With over 250 megawatts producing enough power for about 31,000 homes, Arizona has installed more rooftop solar than almost any other state. Residents of this sunny state see solar power as a no-brainer. They’re reducing their utility bills and investing in a competitive local solar industry in one fell swoop.

But not everyone is happy with so many Arizonans going solar. The state’s largest utility, Arizona Public Service (APS), is currently working to slow down rooftop solar growth by rolling back its net metering policy. » Read the rest of this entry «

For years, we’ve been making the case that in addition to the environmental benefits, solar also adds value to the grid.

How much value?  Today, we released a report that we commissioned to look at both the costs and benefits of net metering in California.  The study was done by Tom Beach of Crossborder Energy, who used actual data from 10,000 solar systems and analytic models from the CPUC.  The report found that when California reaches its current net metering cap of 5% of non-coincident peak load (at about 5.2 GW of solar), the benefits of net-metered projects will exceed the costs by about $92 million annually, across the three large investor-owned utility territories in the state.  That’s a great deal for ratepayers, and good news for the planet.

Take a look.  Here it is, in all its wonky glory (along with a snazzy summary fact sheet): Evaluating the Benefits and Costs of Net Energy Metering in California, Crossborder Energy, January 2013
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Did you read this article in Bloomberg about how rooftop solar is costing California ratepayers BILLIONS!!!!???  Then you should know it’s largely horsemalarkey.

What the article doesn’t say is how the utilities arrive at their figures–but based on previous assertions, we think it’s safe to assume the approach is grievously flawed.   Let’s take a look behind utilities’ net metering ‘math’:

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Amid the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy, we’re glad to share some good news from New York . . .

The Empire State is at it again, making moves towards ensuring that solar energy is a significant part of its energy landscape. Having increased the state’s commitment to solar development with the NY-Sun Initiative in early 2012, Governor Cuomo and his team are back to work expanding the legacy of this program. » Read the rest of this entry «

Great strides for solar occurred in Massachusetts this week with the passage of the 2012 Energy Act. This comprehensive energy bill expands an important solar program called net metering that gives customers credit for the valuable clean power they send to the grid.

Massachusetts’ net metering law has successfully enabled thousands of homes, businesses and public agencies to go solar and save on their utility bills. With the cap on net metering now doubled from 3% to 6% of utilities’ peak load, Bay Staters can keep on investing in clean energy to power their lives. » Read the rest of this entry «

Two weeks ago we caught wind that Central Hudson Gas & Electric (CHG&E) in upstate New York had surpassed its net metering program cap of 12 MW and chose to suspend any new applications. To the dismay of many, particularly local solar installers operating in the Hudson Valley, this program suspension came as a bit of a surprise.

Local solar installer, Hudson Valley Clean Energy, quickly filed a petition with the NY Public Service Commission requesting both an increase to the utility’s net metering program cap and for the Commission to urge CHG&E to continue accepting applications. » Read the rest of this entry «

Massachusetts is one of our nation’s great success stories, due in no small part to their first-rate net metering program. This program has enabled thousands of Massachusetts homes, businesses, and public agencies to go solar, save on their energy bills, and invest in a healthier, more sustainable power grid for us all.  But now, a cap on the state’s net metering program threatens to prevent new customers from getting fair credit on their utility bills for the valuable clean power they put back on the grid for other to use.
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The New York Times has an article out today on California’s net metering program titled “Solar Panel Payments Set Off a Fairness Debate.”

Unfortunately, the article uncritically accepts, without examination or data, two premises about net metering: that it is a cost shift, and that the poor are bearing the brunt.  Here are some resources to rebut:

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Our net metering coalition set a goal of sending 20,000 emails asking for a YES vote on fair solar credit at the California Public Utilities Commission. We were blown away by the response. More than 34,000 Californians have urged the CPUC to support the pro-solar plan! So let’s double down . . .

Can we send 40,000 emails to the CPUC by May 15? We say YES! » Read the rest of this entry «

Today we’re celebrating an interim win for California rooftop solar along with our partners at SEIA, IREC and the Sierra Club. Together we have been working to encourage the utility regulators at the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to clarify the methodology being used to calculate the cap on the state’s net metering program, that billing arrangement that allows solar power customers’ meters to spin backwards and generate savings on their electricity bills. Well PUC Chairmain Peevey has just issued a proposed decision on the cap methodology that, if approved by the full Commission, will help boost solar use by homeowners, businesses, and public agencies in a big way. » Read the rest of this entry «