This week in Democratic Energy:
The Solar Investment Tax Credit may expire but the sun won’t necessarily be setting on solar.
Overwhelming majority in Hawaii supports rooftop solar.
Minnesota group worries community solar projects won’t kick in until tax credit expires, thanks to Xcel Energy.
Featured Stories
[VIDEO] Group worried Xcel’s solar program won’t kick in before credits expire by CBS-2 WCCO
Will Solar Energy plummet if the Investment Tax Credit fades away? by Amit Ronen & John Farrell, The Wall Street Journal
97% support more rooftop solar in Hawaii, new poll shows by Duane Shimogawa, Pacific Business Journal
What the death of the ITC will mean for solar by R. Kress, Energy Biz
Democratic Energy News Around the Nation
Arizona
Arizona court advances SolarCity lawsuit against Salt River Project over solar fees by Julia Pyper, GreenTech Media
Big solar fight breaks out between utilities, homeowners by Elizabeth MacDonald, Fox Business
California
Don’t destroy small solar with new fees by The Editorial Board, LA Daily News
In California, a campaign to take transmission charges out of distributed energy by Jeff St. John, GreenTech Media
Florida
A landmark month for utility-backed solar power by Michael Auslen, The Tampa Bay Times
A debate over how to brighten solar power’s future in Florida by Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald
So where does that leave Joe Citizen? Two dueling referendums fighting to get before voters in November could decide how residents of the sunshine state use its most reliable resource.
One — backed by an odd mix of environmentalists, conservatives and libertarians — wants to open up the state to solar companies by over-riding a law that lets only the state’s four major utilities sell electricity. Florida is one of only four states that still have the law, effectively locking out the fast-growing solar industry by blocking lease options used in other states to get around upfront costs.
The other proposed amendment, backed by utilities, would leave the law in place while adding a clause that lets utilities levy charges to ensure regular users don’t “subsidize” solar users who hop back onto the grid.
Hawaii
US’ first trade group for distributed energy resources launches in Hawaii by Andy Colthorpe, PV-Tech
97% support more rooftop solar in Hawaii, new poll shows by Duane Shimogawa, Pacific Business Journal
Massachusetts
Solar projects holding as lawmakers debate incentives by Christian M. Wade, Richmond Register
Editorial: Making solar power competitive by The MetroWest Daily News
Mass. House considers bill to raise cap on solar net metering by Matt Murphy, The Boston Globe
Failure to reach net metering deal could kill 100MW of commercial solar in Mass. next year by Stephen Lacey, GreenTech Media
Net metering is not a subsidy by Emily Rochon, Common Wealth Magazine
Michigan
Utility influence in Michigan energy debate includes $500,000 in political donations, 69 lobbyists by Emily Lawler, MLive
In less than a year the state’s two largest utilities, Consumers Energy and DTE Energy, have donated over $500,000 to officeholders. Those numbers come from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, which analysed campaign contributions to candidate committees, leadership PACs and legislative caucus PACs from Nov. 24, 2014 through Oct. 20, 2015.
DTE Energy topped the list with $269,000 in donations while Consumers Energy spent $144,150. Other industry-related companies who showed up as big donors included ITC Holdings ($36,075), NextEra Energy ($28,000) and Michigan Action Committee for Rural Electrification ($19,375).
Michigan lawmakers add 30% renewables ‘goal’ to energy legislation by Robert Walton, UtilityDive
Minnesota
Calculator helps Minnesotans make financial sense of community solar by Frank Jossi, Midwest Energy News
[VIDEO] Group worried Xcel’s solar program won’t kick in before credits expire by CBS-2 WCCO
Report: Minnesota efficiency program returns $4 for every $1 invested by Robert Walton, UtilityDive
A new report from Minnesota puts energy efficiency in terms of economic impacts, and finds the state’s nationally-recognized energy efficiency program is generating value at four times the rate of investment.
“This comprehensive study makes it clear that energy efficiency is a smart, positive investment for our state,” Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman said in a statement. “The Conservation Improvement Program not only saves energy and reduces utility bills for Minnesota consumers and businesses. It also creates jobs, boosts our economy and protects our environment.”
Missouri
Missouri clean-energy group plans initiative on November 2016 ballot by Karen Uhlenhuth, Midwest Energy News
Ohio
Northwestern Ohio officials back plan for local control over wind-farm by Dan Gearino, The Columbus Dispatch
Wisconsin
A year after year fixed-fee increase, Green Bay utility seeks another by Thomas Content, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Vermont
Democratic Energy News Around the Nation
Bringing people to the power by Aaron Bartley, The Huffington Post
But the rosy future of decentralized power generation, democratic ownership and diminished energy imperialism, which together form the core principles of the rising Energy Democracy movement, is not assured. It faces opposition from the vested carbon interests and new corporate formations built on centralized control of the emerging renewable sector.
New fees seen to weaken demand for rooftop solar by Bobby Magill, Climate Central
Sunverge is on a mission to marry solar power and energy storage by Peter Kelly-Detweiler, Forbes
Rising investor skepticism over residential solar is unjustified by Seeking Alpha
New US policy: A boon for distributed energy? by Craig Howie, COSPP
The biggest solar breakthrough you’ve never heard of by William Pentland, Forbes
More than half of US state are studying or changing net metering policies by Julia Pyper, GreenTech Media
Determining the value of solar is more important than ever by Jesse Grossman, GreenTech Media
Regulated utilities are spending billions, but why? by William Pentland, Forbes
