Five Puerto Rico reservoirs could host 596 MW of floating solar
Potential sites for solar in Puerto Rico include reservoirs, brownfields, closed landfills, fossil generating plants after closure, and transmission rights of way, determined analysis by the National Renewable Energy Lab.
Flexible interconnection with curtailed output can benefit everyone, analyst says
Allowing flexible interconnection for large solar projects can reduce costs and speed deployment, benefiting developers, ratepayers and utility staff, said a presenter at a North Carolina conference of utility regulators.
More states now require smart inverters, enabling more distributed solar
Pennsylvania and Minnesota have joined six other states in requiring smart inverters for distributed solar and storage. Certain utilities in 13 states and Puerto Rico also require smart inverters, while six states are considering the requirement. Smart inverters enable more solar on distribution circuits.
A new federal transmission rule won’t help renewables projects anytime soon
Although promptly deploying grid-enhancing technologies and advanced conductors could speed interconnection in the short term, a new federal transmission rule will improve interconnection only once new transmission is built, said panelists on a webinar.
Grid analysts challenge Bonneville Power’s pace in adopting advanced conductors
As the White House encourages utilities to use advanced conductors to help interconnect new renewable generation, the federally-owned utility Bonneville Power is moving slowly to use the high-capacity conductors, analysts said.
Two approaches to save net metering in Puerto Rico
A solar trade group wants the White House to appoint new pro-solar members to the federal oversight board that has challenged Puerto Rico’s net metering law, while the former president of the Puerto Rico Senate advises considering amending the law.
DOE proposes ten “national interest” transmission corridors
Eight of the ten transmission corridors proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would facilitate transmission between grid regions; one would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s PJM grid region; and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains.
Colorado co-op United Power is free to pursue renewables after exiting Tri-State
To build out its renewables portfolio, United Power is the latest electric utility co-op in Colorado to exit its long-term power supply contract, while other co-ops plan to let their contracts expire.
Groups sue FEMA and HUD to focus energy funds on distributed solar and storage
Two federal agencies that provide billions of dollars for energy-related projects should fund renewable energy, a number of groups have argued in two lawsuits and two rulemaking petitions.
New green bank to support distributed solar and storage in the Appalachian region
The Green Bank for Rural America will support community lenders in Appalachian communities to finance climate-supporting projects including distributed solar and storage. The bank and four others received a total of $6 billion in federal awards.
