NewEnergyNews: TODAY’S STUDY: The Solar Debate Right Now/

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YESTERDAY

THINGS-TO-THINK-ABOUT WEDNESDAY, August 23:

  • TTTA Wednesday-ORIGINAL REPORTING: The IRA And The New Energy Boom
  • TTTA Wednesday-ORIGINAL REPORTING: The IRA And the EV Revolution
  • THE DAY BEFORE

  • Weekend Video: Coming Ocean Current Collapse Could Up Climate Crisis
  • Weekend Video: Impacts Of The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current Collapse
  • Weekend Video: More Facts On The AMOC
  • THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY BEFORE

    WEEKEND VIDEOS, July 15-16:

  • Weekend Video: The Truth About China And The Climate Crisis
  • Weekend Video: Florida Insurance At The Climate Crisis Storm’s Eye
  • Weekend Video: The 9-1-1 On Rooftop Solar
  • THE DAY BEFORE THAT

    WEEKEND VIDEOS, July 8-9:

  • Weekend Video: Bill Nye Science Guy On The Climate Crisis
  • Weekend Video: The Changes Causing The Crisis
  • Weekend Video: A “Massive Global Solar Boom” Now
  • THE LAST DAY UP HERE

    WEEKEND VIDEOS, July 1-2:

  • The Global New Energy Boom Accelerates
  • Ukraine Faces The Climate Crisis While Fighting To Survive
  • Texas Heat And Politics Of Denial
  • --------------------------

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    Founding Editor Herman K. Trabish

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    WEEKEND VIDEOS, June 17-18

  • Fixing The Power System
  • The Energy Storage Solution
  • New Energy Equity With Community Solar
  • Weekend Video: The Way Wind Can Help Win Wars
  • Weekend Video: New Support For Hydropower
  • Some details about NewEnergyNews and the man behind the curtain: Herman K. Trabish, Agua Dulce, CA., Doctor with my hands, Writer with my head, Student of New Energy and Human Experience with my heart

    email: herman@NewEnergyNews.net

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  • WEEKEND VIDEOS, August 24-26:
  • Happy One-Year Birthday, Inflation Reduction Act
  • The Virtual Power Plant Boom, Part 1
  • The Virtual Power Plant Boom, Part 2

    Monday, November 04, 2019

    TODAY’S STUDY: The Solar Debate Right Now

    The 50 States of Solar: Q3 2019

    October 2019 (North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center)

    Executive Summary

    OVERVIEW OF Q3 2019 POLICY ACTION

    In the third quarter of 2019, 42 states plus DC took a total of 150 actions related to distributed solar policy and rate design (Figure 1). Table 1 provides a summary of state actions related to DG compensation, rate design, and solar ownership during Q3 2019. Of the 150 actions cataloged, the most common were related to DG compensation rules (53), followed by residential fixed charge and minimum bill increases (40), and community solar (27).

    TOP FIVE SOLAR POLICY DEVELOPMENTS OF Q3 2019

    Five of the quarter’s top policy developments are highlighted below.

    Louisiana Public Service Commission Approves Net Metering Reforms

    The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved a net metering successor tariff in September 2019, which will provide avoided cost compensation for all energy exported to the grid, beginning in January 2020. Existing net metering customers will be grandfathered for 15 years, and the new rules also authorize the development of community DG facilities, which will be credited at the avoided cost rate.

    Connecticut DEEP files Proposed Shared Solar Program Rules

    The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection filed proposed program requirements for the state’s shared clean energy facility program in early July 2019. Under the proposed rules, utilities would conduct an annual solicitation of up to 25 MW for six years for shared clean energy facilities. Projects would be required to be 4 MW or under and have at least 10 subscribers, with subscribers either making a one-time payment or monthly payments.

    Xcel Energy Proposes Changes to Value of Solar Methodology in Minnesota

    Xcel Energy filed a petition in August 2019 to modify its value of solar methodology. The utility is seeking to change the way avoided distribution capacity costs are calculated. Under the current methodology, which serves as the basis for community solar credits, the value of solar is scheduled to increase from its 2019 rate of 11.09 cents per kWh to 24.84 cents per kWh in 2020.

    Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Opens New Proceeding on DERs

    The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission opened a new proceeding in September 2019 to investigate the technical, economic, and policy issues associated with DERs for the HECO companies. The proceeding will consider new DER programs, the future of existing DER programs, advanced rate designs, interconnection improvements to facilitate DER integration, and legacy equipment.

    Massachusetts Regulators Reject National Grid’s Minimum Monthly Reliability Contribution

    The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued an order in National Grid’s general rate case in late September 2019, rejecting the utility’s proposed minimum monthly reliability contribution (MMRC) for net metering customers, which would have taken the form of an additional fixed monthly fee. The DPU instead encouraged the state’s three investorowned utilities to work toward developing a standardized MMRC structure

    THE BIG PICTURE: INSIGHTS FROM Q3 2019

    Utilities Proposing More Modest Residential Fixed Charge Increases

    Utilities are, in general, proposing more modest residential fixed charge increases than they have in recent years. In Q3 2019, the median residential fixed charge increase requested (among only requests to increase such charges by at least 10%) was $3.00. In 2018, the median requested increase was $3.87, while the median request was $4.00 in 2017 and $4.07 in 2016. Many utilities are also filing general rate case applications that keep the residential fixed charge at its current level. At least 18 utilities currently have rate case applications pending with either a proposed fixed charge increase of less than 10%, no fixed charge increase, or a fixed charge decrease.

    States Considering Credit Adders for Community Solar Projects Serving Low-Income Customers

    While a broader trend continues of states considering how to encourage low-income participation in community solar programs, several states have recently been specifically considering credit adders for community solar projects serving low-income customers. Designing community solar programs that provide a financial benefit to subscribers has been a challenge in building low-income customer participation, so some states are considering credit adders as a method of ensuring the program provides a financial benefit. The Governor of New Hampshire signed a bill in July 2019 establishing an adder for low and moderate income community solar projects. Advocates proposed adders for residential and low-income subscribers for the second phase of Hawaii’s community-based renewable energy program. The existing Solar Massachusetts Renewable Energy Target (SMART) program also provides a credit adder for community solar projects serving low-income customers.

    Stakeholders Reaching Agreements on Net Metering Reform in Some States, But Not Others

    While stakeholders in some states, such as South Carolina, are reaching major compromise agreements on net metering reform, stakeholders remain divided in other states. In Arkansas’ net metering successor proceeding, the net metering working group was tasked with submitting a filing of agreed-upon rules, but the group reported that it was unable to reach consensus on any of the rules. In Louisiana, the Public Service Commission adopted a net metering successor tariff in September 2019, but this decision is not supported by many of the proceeding’s stakeholders, with some already filing petitions for rehearing and reconsideration. A settlement conference had been held in Louisiana, but parties were unable to reach consensus.

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