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June 19th, 2013
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The city of Palo Alto (CA) has set a goal of 100% carbon-free power for its municipal utility. To achieve this goal, they are going solar in a big way…and with some mindblowing results.
The utility just signed 80 MW worth of contracts with 3 solar plants (40 MW, 20 MW, and 20 MW) at a great price: 6.9 cents/kWh over a 30 year term. Try building a new nuke or coal plant at that price. » Read the rest of this entry «
June 17th, 2013
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When it comes to evaluating our energy options, policymakers typically perform cost-benefit analyses. That seems pretty uncontroversial, right? Where it gets squirrelly is in the selection of ingredients. What costs to include? Short term costs, or long-term? Include externalities? If a particular technology emits pollutants that threaten life on earth as we know it, how much should that matter? That kind of thing.
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June 13th, 2013
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Great news from New York. No – it’s not that lawmakers have successfully delivered massive solar legislation to the Governor’s desk (YET!). But almost as great. In anticipation of an explosion of solar growth from Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun Initiative, the New York Public Service Commission just approved a decision to triple the state’s net metering cap. More details and the decision can be found here.
Net metering empowers New Yorkers to use rooftop solar and other small-scale renewables to meet their own electricity needs. Like rollover minutes on a cell phone bill, net metering gives renewable energy customers fair credit on their utility bills for power they put back on the grid for others to use. Vote Solar has worked hard to encourage the state to expand this fundamental customer right (our comments here), and we’re happy to see this decision supporting more clean, safe, reliable energy for a state that desperately needs it. » Read the rest of this entry «
June 5th, 2013
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We are excited to beta launch Project Permit, an interactive website that scores local permitting practices to help lower solar costs across the country. It’s designed to help solar stakeholders, municipal officials, and people like you understand how their town’s permitting practices stack up and what can be done to improve them.
Few realize how much of an impact local governments can have on the cost of going solar. But with solar panel prices having dropped fast and far over the past few years, “soft” costs like local permitting represent the most significant opportunity for keeping solar prices trending down. Today, more than 18,000 municipalities set their own permitting requirements for residential solar energy systems. As a result, permitting requirements vary dramatically city by city. Long waits, high fees, excessive inspections, avoidable paperwork and non-standard practices across different jurisdictions can all add unnecessary costs to what should be a simple, transparent process.
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May 31st, 2013
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This is getting real, folks. California legislators voted this week to advance two different bills that open up access to solar to the 75+ percent of energy customers who can’t put it on their own roof. Here’s the skinny on the two bills and what we need you to do to make sure shared solar becomes a reality in California this legislative session.
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May 20th, 2013
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Where’s the capital for the next solar revolution(s) going to come from? Maybe you. Ryan Levinson of SunFunder and Billy Parish of Mosaic shared their thoughts with us on a recent webinar, and here’s the recording.
Crowdfunding New Capital for the Next Solar Revolution(s) from Vote Solar on Vimeo.
May 20th, 2013
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Vote Solar seeks a candidate to help pioneer solutions to the next challenges facing sustainable solar market expansion: grid integration of variable resources, and market design for distributed generation (DG). This high-level position entails both thought leadership in designing solutions, and effective campaign management in getting those solutions implemented (via regulatory and legislative venues, leveraging grassroots and media assets).
Position description and application instructions here (pdf).
May 19th, 2013
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This week the Minnesota legislature passed a substantial solar energy bill that will result in the development of more than 450 megawatts of solar by 2020. Solar advocates are awaiting Governor Dayton’s signature which, given his support for solar, is expected shortly.
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May 13th, 2013
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With the year nearly half done, here’s the solar scoreboard–updates from things we’ve been working on, and a selection of other notable solar victories. » Read the rest of this entry «
May 3rd, 2013
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Last week North Carolina celebrated a victory for the good guys with the defeat of legislation to repeal the state’s renewable energy goal. Bad news. Like a something out of a zombie flick, the bad bill is back from the dead.
Senate backers used shady tactics and a disputed voice vote to resurrect the bill in a committee. Turns out that acting against the interests of the state and its people is a lot easier if you don’t have to worry about counting real votes. If this bill gets passed into law, it would mean lights out for renewable energy investment in the state. Now that’s scary. » Read the rest of this entry «