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Voters Deliver Split Decision On Parallel RPS Ballot Initiatives

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Tom Steyer is waking up this morning to the realization that when you get involved in politics – particularly clean energy politics – sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

In Arizona and Nevada, Steyer had worked tirelessly to support two constitutional amendments, one in each state, that would have cemented the goal of a 50% renewable portfolio standard by 2030 into law. And just like the rest of the country, the results from those initiatives turned out to be a mixed bag.

In Nevada, voters decided to pass the amendment with 60% of the vote, paving the way for solar to flourish in the state a mere three years after the Public Utilities Commission tried to destroy the rooftop industry by unceremoniously (and suddenly) eliminating net metering without warning.

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Now the vote in Nevada isn’t final. Voters will have to approve it again in two years for it to take effect. But with 60% of the vote in favor, it appears likely that it will find its way to approval in two years and then into the state’s constitution. The state’s current RPS is 25%, putting it well behind other states with equal insolation rates.

On the other hand, Steyer’s attempts to pass a similar amendment in Arizona went down in flames. The ballot initiative faced heavy opposition from the state’s largest utility, Arizona Public Service, which spent hand over fist to defeat Proposition 127, which would have done for Arizona what Question 6 could do for Nevada.

In a particularly provincial, gloating manner, an spokesman for the issues group funded by APS told Arizona Central that Arizonans wouldn’t have their energy decisions dictated to them by outsiders all the way from … California.

“Arizonans support clean energy, but not costly, politically driven mandates,” said Matthew Benson, chairman of the opposition group funded by APS’ parent company. “Arizonans support solar power and renewable technology, but not at the expense of an affordable, reliable energy supply. Arizonans prefer to choose our own energy future rather than have it dictated to us by out-of-state special interests.”

So while the rest of the country is trying to figure out what effects the midterms will have on national politics, clean energy advocates are looking at the results in Nevada and Arizona and asking themselves the same questions. Only time will tell which of these outcomes dictate a trend (if, in fact, either of them do).

More:

Arizona voters reject clean-energy measure Proposition 127 by large margin

SEIA’s Closing Argument To Nevada: Yes On Question 6

SEIA Broadens Its Reach By Making It Easier For Rank-And-File Installers To Join

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

In the past, some installers have grumbled that the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is in thrall to installers and manufacturers who have big money to spend and that it didn’t care about the little guy. They would then point to the dues structure and suggest one of the reasons they refused to join was the expense was beyond what their bottom lines could handle.

Well, I’m here to say that SEIA must have heard the criticism, and it’s making changes to accommodate more of the rank-and-file installers that said they couldn’t join before.

SEIA announced the roll out of an updated membership structure, that introduces a Basic level membership for just $750 per year, and a new Premium level of membership – Watt membership – for $4,500 per year. These changes lower the barriers to join SEIA for smaller companies and for those just entering the industry, aiding SEIA’s advocacy efforts as the voice of the entire U.S. solar industry.

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“By expanding our offerings, we can bring more solar companies into the SEIA fold, ultimately strengthening our voice in Washington, D.C. and in state capitals across the country,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA’s president and CEO. “This is a significant shift in strategy for SEIA that will not only help us boost our influence, but also make us work more democratically, creating opportunity for companies of all kinds to engage in their own advocacy.”

The new structure provides Basic level members with access to valuable tools and materials, including SEIA’s Federal Tax Manual, webinars, the SEIA Sphere, and Division calls and meetings.

Additionally, SEIA is introducing a new online form on its website to make it quicker and easier to join the association. The “Join SEIA” landing page has also been updated with key information to make it more streamlined and easier to access.

These updates are effective immediately for new members. For current members, the new membership structure will take effect upon their 2019 renewal date.

This change also includes new Membership Referral and Ambassador Programs, which allow SEIA members to earn discounts on their dues, event tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more, by recruiting new companies to join SEIA.

Nevada PUC Sets Grid Guidelines To Encourage Distributed Energy Additions In Future

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

For all of Nevada’s struggles with solar energy – the inexplicable, precipitous shutdown of net metering that destroyed the rooftop industry for almost two years comes to mind – they are trying hard right now to bring about its renaissance.

