Policy

In a long-fought battle, Utah’s PSC just decided to lower the rooftop solar export credit rate from 9.2¢/kWh to about 5.8¢/kWh. Both solar advocates and the utility are expected to be unhappy with the decision.

The head of EPC Swinerton Renewable Energy: “We look at a solar project as somewhere between warfare logistics, with thousands of people and trucks driving into the middle of nowhere, and a manufacturing facility. Somewhere between there lies a utility-scale solar project.”

Also in the brief: Global solar PV installations to hit 115 GWdc in 2020, Trump’s pullback of pollution controls is even more hazardous than you think.

Solar marketing has a gender gap, says Matthew Hirsch, chief marketing officer at TerraCurrent. To sharpen its messaging toward women, the industry needs to consider the various social factors involved in converting female leads into customers and brand champions.

Significant solar developments are happening all across the country, with Wisconsin looking to add nearly 200 MW of utility-scale solar and AEP coming to terms on a power contract for a 50 MW project in Ohio.

The recent FERC order to open the country’s wholesale energy markets to aggregated rooftop solar, batteries and EVs, moves energy management technologies to the forefront of the transitioning electric economy.

Also in the brief: Iberdrola’s deal worth $8.3 billion adds PNM Resources to its Avangrid business. The value of energy storage for military resilience. And Also emotional ownership is the key to delivering community solar.

Joe Biden, a U.S. presidential candidate, is encouraging an equitable energy transition, upgraded transmission infrastructure and rejoining the Paris climate accord.

“I think it’s somewhat unfortunate that the developers have focused so much of their attention on signing up well customers … as opposed to focusing on medical baseline or low-income residential customers,” said a CPUC commissioner.

Also in the brief: The reality of clean coal, according to the Coen Brothers, plus, Utility CEOs contribute personal money to help Republicans; Utility PACs also favor GOP — an analysis of federal campaign dollars in the 2020 election cycle. And NextEra’s burgeoning renewable portfolio.