NREL’s solar cost projections plummet in new forecast
The lower projected costs for PV could help guide some utilities to plan for more PV capacity, as the utilities develop their long-term resource plans.
Rooftop solar in Indiana worth 13¢/kWh, not 3¢/kWh, says expert witness
A high level of distributed solar in Indiana would reduce utility costs by up to $540 million per year, a national lab has found. Fair compensation for rooftop solar power in southern Indiana would be 13¢/kWh, an expert calculated—not the 3¢/kWh proposed by a utility.
Catholic organizations go solar to save money, and to put faith into practice
Catholic organizations own up to 100,000 buildings in the U.S., as well as land, and Catholic Energies is helping them go solar. “The market is enormous,” said the program’s leader.
SEIA challenges FERC’s PURPA rules
“Looks like the rules will wind up in federal court” said a legal analyst, after the national solar association challenged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s revised PURPA rules, and five other groups also asked for a rehearing.
For lower-cost Southeast power, double the solar and add wholesale power trading
A lower-cost grid would reach 22% renewable generation in 2040, compared to the 5% currently planned by Southeastern utilities, says a study from Energy Innovation and Vibrant Clean Energy. Wholesale power trading through an independent system operator would also help reduce costs.
Lawsuit challenges TVA’s anti-solar “never-ending contracts” with its utility customers
The utilities that buy power from TVA, and the 10 million people they serve, will be limited in accessing low-cost solar power unless a federal court invalidates what a lawsuit calls TVA’s “never-ending contracts.” Three citizens’ groups brought the lawsuit, claiming TVA violated a federal environmental law.
DC citizen wins increase in rooftop solar limit to 200% of past usage
States like California whose laws say residential rooftop solar must be “intended primarily” for self-consumption could join Washington, D.C. in increasing their limit, says D.C. resident David Roodman. Generation in excess of consumption will be compensated at the wholesale rate in Washington.
FERC advises Congress how transmission may be added along transportation corridors
If Congress wants to increase transmission of renewable power from high-resource areas to high-population areas, a report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission provides a roadmap. Co-locating transmission with highways is the greatest challenge.
SolarAPP residential solar permitting app to launch this fall
The web-based app is designed to automate local government processing of solar permit applications, and has earned praise from local government officials in California who have tested it.
Advocates challenge Florida utilities’ gas-heavy 10-year plans
“Considering how off-track current plans are from where the science tells us we need to be to address the climate crisis, these plans are not in the best interest of Floridians,” says the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Stranded gas assets could raise customer bills, the group notes.
