Originally published on PlanetSave Enel Green Power North America (EGPNA), the local subsidiary of Italian utility Enel, has stated work is underway on Aurora, a distributed solar project in Minnesota, ruled by a judge in 2014 to be a better, more cost-effective investment decision than was a natural gas option. … [continued]
Originally posted at ilsr.org. Unfortunately for utilities, new technology and commercial opportunities in the coming years are only increasing the threat to the 1.0 business model. Solar energy is growing exponentially as costs have fallen 28% per year from 2009-2013, and electricity from rooftops is approaching or passing parity with … [continued]
Originally posted at ilsr.org. Aggressive state policy and cost reductions for clean energy have created two business model crises for electric utilities: stagnant sales and exponentially rising production from distributed renewable sources. This is the second of four parts of ILSR’s Beyond Utility 2.0 to Energy Democracy report being published in serial. To … [continued]
Originally published on ilsr.org. If you’re like most renewable energy advocates that have interacted with a Public Utilities Commission, you probably don’t think they’re a repository of progressive policy toward distributed renewable energy. In general, you’re right. But it’s worth sharing a few, promising examples of Public Utilities Commissions around … [continued]
Originally published on ilsr.org. The neighbors of the proposed Badger-Coulee high-voltage line in Wisconsin are like those in many other parts of the country, upset that their utility will construct 200-foot steel towers across their region and through their property (they have some other cogent arguments, too).* They should be … [continued]
Originally published on ilsr.org. Electricity customers in the US got good news last week. A new report from Accenture highlighted a potential revenue loss for US utilities of $48 billion per year by 2025 due to distributed solar and energy efficiency. But where does that money go? If we pursue … [continued]
Originally published on ilsr.org. The transformation taking place in the electricity system is enormous, and the prescribed solution – a version 2.0 electric utility – offers a way for utilities to remain financially solvent, even profitable, in a massively decentralized and renewable energy system. The prescription is powerful: radically change … [continued]
Late last week, Minnesota regulators made a decision that may finally allow community solar projects to move forward (for Xcel Energy customers) in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. However, the Public Utilities Commission decision also highlighted the shortcomings of the legislature’s distributed solar policy adopted in 2013. What was missing? … [continued]
By Karl R. Rábago Value of Solar analysis and the Value of Solar Tariff adopted in Austin, Texas and Minnesota are promising developments in solar utility rates. These ideas can break the cycle of attacks on rooftop solar and deserve the support of the solar industry, utilities, and others who want … [continued]
Originally published on the PennFuture Energy Center Website By Evan R. Endres If you look across the renewable energy landscape in the U.S., you’ll find that some of the nifty 50 have no distributed solar or wind at all. What’s going on? The answer is no net metering. You may also have … [continued]
