Frank Andorka
Case study: Future utility planning must account for consumers’ thirst for distributed energy
A new case study from the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and Black & Veatch details how the Sacramento Municipal Utility District created an integrated plan to accommodate its ratepayers’ shifting priorities.
SEIA, Vote Solar aim to unify state-level solar advocates
The two groups have produced a free paper, Principles for the Evolution of Net Energy Metering and Rate Design, that they hope will provide a set of principles that can guide strategies for the fights ahead in the states.
Congressmen trumpet support for Suniva’s trade petition (Read the full letter here)
In a move that surprises no one, the Congressmen representing the two districts in which Suniva manufactured its modules have filed letters with the U.S. International Trade Commission supporting the bankrupt manufacturer’s efforts to earn protection from its Asian competitors.
Study: New York’s residential installations drop 25% in the first quarter (with charts)
Disappearing incentives, high early-adopter penetration and slower acquisitions by national companies are the primary factors in the rapid decline.
California prepares solar users for August solar eclipse
To reduce the strain on the electrical grid when the moon obscures the sun on Aug. 21, the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) President Michael Picker urged the state’s citizens to shave 3.5 GW off the grid between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on that day.
Tesla moves one step closer to Solar Roof deployment
Underwriters Laboratories certified the product last week, which should allow Elon Musk to keep his promise to roll the product out this summer.
United States informs WTO of trade petition investigation (ITC notification embedded)
The U.S. International Trade Commission has informed the WTO that it is moving forward with its investigation into whether Suniva and SolarWorld deserve “global safeguard” protection from their competitors.
Hawaii strains to permit batteries as self-supply permits grow
The Aloha State has encouraged residential solar customers to move to self-contained electricity systems – but permitting the batteries necessary to enable that are moving far more slowly than expected.
Sunnova follows Tesla, Sunrun into Hawaiian solar+storage market
The company’s partnership with Sunetric will allow customers to lease solar+storage systems as a package, which will allow them to participate in the island state’s “self-supply” program.
BREAKING: SolarWorld Americas joins Suniva’s trade petition
After originally being cool to Suniva’s petition to the U.S. International Trade Commission for protection from its Chinese competitors, SolarWorld has reversed its stance and joined the complaint as a co-petitioner.
