Southeast US adds 427 MW of distributed solar in 2019, as advocates press for more
Florida led the region for small-scale installations, while Maryland kept the lead on a per-capita basis. Solar advocates look to improve opportunities for distributed solar throughout the region in 2020.
Here’s how utilities use their resource plans to block solar power
At least seven utilities chose to bias their resource modeling against solar in 2019. The good news is that transparent utility modeling could fix the problem.
The quick gray fox jumped through the upside-down solar fence—a photo essay
Deer fence installed upside down lets foxes and other small wildlife through to forage and pursue prey. Solar developers in Tennessee and North Carolina have the photos to prove it.
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.
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.
Lake Olympia solar co-op selects Sunfinity, more renewables do not lead to more air pollution: pvMB 11/4/19
Hello one and all and thank you for starting your workweek with the pvMB. Today we’ve got TVA contract drawbacks outweighing benefits for Knoxville, a Delaware solar farm expansion, the Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee calling out utility obstruction to rooftop solar and more!
Coal lobby group drafted state utility commissioners’ letters to FERC
Emails show that the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity provided utility commissioners with a template letter to FERC – which some commissioners copied word-for-word.
TVA deceives the public and the press with misleading claim of solar commitment
This op-ed from Southern Alliance for Clean Energy argues that the utility does not have any intention of installing 14 gigawatts (GW) of solar over the next 20 years, and notes that the power company has only budgeted for 5.5 GW of solar during that time period.
Gas favored over solar as Memphis utility considers TVA exit
Memphis is studying the potential to save money by exiting its contract with TVA. At issue is how much solar and storage to include in any new generating portfolio.
Lawsuit against TVA’s discriminatory rate structure moves forward
A a district court judge has denied the utility’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit regarding a proposed grid access charge. The lawsuit claims the nature of the charge is discriminatory to low-income and solar-minded customers.
