NEM 3.0

After heavy protest to the proposed solar net metering rates and fees, the CPUC now seeks comment on how an equitable, environmentally-sound, and economically beneficial structure can be created.

Assembly Bill 2316 would create a community solar program that leverages distributed solar and storage aggregation and extend benefits to Californians who have not yet been able to directly take advantage of the clean energy transition.

Wood Mackenzie estimates that the US energy storage market broke records in Q4 2021, installing 1,613MW / 4727 MWh.

The bipartisan group calls on state regulators to reject December’s proposed decision, describing it as policy that could “significantly depress the clean energy market, and negatively impact a California-based businesses supporting a sizable number of jobs statewide.”

Also on the rise: How green is this year’s Super Bowl: a look at solar in the NFL. 300MW Nighthawk utility-scale storage facility to use Tesla Megapack.

Also on the rise: Nova Scotia government protects solar owners by stopping proposed net-metering fee. Maxeon 40-year warranty is cool, but you can’t get it in US. Solar-powered EV Airstream parks itself by remote control. Two large-scale solar and battery storage projects coordinate time-based delivery.

The proposal, which came under fire from industry leaders, environmentalists, and working Californians, was called a rooftop solar-killing measure. Meanwhile, a new state board granted PG&E a provision to raise electric rates to recover its losses from the wildfires for which it was found liable.

Also on the rise: Verizon and Leeward Energy sign two PPAs totalling 360 MW. Researchers suggest that six terrawatt hours of energy storage would bring US to net zero. Duke Energy launches grid resilience testing with ‘Bring Your Own Battery’ program.

Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0 is expected to crush rooftop solar as proposed. In an Environmental Working Group (EWG) webinar, experts debunked NEM’s assumptions, forecast the damage the proposal would cause to California’s environment and communities. The group issued a call Governor Newsom to shut down the proposal, which many are calling a “tax on the sun”.

Also on the rise: Solar Games kicks off at Intersolar. Cornell researchers uncover New Yorkers’ preferences for solar locations. Enphase sees spike in microinverters plus storage in Colorado. NextEra adds 100 MW battery to SRP Arizona project. TerraSmart experts talk ground screw vs. piles for utility and C&I projects. Andy Sendy of SolarReviews offers an alternative to NEM 3.0.