St. Louis passes solar-ready construction mandate
All new commercial and residential buildings in the city must have reserved rooftop sections so that solar could be easily installed upon them if need be, according to a new law passed on December 23.
Net metering survives in Idaho
State regulators have overwhelmingly ruled to deny Idaho Power’s proposal to decrease the net metering rate for residential solar owners by 50%.
5 stories that sparked conversation in 2019
Certain articles at pv magazine strike a chord with readers and spark greater discussion among the community. Here are the most discussed articles of 2019 at pv magazine USA.
Boulder, Pueblo, San Francisco pursue city utilities for clean energy, lower costs
Boulder sees a public utility as a way to reach 100% renewables, while San Francisco aims for 100% clean energy, and Pueblo expects 10% to 14% savings.
Choosing a backup battery system in the new age of California’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs
In this op-ed for pv magazine, Eric Hill of OutBack Power offers depth and explanation on the different factors that go into choosing a home battery unit.
California seeks $600 million+ for battery backups in “high fire threat districts”
Regulators are focusing 63% of the $1.2 billion SGIP energy storage incentive fund on those most affected by the power grid shutdowns, specifically risk electricity users with medical conditions, critical locations within communities, or those who have had multiple power shutdowns already.
NYSERDA, Solar Foundation and PathStone launch solar recovery and resilience program in Puerto Rico
The three groups, along with the U.S. Economic Development Administration will be providing $4.5 million to aid in job creation, education and resiliency and recovery measures in the wake of the two major hurricanes that have rocked the island.
Making rooftop solar customers ‘go away’ by raising fixed fees on utility bills
Thousands of people across the Southeast have opposed utility plans to increase fixed fees on monthly bills, including a Georgia Power case to be decided soon. Making customers with solar “go away” is an explicit goal of at least one utility.
Fed and state regulators are pressuring PURPA, responses are being filed
A group of organizations representing Southeastern rate payers are arguing against proposed changes to PURPA by FERC, noting – among other items – that long term contracts at fixed, publicly available pricing is necessary to fight against the monopoly power of local utilities.
The dollar value of saving lives with solar
The Environmental Protection Agency has released data showing the cost per kWh benefit that solar brings to the areas where its health benefits are needed the most. These benefits are based on atmospheric particulate matter reduction benefit assumptions.
