Solar United Neighbors’ Post

Looking to go #solar? This comprehensive guide tells Illinois residents everything you need to know, such as important policies, plans, and incentives, before making the switch and investing in #solarenergy:

A coalition of clean energy advocates has filed an appeal with the North Carolina Court of Appeals, challenging the state's electric utility regulators for allegedly violating state law when they approved Duke Energy's plan to reduce financial incentives for residential solar customers. The coalition is seeking to reverse changes to solar net metering, arguing that the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) did not conduct a required cost-benefit review. They believe that these changes will negatively impact residential solar customers and the rooftop solar industry. The dispute revolves around Duke Energy's efforts to lower compensation for surplus electricity supplied to the grid, making it more challenging for working and middle-class families to adopt rooftop solar. https://lnkd.in/ghwNtUsy #CleanEnergyAdvocates #SolarEnergy #NetMetering #SolarIncentives #ResidentialSolar #SustainableLiving

A coalition of clean energy advocates has filed an appeal with the North Carolina Court of Appeals, challenging the state's electric utility regulators for allegedly violating state law when they approved Duke Energy's plan to reduce financial incentives for residential solar customers. The coalition is seeking to reverse changes to solar net metering, arguing that the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) did not conduct a required cost-benefit review. They believe that these changes will negatively impact residential solar customers and the rooftop solar industry. The dispute revolves around Duke Energy's efforts to lower compensation for surplus electricity supplied to the grid, making it more challenging for working and middle-class families to adopt rooftop solar. https://lnkd.in/ghwNtUsy #CleanEnergyAdvocates #SolarEnergy #NetMetering #SolarIncentives #ResidentialSolar #SustainableLiving

The decision follows a deep cut to solar benefits in neighboring California, an indication of how states with high rates of rooftop solar — regardless of their political leanings — are struggling to integrate solar power with the legacy electric grid. https://lnkd.in/ePKYK-h2

Every state faces unique challenges to their #decarbonization efforts. Whether it’s learning about the requirements of new technologies, addressing concerns about equity and affordability, or how to navigate local regulatory conditions, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is always willing to help our partners in progress at the state level. Through DOE’s State Technical Assistance to Public Utility Commissions program, we’re helping the states you live in to #decarbonize the electricity you rely on. Here's how we’re doing it: https://bit.ly/3sBlryv

California has just set a precedent for the nation. The recent approval of flexible interconnection rules by the California Public Utilities Commission heralds a new era of collaboration between clean energy companies and utilities. By recognizing the value of distributed energy resources in alleviating grid strain, the state is adapting and making room for progress. I am thrilled to see that #solar #batterystorage are finally being recognized for what they are—an asset to the power grid. Storing power when the grid is under capacity, and then releasing the stored energy when demand is high, reduces strain and provides extra protection when communities are at risk of a blackout. Other states should take a page out of California’s book. More from Canary Media Inc.

Interesting! Here's an article discussing California's practical approach to integrating solar and battery systems into our grid. It emphasizes the state's acknowledgment of the potential of these systems to improve grid stability and efficiency, moving away from traditional concerns. This shift marks progress towards a more resilient and economically viable energy future. https://lnkd.in/gafG5Yfq

"as advocates have been pointing out for over a decade, these distributed solar and battery resources can also be enormous assets: By holding back power when the grid doesn’t need it, and then sharing their extra power during periods of high demand, they can help alleviate grid strains and lower the cost of keeping the grid running for everyone. It’s taken California regulators, utilities and clean-energy advocates nearly four years to hash out these conflicting ideas" #ElectricGrid #Solar #BatteryStorage

Utilities tend to treat solar and batteries as worst-case threats to the grid. California's new interconnection rules will let solar-battery systems use their inherent flexibility to help the grid instead, reducing a big barrier to clean power growth. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3xmNeoM #california #solar #energystorage #interconnection #solarplusstorage

All around the United States, if one looks closely, one can see the pervasive influence of #fossilfuels and #utilities to preserve the status quo, to protect their monopolies on #energy generation and distribution, and essentially, the right to burn. It's not a political issue but more a data and philosophical issue: (a) What is the value of peak power, i.e., 11am-3pm, load generation delivered by PV to the grid? If there is value it should be fairly compensated. This answer is obvious and can be easily calculated from the avoided cost of new peak generation investment (and other factors), as NYSERDA has done; and (b) should businesses and consumers be penalized/taxed for generating their own clean energy when their utility fails to do so, i.e., freedom of choice. The Arizona example below is one of one hundred examples of local barriers to the country's committed goals for #renewableenergy.