Morning Brief: Solar and wind are the cheapest new sources of electricity, Appalachian Power halts distributed projects
Also in the brief: Ohio regulators have approved an 80 MW array, Sierra Club responds to Duke’s climate report, Rhode Island funds brownfield projects and more.
Solar beats gas when utilities use all-source procurements
With an all-source procurement, a utility solicits bids to identify the costs of solar, wind and storage, which can be “significantly less expensive than new gas,” as an Indiana utility found. A clean energy group calls for state regulators to require all-source procurements, for the vertically integrated utilities that serve half the country.
Duke doubles renewable goals while staying committed to fossils
The utility giant now owns or purchases 8,000 MW of renewable generation, with plans to double that mark by 2025. However, while the company eyes zero-carbon electricity by 2050, it maintains that natural gas will remain a crucial source to achieve this goal.
Morning Brief: 8minute Solar adds 3 GW of large-scale solar projects to the pipeline, Total wins projects in France
Also in the brief: California regulators will include avoided transmission costs to the valuation of distributed energy resources, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has signed two power contracts, Philadelphia has reopened its Solarize Philly program and more.
Storage companies raised $244 million in corporate funding to start 2020
A new report released by Mercom Capital shows that while funding is down from Q4 2019, it is up substantially year-over-year.
Kentucky city of 28,000 selects 50 MW of solar to help lower electric bills
Henderson, Kentucky’s municipal utility selected 50 MW of solar, which will provide 15% of its annual electricity. “In western Kentucky we do have a pretty good solar resource,” says the utility’s general manager.
Morning brief: Elon Musk’s battery day ‘will blow your mind,’ Chinese module prices expected to rise 12.5%
Also in the brief: Powerhome has partnered with Generac, Duke Energy is donating $150,000 in low-income bill relief, Seychelles readies the world’s largest salt-water floating solar plant and more.
Solar and storage advocates call for real-time pricing option in California
Real-time pricing of electricity can help integrate renewables, reduce costly and polluting peak-period generation, and save customers money, the trade groups say. They call for California to make real-time pricing an option in the San Diego area.
Victory for solar as Kansas Supreme Court blocks fixed fee for distributed power
The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that a fixed fee for distributed solar customers violates state law. Vote Solar and Sierra Club brought the case, with representation from Earthjustice.
Solar and storage would cost less than Alabama Power’s proposed 1.9 GW of gas units
An Alabama industry association and citizens’ groups say regulators should reject Alabama Power’s request to build more gas capacity.
