Visual Primer: Distributed Solar Poised for Expansion Amid Growing Policy Support
Federal and state actions to boost distributed solar show the growing interest in harnessing the technology to achieve broader policy goals.
SOLAR POWER
Visual Primer: U.S. Investigation of Imported Photovoltaic Panels Dims Prospects for Solar Buildout
Amid federal and state policies aimed at catalyzing solar power to facilitate power sector decarbonization, an investigation into circumvention of tariffs on solar panels imported from Southeast Asia has created market uncertainty, threatening U.S. solar buildout.
Visual Primer: Wave Towards 100 Percent Clean Power Intensifies as Illinois and Oregon Join the Pack
The importance of U.S. state renewable portfolio standards (RPS) continues to grow, with recent changes reflecting the trend of strengthening renewable energy targets. Several states have expanded their RPS programs to broader clean energy standards, which establish milestones to achieve a carbon-free electricity supply.
Visual Primer: Solar Credit Markets Evolve as States Revisit Incentive Programs
The expansion of renewable portfolio standards (RPS) has prompted several states to reshape their solar incentive programs. The market for solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) is driven by solar carve-outs in RPS programs, which require utilities to procure a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable resources.
Visual Primer: Grid Planning Initiatives Expand as States Prepare for Proliferation of Distributed Energy Resources
A growing number of states are gearing up to leverage distributed energy resources (DER) to support grid operations amid clean energy and climate goals that require investments in and incentives for renewables and customer-sited generation.
Visual Primer: State Utility Regulators Consider Net Metering Changes for Equitable Rate Structure
The pressing trend towards revisiting retail rate net metering for rooftop solar continues, in a bid to ensure proper compensation for solar customers and avoid cost shifting to non-solar customers. Net energy metering, which credits customer generators for grid-exported power, has been a key component of the policy framework to spur investment in customer-sited renewable energy facilities, including solar and energy storage systems.
EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Distributed Generation Compensation Evolves to Reflect Benefits With Greater Accuracy
Recently, state regulators have stepped up efforts to value distributed energy resources (DERs) more accurately while looking for ways to better reflect the costs they impose on the grid. Among recent actions, New York adopted a mechanism to move the market towards more cost-reflective rates, while California decided to include avoided transmission costs in the valuation, and Connecticut unveiled a study on quantifying the benefits of these resources.
EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Distributed Solar Faces New Challenge From Petition Seeking Federal Oversight of Net Metering
As states continue to reexamine net metering programs in the evolving distributed solar landscape, the industry faces a new challenge: a petition asking federal regulators to exercise jurisdiction over these state-administered programs that compensate behind-the-meter generation for grid-exported energy.
EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – States Extend Much-Needed Regulatory Relief to Solar Industry in Response to COVID-19
A handful of U.S. states have taken steps to provide relief for the solar industry that has been facing uncertainties in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures to address the ensuing challenges range from expanding incentive programs, extending project deadlines, and expediting new projects.
EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Aggressive State and Utility Decarbonization Goals Behind Boom in Large-Scale Solar
Utility-scale solar is growing at a remarkable pace driven by declining costs, state clean energy commitments, retirement of fossil-fueled generation, and utility decarbonization goals. The industry is poised to add about 13.5 gigawatts of new projects this year, outpacing the previous annual record of 8 GW set in 2016, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
EnerKnol Distributed Energy Resources Tracking Table Q4 2019 Sample
The prolific growth in distributed energy resources is forcing states to re-examine their policies. State efforts range from modernizing interconnection standards and enhancing distribution system planning, to rewriting solar net metering rules. Keep on top of the latest changes in solar energy policy by accessing EnerKnol’s Quarterly Tracking Table. The Table provides a comprehensive, up-to-date…...
EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – States Seek Closer Scrutiny of Net Metering as Utilities Push for Reforms
The debate over net metering for rooftop solar power continues across U.S. states as utilities seek rate structures that reduce the compensation for power exported to the grid or add charges to avoid shifting grid maintenance costs to non-solar customers. More than 20 states are reexamining the policy to more precisely assess the value of distributed generation. Some have changed their rules, while others have initiated studies, and a few have opted to continue with net metering. Critical findings across state commissions will influence the outcomes in other states.