On March 5, the Palo Alto (California) City Council will vote on a proposed new solar program–a solar feed-in tariff for the city’s municipal utility. » Read the rest of this entry «
February 14th, 2012
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On March 5, the Palo Alto (California) City Council will vote on a proposed new solar program–a solar feed-in tariff for the city’s municipal utility. » Read the rest of this entry «
February 10th, 2012
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Clean energy supporters in Arizona are swinging into action to defeat a new bill that would set up a huge roadblock to progress on renewable energy and energy efficiency. (If you live in Arizona, click here to send an email to legislators opposing this solar setback.)
Just introduced by Representative Debbie Lesko, HB 2789 would require the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) — the publicly elected body that has sole authority to regulate power rates under the State Constitution — to get approval from a majority in the Legislature before it can approve or amend programs or policies that would advance renewable energy or energy efficiency. This would add a layer of government regulation with no benefit for Arizonans, who not only directly elect ACC Commissioners but also already have the opportunity to provide comment throughout the ACC decisionmaking process.
In fact, this bill is a thinly veiled attempt to squash progress on clean energy and energy efficiency. Representative Lesko has a history of opposing renewables: see, for example, her failed attempt to pass a bill that would have allowed nuclear energy to count as renewable. In recent years, the ACC has enacted strong new policies like the Renewable Energy Standard that have made Arizona the clean energy powerhouse it is today. But if Lesko’s bill becomes the law of the land, the ACC’s hands will be needlessly tied by a new requirement to first get majority support in both houses of the legislature. That sets up a huge roadblock to the kinds of changes that will be needed to make a clean energy future real in Arizona, and will surely lead to time-consuming and costly lawsuits over who has proper authority.
Poll after poll shows that the vast majority of Arizonans want to build the state’s economy by investing more in solar and other renewables. Passage of HB 2789 would severely hamper the ability of future ACC Commissioners, including those elected in November 2012, to enact public policy that matches the interests of Arizona ratepayers. Members of the House Energy and Natural Resources committee are set to vote on the bill on Monday, Feb 13. Stay tuned!
February 9th, 2012
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Read more about the program here. Voice your support to CEFIA with an email.
February 9th, 2012
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Utility-scale solar development is an important and growing part of the nation’s growing clean energy economy. Much of that development is taking place in the desert counties of Southern California. Just today we helped release a public opinion poll looking at what folks in those very communities think about solar development. » Read the rest of this entry «
February 8th, 2012
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A recent court decision has forced the Federal Housing and Finance Authority to initiate an official rulemaking process and allow for stakeholder input in regards to its actions on PACE energy financing programs. This gives PACE advocates an opportunity to rebut misinformation, set the record straight, and make the case for PACE on the merits.
To help folks participate in the rulemaking, PACENow, NRDC, and Vote Solar are hosting a webinar. This webinar will describe the court order, explain the rulemaking process, and provide participants with the information and tools necessary to effectively participate in the process.
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February 8th, 2012
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As the home of some pioneering community solar projects, Maryland’s clean energy champions are seeking to establish a platform on which these renewable energy arrangements can flourish.
Recently introduced as Senate Bill 595, state lawmakers will be considering a proposal that would enable Maryland residents and small-businesses to join together in sharing the costs and benefits of renewable energy.
Most commonly conceived as a single renewable energy system in which individuals can invest in a portion of a facility’s clean generating potential, these arrangements offer a direct experience for those unable to install on-site renewable energy. For those that have a shaded roof or rent, community solar offer the promise of renewable energy access.
As an increasing number of jurisdictions look to broaden accessibility to the solar economy through this concept (e.g., here), we applaud these efforts for bringing solar into the mainstream. We look forward to this trend.
Hats off to Maryland for getting out of the gate early.
February 6th, 2012
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January was a record month for California home and business owners going solar.
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February 6th, 2012
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The Finance Committee of the City of Palo Alto will take up their feed-in tariff proposal on Feb 7. » Read the rest of this entry «
January 27th, 2012
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Remember that special charge that SDG&E wanted to impose only on people that invested in solar? The one that would have made it much harder to go solar? (Here was our take and here was CCSE’s)
Many parties (including Vote Solar) intervened, arguing it was not only bad for solar and bad for San Diego, but also illegal. On January 18, CPUC Commissioner Ferron issued a ruling (pdf) agreeing that the proposed charge is inappropriate, and required SDG&E to refile their ratecase without it.
Big win. Special thanks to UCAN, and of course to Commissioner Ferron.
January 27th, 2012
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News in the ongoing effort to restore PACE, the promising clean energy financing program that ran into hurdles put up by FHFA.
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