Maine Legislature Screws Solar (Again)

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened:The Maine Legislature, for the second year in a row, failed to override Governor Paul LePage’s veto of LD 1444, which would have, you know, mitigated some of the horrible changes Maine’s Public Utilities Commission is making to net metering in the state.

The governor, who has made destroying the solar industry in his state an unseemly crusade, wants to tax solar out of existence so, of course, he supports the draconian rules the PUC is imposing on Maine’s solar users.
Thanks to six spineless legislators – who had initially said they would vote to override the veto before scurrying like rats to vote to sustain it – the value of all electricity produced by solar systems in the state have been slashed by 10%.

Here. Have a Maine Coon. I’m not polluting this page with more of Paul LePage’s mugshot.

SolarWakeup’s View: Why, Maine, Why?

I’m beginning to feel a bit like Charlie Brown with Lucy’s football when it comes to the state’s solar policy. In two consecutive sessions, the legislature has passed, overwhelmingly, legislation to build a stronger solar market. LePage, as Lepages will, has vetoed the bills both times. The legislature, working itself into high dudgeon, has promised to override it and save Maine’s solar consumers from the whims of a capricious ruler.

And then somehow, some way, several legislators wimp out and the override fails by two votes.

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Two votes. Both times. Who are these lily-livered legislators?

Fortunately, the Natural Resources Council of Maine is keeping tabs:

The following legislators voted FOR LD 1444 when it passed, but voted AGAINST it after the governor vetoed the bill:

Rep. Stacey K. Guerin (R-Glenburn), Rep. Sheldon Mark Hanington (R-Lincoln) , Wayne R. Parry (R-Arundel) , Rep. Jeffrey K. Pierce (R-Dresden), Matthew G. Pouliot (R-Augusta) , Abden S. Simmons (R-Waldoboro).

Cowards all.

I gotta toss in with Dylan Voorhees, Climate and Clean Energy Director for the Council, who said in a release:

“Yet again, a small group of extreme legislators ignored the will of Maine people and strong bipartisan majorities in the Legislature. “Maine is in last place in the region for solar investment and solar power jobs and the rejection of this modest bill will drag Maine further behind, sacrificing, clean energy, jobs, and energy independence.”

In case you want to voice your displeasure with the vote, you can reach the above members at this number: 800-423-2900. Or you can email them at FirstName.LastName@legislature.maine.gov.

This whiplash dance has to stop. So let them know (respectfully) that you support the solar industry in Maine. Maybe next time they’ll remember that they don’t represent LePage – they represent YOU.

More:

Extremism by a few means extreme policies will remain in place

CleanChoice Energy Digitizes Community Solar Sign-Up

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened:CleanChoice Energy launched a much-overdue digital platform that allows customers to sign up for community solar projects in there in five minutes or fewer.

“Community solar represents one of the most important opportunities to expand renewable energy access in the U.S., with the potential to reach more than 60 million households across the country,” said Tom Matzzie, CEO of CleanChoice Energy.
With customer acquisition costs remaining a particular challenge for the solar industry, any chance it has to bring down those costs is a plus – and in the community solar segment, it could be huge.

Illustration courtesy of EnergySage

SolarWakeup’s View: As I sit here in overcast Cleveland, Ohio, watching a blizzard outside my windows, I can only dream of sunshine and solar energy. But thanks to a new program launched by CleanChoice Energy, maybe I’ll soon be able to become part of a community solar project near me.

(I should note that I am currently part of a community wind project because, well, Cleveland gets about 12 days of sun all year, but a boy can dream of going solar someday, can’t he?)

The Washington, D.C.-based company today launched the CleanChoice Community Solar platform, which it says allows consumers to sign up in fewer than five minutes and encourages customers to stay engaged with the electricity they’re purchasing from the community array. Fortunately, CleanChoice’s “Labs” Division was able to use the money it received from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative before such funds were yanked from their hands under the current administration.

Source: Department of Energy

The company first came into being when Tom Matzzie, its CEO, discovered how hard it was to put solar modules on his own roof – so like any entrepreneur, he decided to solve the problem he was having by launching his own company (because of course he did). Now that he’s added community solar options to the portfolio, it has provided another opportunity for him to promote the solar industry to communities that might not otherwise have the chance to share in the Solar Revolution.

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Recent data suggests community solar is one of the fastest growing solar market segments, and opportunities like the ones provided by CleanChoice’s new digital platform should only accelerate its continued growth – and that’s good for all of us.

More:

How Should We Categorize Community Solar?

Bonus

To clarify, yes, that IS me walking my beloved Bandit in the snow this morning.

