Press Contacts: Lisa Capone, lisa.capone@state.ma.us, 617-626-1119
Rosalind Jackson, rosalind@votesolar.org, 415-817-5061
Massachusetts Earns High Marks in National Report Card on Renewable Energy Programs
‘Freeing the Grid 2010’ Reviews State Policies that Empower American Investment in Clean Energy, Green Job Growth
December 8, 2010 – Boston – Massachusetts achieved high grades in the newly released 2010 edition of Freeing the Grid, a national report on policies that empower U.S. energy customers to use solar and other renewables to meet their own electricity needs.
“That Massachusetts earned the top ranking in this national report is further proof of the Commonwealth’s clean energy leadership,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles. “New net metering regulations adopted under the Green Communities Act of 2008 increase the value of renewable power for those who install it – putting the economic value of power generated by these projects on par with electricity purchased from the grid while accelerating the development of renewable energy projects across the state. In addition, the administration continues its efforts to ensure that the ever-increasing number of projects completed are interconnected in an expeditious fashion.”
“Freeing the Grid is intended to help state leaders understand and improve policies that unleash local investment in clean energy and green job creation. In the four years since we started publishing this annual report card, Massachusetts has moved quickly from “C” grades to head-of-class “A”s. With some of the highest scores in the country, Massachusetts has clearly committed to building a safer, cleaner and more prosperous energy future,” said Kyle Rabin, Director of the Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC). “The impressive leadership and rapid progress we see coming from states like Massachusetts continues to be the driving force in our nation’s transition to a clean energy economy.”
Freeing the Grid is produced annually by NNEC in partnership with Vote Solar, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), and the North Carolina Solar Center. The report defines best practices and grades states on two key policies that support customer adoption of renewables: net metering and interconnection procedures. Massachusetts was one of only two states that received top “A” grade in both policy categories. This is the first time in the report’s four-year history that any state has achieved “A” grades in both.
Download the full text of the 2010 Freeing the Grid at: www.freeingthegrid.org
Net metering rules: Commonly known as the policy that lets a customer’s electric meter spin backwards, net metering is a simple billing arrangement that ensures utility customers receive fair credit for the excess electricity their renewable systems generate. The Massachusetts net metering program allows many customer types and systems sizes to benefit from net metering, enabling fair and broad participation in the state’s renewable economy. The state also allows “neighborhood net metering,” a pioneering model that enables groups of residential customers to offset their electricity bills through shared renewable energy systems. This community model is particularly helpful for renters and others who may not have suitable rooftops for solar. In total, 37 states received “A” or “B” grades for their net metering policies in the 2010 Freeing the Grid report, up from 13 states in 2007.
Interconnection procedures: Interconnection procedures are the rules and processes that an energy customer must follow to be able to “plug” their renewable energy system into the electricity grid. The interconnection process can be so lengthy, arduous or expensive that it thwarts customer investment in renewables altogether. Following best practices, Massachusetts has a standard set of interconnection rules that offer clear, fair guidelines for most energy customers who invest in solar, wind and other renewable energy systems. In the 2010 Freeing the Grid, 20 states received “A” or “B” grades for good interconnection practices, a tremendous improvement over the solitary B grade awarded in 2007.
Changes in net metering, other innovative provisions of the Green Communities Act, and the nation-leading clean energy policies of the Patrick-Murray administration have combined to transform the energy landscape in Massachusetts. Since 2007, the Commonwealth has increased installation of solar photovoltaic power nearly 20-fold and wind power tenfold statewide – from 3.5 megawatts to more than 70 megawatts of solar, 3.1 MW to over 30 MW of wind by end of 2010.
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About NNEC: Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) promotes policies that ensure safe, clean, and environmentally responsible energy options. www.newenergychoices.org
About Vote Solar: The Vote Solar Initiative is a grassroots non-profit organization working to combat climate change and foster economic development by bringing solar energy into the mainstream. www.votesolar.org
About IREC: The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is a premier resource for current information, education, credentialing and best practices regarding renewable energy. www.irecusa.org
About the North Carolina Solar Center: A public service center at North Carolina State University, the Solar Center manages the go-to resource for current clean energy policies nationwide, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE). www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/