QUICK NEWS, October 29: A PLAN TO STREAMLINE ROOFTOP SOLAR INSTALLATION; WIND READIES A TEXAS HOME ON THE RANGE; WEST COAST CLIMATE FIGHT EXPANDS

A PLAN TO STREAMLINE ROOFTOP SOLAR INSTALLATION IREC Proposes Proactive Grid Planning Procedure To Fast-Track Residential PV Interconnection

Michael Puttre, 24 October 2013 (Solar Industry)

“The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)…[ plan addresses] the skyrocketing number of interconnection applications swamping utility inboxes…[T]here were 65,000 grid-connected PV installations of all sizes in the U.S. in 2011. In 2012, the number of connections jumped to 95,000, meaning that utilities had to approve 30,000 new interconnection applications over the course of a single year. This figure does not count applications that were considered and rejected…Residential-type installations are generally put on a "fast track" evaluation process; nevertheless, the sheer volume is a tremendous strain on the small generator interconnection procedures the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission enacted in 2005, when there were a mere 7,000 PV grid connections…” click here for more

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WIND READIES A TEXAS HOME ON THE RANGE Iberdrola moves forward with 202-MW Texas wind project

Kristine Esperacion, October 22, 2013 (SNL)

“Iberdrola Renewables LLC…is preparing to begin construction of its 202-MW Baffin Wind Farm in Kenedy County, Texas, following the county's approval of a tax abatement agreement…Kenedy County commissioners recently approved the agreement for the wind farm, which includes a fixed annual payment to the county over the 10-year term of the abatement. The project, which represents a potential $300 million investment, will include the installation of 101 Gamesa G97 wind turbines at 2 MW each…[It] brings the total generation capacity to 606 MW as Iberdrola Renewables' largest renewable complex…The first two facilities, Peñascal I and Peñascal II, have 168 turbines at 403.2 MW combined…Construction is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2013 with commercial operations scheduled by year-end 2014…” click here for more

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WEST COAST CLIMATE FIGHT EXPANDS Western U.S. States, British Columbia Agree to Set Carbon Prices

Lynn Doan, October 29, 2013 (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

“The governors of Oregon and Washington agreed to put a price on emissions and adopt fuel standards, bringing their efforts to cut greenhouse-gas pollution closer to those of California and British Columbia…Oregon will build on existing programs to set a price for carbon and Washington will impose emissions limits and establish a market to meet those caps. British Columbia and California will maintain their current efforts, and all four will link up ‘where possible’ to offer consistency…A movement to create a market across the western U.S. and parts of Canada collapsed two years ago after some states sought other ways to cut emissions…[California Governor Jerry] Brown said the group will ‘soon be joined by provinces on the coast of China,’ noting that a [Jabuary] meeting has been scheduled…” click here for more

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