Me: I really need to get started on my Christmas shopping.

Dog: It’s April 5.

Me: (Quizzical look): But….snow!

Illinois OKs Long-Term Renewables Procurement Plan

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened:Yesterday, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved the state’s Long-Term Resources Procurement Plan (also known as “The Plan”), an overarching roadmap for the state to reach 25% renewable energy by 2025.

The Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan arose out of the Future Energy Jobs Act of 2016.
“With the approval of this ambitious plan, Illinois takes another step toward becoming a national leader in affordable clean energy. A more diverse power portfolio, which includes wind and solar, makes the grid more stable and affordable.

SolarWakeup’s View: Now that’s what’s called vision.

As expected, the Illinois Commerce Commission approved the Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan (the Plan), bringing to fruition the vision of Illinois lawmakers that began two years ago when the state’s legislature, utilities and clean energy advocates pushed for the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act.

What made the Illinois plan unusual was the widespread support it received across all segments of the energy economy in the state. While not unheard of (California’s utility/legislature/renewable-energy partnership is a prime example), the Illinois plan is unusual, especially in the Midwest. Decisions like this bode well for the future of solar in the middle of the country.

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As I wrote last week as passage moved closer:

As the Midwest has moved – often glacially – toward its own solar future, most observers have pegged Minnesota as the early leader that has stood clearly head and shoulders above all the other states in the region. But I believe that as the Plan moves forward that it won’t be long before Minnesota is looking over its shoulder to see Illinois quickly approaching.

One of my favorite Illinois renewables observers, Christie Hicks, manager, Clean Energy Regulatory Implementation for the Environmental Defense Fund, said the following on the ICC’s decision:

“Hundreds of millions of investment dollars will soon be flowing into developing clean wind and solar projects that will power Illinois homes and businesses. Not only is Illinois solidifying its place at the forefront of America’s clean energy economy, it’s showing other states how to provide equitable access to renewables.”

We’re pretty pumped about the approval here at SolarWakeup, too, because it will make our SolarWakeup Live! Chicago stop later this year even more intense. We plan on arriving in the Windy City when it’s a little warmer (see this summer; We’re coming to Chicago this summer) to break it this plan down for you and what it means for the future clean energy in the Land of Lincoln.

We can’t wait, so stay tuned – details coming soon.

More:

Illinois Is Coming For You, Minnesota

17-0838 Final Order

Los Angeles Tops Best Cities For Solar List (With Charts)

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened: Environment America released its list of top cities for solar development, and Los Angeles tops the list, with San Diego, Honolulu, Phoenix and San Jose rounding up the Top 5.

- The first “surprise” city on the list is San Antonio, which clocks in at No. 6. Other surprises include Indianapolis, which arrives at No. 8, and Albuquerque, which shows up just outside the Top 10 at No. 11.
- The list reads as a Who’s Who of cities with smart leadership in the administration and, in many cases, well-run municipal utilities like LADWP.

SolarWakeup’s View: I love lists like the one Environment America put out this morning concerning the country’s top solar cities. The first thing I do when a list like this comes out is to see which cities surprise me.

On this list, the first one to catch my eye is Indianapolis, a city I used to drive through frequently when I was coming home from graduate school at Indiana University in Bloomington. While it’s a nice enough city, I must admit I never would have considered it a hotbed for solar development. But it clocks in at No. 8 on Environment America’s list, showing that the Solar Revolution is spreading across the country, even to the cloudy Midwest (as I sit here right now in Cleveland, there’s overcast skies, with small breaks of sunshine and … snow. Yep. Snow.)

The other city that wasn’t as surprising as one might think is San Antonio. While Texas has long been known as a wind market, its solar market is slowly but surely gaining momentum and could eventually place it in the top of solar-friendly states in the country.

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But – and it should come as a surprise to no one – Los Angeles claimed the top spot on the list for obvious reasons.

First of all, Los Angeles’ mayor has been a long-time supporter of solar energy, and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power – one of the strongest municipal utilities in the country – has been at the forefront of solar development for years. So when lists like this come out, it’s no wonder Los Angeles comes out on top.

That partnership should be a model for cities around the rest of the country. Fortunately we’re seeing more cities commit to 100% clean energy – most often with a strong solar component – and I think this list isn’t the end of the race but just the beginning.

And we’d like to thank Environment America for doing the hard work of putting together the list (I’ve done multiple lists like this over my career and they are largely thankless tasks). I’ve attached the full report below, and it is great. Go read the whole thing.

More:

Boom time in Texas (pv magazine USA)

EA_shiningcities2018_scrn (2)

Bonus:

https://youtu.be/bgiQD56eWDk