Tag Archives: Original

Massachusetts Finally Begins To Accept SMART Applications

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

After several years of fits and starts, Massachusetts yesterday began to accept applications to it’s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target, or SMART, program.

Billed as a successor to the state’s former solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program, the SMART program is designed to encourage solar development in the state within the context of its three major utilities.

According to the SMART website:

The SMART Program is a 1600MW declining block incentive program. Eligible projects must be interconnected by one of three investor owned utility companies in Massachusetts: Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil. Each utility has established blocks that decline in incentive rates between each block.

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One commissioner, Judith Judson, explained to MassLive why they needed to move away from the SREC program:

“It was a volatile, market-traded program,” said Judson. “National companies, or even an individual homeowner, didn’t know what they would be getting from the SREC market. We’ve changed it to a predictable revenue stream.”

Applications submitted within the next five days will be considered as part of the same capacity block. Further, according to the SMART website:

  • Applications for facilities less than or equal to 25 kW AC will be reviewed and placed into Capacity Blocks in the order that their contract was executed
  • Applications for facilities greater than 25 kW AC will be reviewed and placed into Capacity Blocks in the order that their Interconnection Services Agreement was executed

    • All applications received on or after 12:00 AM ET December 1, 2018 will be reviewed and placed into Capacity Blocks on a first come, first served basis.

    The program still allows Massachusetts residents to enter into leasing agreements. Under the old rules, leasing companies could claim the SRECs. Under the new program, they will just be able to collect the tariff payments instead.

    The launch of Massachusetts’ SMART program is exciting to those of us who have been waiting for the Massachusetts market to take off. Now that a successor to the SREC program is finally in place, that may finally happen.

    More:

    Massachusetts accepts first applications for new solar SMART incentives

    Utility Monopoly Slows Rooftop Solar Growth In Georgia

    By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

    In the past five years, solar capacity in Georgia has gone through the roof. It’s grown so fast, in fact, that it is ranked as the 10th largest solar state according to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s annual rankings.

    But just because it’s grown rapidly doesn’t mean it’s grown evenly. The growth Georgia has seen has mostly accrued to the state’s largest utility, Georgia Power, instead of individuals and businesses owning their own rooftop systems.

    One group – Solarize Middle Georgia – is looking to even the playing field a bit, at least according to an article in the Macon (Georgia) Telegraph.

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    This isn’t the first Solarize movement to take up residence in the Peach State. As the article states:

    Similar initiatives have taken place in other Georgia communities, like Athens-Clarke County, where residents are able to sign up for free evaluations that could help determine if solar is a worthy investment.

    “The price of solar has come down 70 percent since 2010,” said Don Moreland, executive director of Solar CrowdSource who is also involved in Solarize Middle Georgia, told the Telegraph. “Some of the incentives that used to be in place have gone away. Solar is now competitive with what you would otherwise pay for the utility bill. … You come out way ahead with solar compared to other electric bills.”

    Overall, the story is a good one, though there are a couple of flaws. One is that it misdiagnoses the module glut of the early 2000s as a “too many companies” problem rather than a “too many panels” problem. They also overestimate the costs of solar and make it seem more expensive than it really is.

    But the key here is that rooftop solar, despite having no governmental support (no net metering, for example), is coming to the middle of the state. And when that segment of the industry takes off, there will be no stopping solar growth in the state.

    More:

    Georgia is full of solar power, but not among homeowners. This group wants to change that.

    Maryland Releases Its Value of Solar Report. SPOILER: Solar Is Good For The State

    By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

    Maryland’s status as a solar state has waxed and waned over the years. Under Governor Larry Hogan, the ups and downs have been rather violent.

    On at least two occasions – most notably the Clean Jobs Act in 2016 – Hogan has vetoed legislation that would have encouraged solar and other clean energy development. And unfortunately, the legislature lacked the votes necessary to overturn them – at least in the Senate.

    But if Hogan decides to stand in the way now, he’ll have his own Public Utilities Commission with which to contend. After all, the Commission released a report two weeks ago that focused on putting a value on solar and, to no one’s shock, the value of solar is good.

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    Like most value of solar reports that have been commissioned around the country, the independent report says solar is a good way to develop Maryland’s new electricity infrastructure, based on three different categories of measurement:

    • bulk power system and emission reduction benefits (utility-scale solar)
    • macroeconomic benefits (jobs); and
    • distribution system benefits (behind the meter solar).

    In all three cases, the Commission’s report suggests that not only is solar a net benefit to everyone in the state, but more solar should be developed posthaste. The final paragraph of the executive summary states this clearly:

    The large potential for additional BTM and utility scale solar development and the significant value that solar can bring to the bulk power system, distribution system, and to the residents of Maryland through macroeconomic and health benefits represent a considerable opportunity for the state. The state and investor owned utilities should consider developing policies and enhancing utility system planning processes to encourage additional cost-effective solar development.

    In recent years, Hogan has stood in the way of solar and said it wasn’t worth developing. Now his own Public Utilities Commission says otherwise. Only time will tell whether Hogan comes around and allows Maryland to become the leading solar state it has the potential to be.

    Read the whole report here:

    MDVoSReportFinal11-2-2018

    Illinois’ Commercial Solar Segment Gets Boost From Walmart, Sam’s Club

    By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

    Illinois has been in the news a lot over the past year, touting its solar revolution as started by the Future Energy Jobs Act of 2016. Heck, even SolarWakeup got in on the act, holding one of its prized SolarWakeup Live! events there to celebrate.

    And while much of the hype has been anticipatory, there are real successes going on, too. And one such success is that 19 Walmart and Sam’s Clubs stores will be adding solar to their rooftops by the end of 2019. For those of you who don’t know, both Walmart and Sam’s Club are owned by the Walton family out of Bentonville, Arkansas, so it makes sense the two companies are linked when it comes to solar development.

    It should be noted that Walmart has been one of the most solar-friendly big box stores in the country, regularly trading places with Target as the business with the most installed solar capacity in the Solar Energy Industries Association’s annual Solar Means Business report, which ranks businesses in order of installed solar capacity for the year.

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    In case you weren’t clear on the connection between Walmart’s decision and the new law, the Belleville News-Democrat has the scoop:

    The move was prompted by the state’s new Adjustable Block Program, which provides incentives for commercial and residential rooftop solar projects, as well as community solar farms.

    A spokesperson from Walmart told the paper the other reason for making the move to solar: The corporation can actually beat its current electricity costs under the new agreement. Between saving money on electricity, freeing themselves from the monopoly utility and the new Illinois law, putting the solar arrays on the 19 stores was an absolute no-brainer.

    Well, and it can’t hurt that such an installation could help them get back to the top of the SEIA list of top solar businesses in the country. We know that’s their real motivation. (We may be projecting there, but it could be a consideration, couldn’t it?)

    More:

    Walmart to install solar panels on 19 of its stores in Illinois, including Belleville