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.
California load-serving entities experience increasing challenges in procuring resource adequacy capacity
In this op-ed for pv magazine , Seth Hilton of Stoel Rives LLP dives into the difficulties California is having meeting its resource adequacy obligations.
Module tariffs will cost the U.S. solar industry $19 billion, 62,000 jobs, and 10.5 GW
The trade organization has an unambiguous take on solar commerce: “The U.S. solar market would be much better off without the tariffs.”
Pro-renewable co-ops must propose how to figure a fair fee to exit Tri-State
To stop buying wholesale power from coal-heavy Tri-State, two co-op utilities in Colorado must first advise state regulators on setting a fair fee to exit their Tri-State contracts. A renewables-friendly wholesale competitor waits in the wings.
Fair compensation for rooftop PV generation: lawyers make the case
The Tennessee Valley Authority will offer just over 2 cents per kWh for distributed solar, although TVA’s prior calculations show a value of 7.2 cents per kWh, or higher when counting avoided pollution. An environmental lawsuit may be brewing.
Montana maintains net metering (for now)
In the first general rate case in 10 years, Montana regulators have rejected NorthWestern Energy’s proposal to change the way net metering customers would be charged. Would these charges have been as catastrophic as they seem?
Changing climate, changing laws: addressing new wildfire risk requirements in project development
in this op-ed for pv magazine, David Lazerwitz and Linda Sobczynski of Farella Braun + Martel examine the levels of precaution necessary to ensure fire risk mitigation in project development.
California home solar mandate tightened, community solar definition needed
The California Energy Commission has delayed a decision on a utility proposal to use large-scale solar to meet pending solar home mandate requirements, with commissioner comments suggesting a refinement of the community solar aspect of the mandate is coming.
Montana utility wants gas units; Sierra Club suspects biased modeling
In developing its resource plan, NorthWestern Energy apparently used modeling assumptions that favor gas-fired generation, says the Sierra Club. The group has filed a legal motion requesting access to the modeling inputs, and to the model itself.
