QUICK NEWS, October 30: Mid-term Votes That Will Affect The Climate Fight; The Progress Of Community Renewables

Mid-term Votes That Will Affect The Climate Fight Five Midterm Votes That Could Have an Outsize Impact on Climate Change

Coral Davenport, October 29, 2018 (NY Times)

“This is the era of deregulation in the nation’s capital…[The White House] is rolling back Obama-era climate change regulations that would have cut planet-warming pollution from smokestacks and tailpipes…and has vowed to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement, the 2015 accord under which nearly every nation pledged to limit greenhouse gas pollution…At the state level, though, advocates and lawmakers around the country are fighting back…In some states, questions of climate change policy are on the ballot. While advocates generally agree that national programs, rather than state and local efforts, will be required to tackle global warming, there are a handful of policies on five midterm ballots that could have an outsize impact on the nation’s greenhouse gas pollution, and the direction of national policy…Washington: A first-in-the-nation carbon tax…New Mexico: A little-known job with big power…Arizona and Nevada: Renewable energy requirements…Colorado: The future of fracking…” click here for more

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The Progress Of Community Renewables National Shared Renewables Scorecard

October 25, 2018 (International Renewable Energy Council)

“There are 17 active shared renewables programs in place in 13 states plus Washington, D.C…Two received A grades (12%)—Minnesota and New York. These states have incorporated the majority of shared renewables best practices identified by IREC...Five received B grades (29%)—California (Virtual Net Metering), Colorado, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts (Community Shared Solar/Virtual Net Metering) and Maryland. Although these states have some room for improvement, their programs reflect many best practices and offer solid foundations for shared renewable energy development…Eight received C grades (47%)—Connecticut (Virtual Net Metering), Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts (Neighborhood Net Metering), Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. These programs lack many of the key components necessary for successful market development…

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Two received D grades (12%)—California (Enhanced Community Renewables component of the Green Tariff Shared Renewables program) and Connecticut (Shared Clean Energy Facility Pilot Program). These programs do not comport with many of the IREC-identified best practices which could impede program effectiveness and market development..Three more states have passed shared renewables legislation or are in the process of implementing rules for their programs—Illinois, Oregon and New Jersey. In addition, California recently adopted its Community Solar – Green Tariff program which is currently being implemented and therefore not evaluated yet…Key program components are bill credit valuation…project siting requirements…interconnection procedures…low- to moderate-income customer participation…subscription portability & transferability…third party ownership & management…data tracking & reporting…” click here for more

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