Transitioning away from the fossil-based infrastructure we rely on today will require intentional planning and investment. Vote Solar aims to rethink grid planning and operation to bolster the amount of renewable resources powering our grid in a way that minimizes costs and maximizes environmental benefits.
California
- DRP and IDER proceedings - Influence common hosting capacity methodology and location net benefits of DERs for California IOUs
- IRP – Support integration of localized solar and DER profiles into IRP models; Influence forward cost solar cost assumption to be used in IRP scenarios; support integration of solar generation with EV charging
- SCE GRC – Prevent SCE grid modernization investment from impacting opportunities for DERs
- CAISO – Support regionalization of CAISO to enable further solar growth in California and reduce need for Intermountain coal power plants
- WECC Scenario Planning – Shift focus of regional planning to grid flexibility to accommodate variable output generation
New York
- DSIP proceeding – Influence hosting capacity analysis, interconnection automation, criteria for use of DERs as alternative to distribution system upgrades
Colorado
- Solar settlement agreement follow-up on determining solar and storage avoided costs
Arizona
- IRP and Renewable Energy Standard review – Expand use of solar and storage as an alternative to fossil power plant repowering; Support fair DER valuation and long-term forecasts
National
- Coordinate with energy storage advocates on grid integration and rate design, NEM and incentives.
In the news
Fortnightly: Solar, A Strategy for Decarbonizing the Grid and Increasing Resilience by Sachu Constantine
REW: Why California's electric utilities need a regulatory overhaul by Ed Smeloff
GTM: Building a regional grid helps distributed renewable energy by Ed Smeloff
HuffPo Blog: Solar Beats the Heat by Ed Smeloff and Mary Leslie
Washington Examiner: Clean energy is a matter of national security. Even the military knows it by Adam Browning and Jon Powers
The Hill: Curtailing Clean Energy Threatens Innovation by Ed Smeloff
Utility Dive: SoCal Edison Should Go Back to the Drawing Board on its Grid Mod Proposal by Ed Smeloff and Sean Gallagher
REW: Investing in a Distributed Energy Resource Future by Ed Smeloff and Sean Gallagher
GTM: The End of the Era of Baseload Power Plants By Ed Smeloff
Blog: Great Results From First-Ever Group Buy for EVs By Adam Browning
Blog: CPUC Moves to Align Utility Revenues with Distributed Energy Resources By Jim Baak
Blog: EVs and PVs - A Cleantech Peanut Butter Cup By Jim Baak
Blog: Regional Energy Markets Gain Momentum as APS Announces Intent to Join By Jim Baak
GTM: SDG&E's Plan for Replacing Aging Nuclear Power Strikes a Sour Note By Jim Baak
REW: CAISO and PacifiCorp Agreement Paves Way for Lower Cost Solar Integration By Jim Baak
Resources:
Vote Solar: Policy Process of Grid Modernization White Paper(Feb 2018)
IREC: Optimizing the Grid: Regulator’s Guide to Hosting Capacity Analyses for Distributed Energy Resources (Dec 2017)