First, they reinstated net metering. Now they’re on the verge of increasing the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) through a well-funded, seemingly popular ballot initiative. And today, the Public Utilities Commission (NPUC) adopted a framework that will require investor-owned utilities (IOUs)to create Distribution Resource Plans (DRP), which will determine what resources and grid upgrades the utilities will need to make to meet consumer demand for electricity.

Essentially, the PUC is requiring IOUs to be thinking about how to integrate more distributed resources on to the grid in ways that they haven’t before – which means more clean energy adoption in the future because the grid will be ready for it.

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Starting in 2019, NV Energy (NVE) will be required to file these 3-year distribution plans as part of their triennial integrated resource plans, which will allow periodic opportunities for stakeholders to review, refine and determine the grid needs.

Over the past year, IREC, Vote Solar, and Western Resource Advocates participated alongside NVE, the Bureau of Consumer Protection and commission staff as part of the rulemaking to implement Senate Bill 146 – a bill that aimed to evaluate locational costs and benefits of distributed resources by adding the new DRP requirement for utilities.

The results from the collaborative effort established these principal components of the Nevada DRP process:

load and distributed energy resource (DER) forecasting;
locational net benefit analysis (LNBA) to identify high- and low-value grid locations for DER solutions;
grid needs assessment (GNA) to prioritize and screen projects that will address identified grid needs; and
hosting capacity analysis (HCA) to identify the available capacity for DER at particular points on the distribution network.

“IREC appreciates the commission’s forward-thinking approach to this process and setting forth a strong framework for Nevada’s distribution resource planning,” said IREC Regulatory Director Sara Baldwin Auck. “Nevada’s work will ensure consumer-driven clean energy resources are integrated and optimized on the grid for years to come.”

These four components will operate in tandem with the DRP. Each must function on its own as well as in conjunction with each other to ensure the DRP properly addresses identified grid needs with distributed energy resources and traditional resource solutions.

“A well-executed Distribution Resource Plan has the potential to create substantial benefits for families and businesses by leveraging solar, storage and demand response technologies in locations that will make the electric grid run more affordably and reliably,” said Ed Smeloff, director of grid integration at Vote Solar. “With the new regulations, Nevada is putting itself on the leading edge in Distribution Resource Planning.”

Arizona SEIA Endorses Proposition To Increase The State’s RPS By 35%

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

As the battle rages in Arizona over the future of the renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which currently stands at just 15% by 2025, the pro-solar forces aiming to raise that by 35% gained a staunch ally yesterday as the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association (AriSEIA) has announced its support for Proposition 127, which would increase the amount of Arizona’s power that comes from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2030.

Proposition 127 has been the subject of great contention within the state. Proposed by California progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, the proposition received more than the necessary number of signatures to be placed on the November ballot for voters to weigh in on the issue. But it has run into significant opposition from the usual suspects, including Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest utility.

After fending off one lawsuit and several political action committees later, the proposition is moving forward and will be before voters in two months.

The association is urging a “yes” vote on the proposition, which will be included on ballots for the November 6 election. A victory for this proposition will expand the solar and renewable energy industries in Arizona, leading to more job creation, a cleaner environment, and better public health across the state.

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“There is vast, untapped potential in solar and other renewable energies, and all Arizonans will benefit from increasing our reliance on these sustainable resources,” said Brandon Cheshire, AriSEIA president. “We believe Proposition 127 is a critical step in the right direction,” Cheshire said. “It’s a step toward more jobs for Arizonans, cleaner air for our children and future generations, and a more resilient power grid for all of us.”

A recent report from the Natural Resources Defense Council found that a 50 percent renewable portfolio standard would translate to $4 billion in savings for Arizona.
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“In addition, the investment in renewables and storage will create jobs in the state, and produce environmental benefits: lowering annual carbon dioxide emissions in 2030 by 4.6 million tons, equivalent to the annual emissions from 900,000 passenger cars,” the report states.

Though Arizona sees 300 days of sunshine each year, utilities currently get just 6% of their power from solar energy.

AriSEIA is the largest solar industry trade association in the state of Arizona.