Despite the astoundIng increase of grid-connected solar from 2005 to 2013, U.S. utilities and developers still face interconnection challenges. With proper planning, however, and using integrated distribution planning (IDP), states can overcome major interconnection challenges, including closed circuits, that are hindering the integration of renewables.

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: Hawaii PUC The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced four major decisions and orders today that collectively provide key policy, resource planning, and operational directives to the Hawaiian Electric Companies (HECO Companies). The orders require the HECO Companies to develop and implement major improvement action plans to aggressively pursue energy cost reductions, proactively respond...

Source: PostBulletin.com  Xcel Energy issued a press release Wednesday declaring that it had achieved a milestone when 46 percent of customers’ electricity needs in the Upper Midwest were met by wind energy at 3 a.m. Sunday. That’s an all-time high for Xcel, which recently was named the nation’s top wind power provider for the 10th...

For years, the cumulative amount of distributed generation (DG) on the grid was akin to a drop of water in a glass.  That is, a tiny drop in a big glass.  But look how far we’ve come in the past few years. Last year the U.S. installed more than 90,000 photovoltaic installations, with a total...