cause some major cracks to form.

Multiple compounding factors are driving national movement toward a more modern electricity grid, one that enables a cleaner energy future. A thought-leading report released today by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) offers a unique look at easing that transition, and offers five insightful approaches for state utility regulators who, ultimately, will facilitate this transition through the rules and regulations that govern the electricity system and electric utilities.

Along with the season's time-honored traditions, comes time to pause and reflect on the past year and year to come. Here's a closer look at what we can expect to play out in the national regulatory arena next year. It's definitely shaping up to be an energetic year.

Heather Rhoads-Weaver is Principal Consultant and Founder of eFormative Options with a long career in distributed wind, mostly in policy. Heather talks with IREC about the industry--where it's been and where it's headed.

More than 50 industry, academic, and government representatives from 25 states plus Washington, DC, and Canada joined to work together in a new way to inaugurate the Sustainable Manufacturing Advanced Research and Technology (SMART) Wind Consortium on October 16 in Albany, New York. Hosted by the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA), the event marked the...

In August of 2014, DOE released a report summarizing the current state of the distributed wind market in the U.S. The 2013 Distributed Wind Market Report’s purpose is to help plan and guide future investments and decisions by industry, utilities, state and federal agencies, and others.

Having played an integral role in the development of the SGIP, IREC remains keenly interested in its adoption and implementation as an effective tool to streamline the integration of renewable energy and energy storage. IREC was pleased to find that most Transmission Providers stuck to the spirit of the rule and did not seek substantial changes in their compliance filings.

Tal Mamo is co-founder of United Wind, where he is responsible for the development of new markets.  Tal has served on the Board of Directors of the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) since 2011. He also serves on the Board of the Small Wind Certification Council (SWWC). Previously, Tal founded Talco Electronics, a wind turbine...

On March 11, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced six Wind Energy Regional Resource Centers, selected through a competitive process administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Northeast Wind Resource Center, operated by the Clean Energy Group and Sustainable Energy Advantage America’s Islanded Grids Resource Center, operated by the Renewable Energy Alaska...

Group to craft technology Roadmap The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) recently awarded a two-year grant to the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) to form a consortium of distributed wind energy equipment manufacturers, suppliers, customers and university researchers. With these partners, they will develop a “Roadmap” to identify common manufacturing...

The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, a nonprofit located on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Eastern Oregon, installed a new 50 kW Endurance E-3120 wind turbine in March 2014. The system is the first installation of its kind in Oregon and the only wind turbine on a reservation in the Pacific Northwest. The...

Source: IREC The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy is currently seeking public input regarding the development of the 2014 Virginia Energy Plan, which must be submitted to the General Assembly by 10/1/2014. DMME is currently collecting public input during “listening sessions” conducted around the state. In addition, Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an executive...

Source: Brattleboro Reformer One of the nation’s top renewable power suppliers said it will no longer trade Vermont’s renewable energy credits, which are also counted toward the state’s clean electricity goals. NextEra Energy announced last week that it will no longer take double-counted power in a letter to New England renewable energy credit brokers. The...