How gold-plating the grid blocks solar: an interview with Vote Solar’s Ed Smeloff
Unnecessary grid investments raise costs for all customers, displace solar and distributed solutions, and could be unfairly charged to solar customers. Vote Solar’s director of grid integration Ed Smeloff shares his insights in this pv magazine interview.
Solar required on new commercial buildings in Massachusetts town
Watertown, Massachusetts now requires solar power with all new commercial construction and retrofits of structures greater than 10,000 sq feet – as well all structures that include ten or more residential units.
Platte River Power to go 100% zero-carbon by 2030
The Colorado generation co-op has one-upped Xcel Energy, as the 100% renewable energy movement grows even in the energy industry. However, there are some sticky caveats.
U.S. Senate confirms fossil fuel advocate Bernard McNamee to FERC
The 50-49 party line vote shows the great controversy that surrounds McNamee, who has worked for pro-fossil fuel think thanks and has made hyperbolic negative statements about renewable energy.
The 100% renewable energy movement is unstoppable
Cincinnati has become the 100th U.S. city to set a goal to move to 100% renewable energy. This sets the stage for the debate to shift to what resources we will use to decarbonize, and how quickly we will move.
Facebook data center feeds Georgia solar boom with 200 MWac
Walton EMC has signed contracts with three new solar projects to supply a new Facebook data center. This is the latest big announcement among many, and one plant will feature half-cut mono-PERC modules from Hanwha Q Cells’ new U.S. factory.
New York announces free community solar for 10,000 low-income residents
Nine community solar projects within the state will be participating in the “Solar For All” program, providing access to no-cost community solar for low-income New Yorkers.
Energy storage storm grows in strength
A Wood Mackenzie report shows energy storage deployments tripling on a power basis during Q3 ’18 versus last year’s volume, while noting that the future pipeline growth rate doubled versus prior quarters to reach 33 GW of future projects.
Final hurdle cleared in California’s solar mandate for new homes
The California Building Standards Commission has approved the requirement that new homes integrate rooftop solar. This is expected to not only give a major boost to the state’s solar market, but to drive down costs.
Xcel gets in front of the 100% renewable energy movement
By setting a timeline for the inevitable decarbonization of its fleet, Xcel is moving to have an energy transition on its terms.
