An Ignoble Experiment

2. NY revolutionizing solar market

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has released its list of the U.S.-based utilities that added the most new solar power to their systems, and the most solar on a watts-per-customer basis, in 2013. The report identifies the companies that are integrating solar into power grid, as well as industry trends such as total installed capacity, market share and growth rates.

Utilities making this year's Megawatt list accounted for 82 percent of capacity integrated in 2013 -- up from 73 percent in 2012. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) led the Megawatt rankings with 1,471 MW. In addition to PG&E, who topped the list for the sixth year, is San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and Arizona Public Service (APS).

Rounding out the Megawatt list are Southern California Edison (SCE), Duke Energy Progress, National Grid, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), Hawaiian Electric Company, Georgia Power, and Duke Energy Carolinas. Newcomers include Duke Energy Progress, National Grid, PSE&G, and Georgia Power. This is the sixth year that Pacific Gas and Electric Company topped the list.

Sterling Municipal Light Department (SMLD) was first in the Watts-Per-Customer category with 4,100 MW. This category takes into account the number of customers each utility serves relative to its solar megawatts installed. Following the Massachusetts muni are SDG&E and Silicon Valley Power.

The remaining providers include Arizona Public Service (APS), Hawaiian Electric Company, PG&E, Hawaii Electric Light, Maui Electric Company, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), and Imperial Irrigation District (IID). The Hawaiian utilities and IID have made the list twice.

Of particular note is the fact that two Duke Energy businesses made the top 10 for adopting new solar -- Duke Energy Progress ranked fifth and Duke Energy Carolinas tenth, bringing on about 200 MW of new solar capacity, in large part due to purchases from regional solar developers.

For more:
- see the rankings

Read more about: San Diego Gas and Electric
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By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

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3. U.S. Army/TEP renewable energy partnership

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has committed another $1 billion to NY-Sun in order to significantly expand deployment of solar capacity throughout the state and transform New York's solar industry into a sustainable, subsidy-free sector through long-term funding certainty that will boost existing businesses and attract new investments.

Credit: Dear Edward/Wikimedia Commons

"This $1 billion investment underscores New York's commitment to growing the clean energy economy," Governor Cuomo said in a statement. "By providing long-term funding certainty, the state is attracting private sector investment, creating new economic opportunities and supporting sustainable development. Initiatives such as NY-Sun can work to provide innovative solutions, create a more resilient and flexible power grid, lower the state's carbon footprint and promote a cleaner and healthier environment."

At the same time, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved an order to dramatically change NYSERDA's current incentive-based solar programs by creating a long-term roadmap to transition from government-sponsored energy programs to market-based sustainable solutions for the solar industry.

NY-Sun and the recent order are part of New York's move to a more market-based, decentralized approach shaping the state's energy policy.

To drive market penetration on a large-scale basis, the PSC order provides long-term, stable funding over a 10-year period to support photovoltaic (PV) projects throughout the state. In doing so, the PSC approved a transition to a "Megawatt Block incentive structure" that allocates MWs to specific regions of the state; breaks those regional MW targets into blocks to which incentives are assigned; and awards incentives based upon the block in effect at the time. This new structure will provide allocations on a regional basis in three categories: residential PV projects up to 25 kW, non-residential PV projects up to 200 kW, and systems greater than 200 kW. The allocations will be based on historic demand, market potential, installed cost per watt, and equity.

The MW Block model will allow the market to grow at its own pace, enabling a self-sustaining industry over the long term. As the blocks are fulfilled, incentives will decline at the rate the market will bear.

For more:
- see this petition

Read more about: NY-Sun, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

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4. U.S. EVs maturing, expanding

A Tucson Electric Power (TEP) solar array, expected to have an 18 MW capacity, is making it possible for the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Arizona to achieve its renewable energy and energy security objectives and providing a fourth of the base's energy needs.

Larger than any existing solar array on any U.S. Department of Defense base in the world, Fort Huachuca will also be the largest single solar resource owned by TEP. The system will be connected to an existing substation through a single interconnection on TEP's side of the meter. Any excess energy the system generates will flow back into the grid for use by other TEP customers.

Combined with energy storage and other future enhancements, the system will provide the base with unique energy security benefits that would not be available through a third-party system. TEP's engineering capabilities and familiarity with renewable energy integration will help the base avoid interconnection delays, permitting problems and other common pitfalls associated with building a solar array.

TEP has been expanding its company-owned solar resources by 20 MW each year through large local systems. When it comes online later this year, the military system will add to TEP's renewable energy portfolio, resulting in more than 200 MW of utility-scale solar generating capacity by the end of 2014.

For more:
- see this report

Read more about: U.S. Army
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By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

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5. FERC approves Transco expansion

In North America, plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) sales were estimated at just below 100,000 in 2013. This is according to Navigant Research who expects that number to grow rapidly over the next 10 years, as more models become available, the price premium for PEVs compared to conventional vehicles narrows, and charging infrastructure is deployed widely.

Credit: Nicolas Boullosa/Wikimedia Commons

In fact, the number of PEVs on roads in the United States is predicted to grow from nearly 296,000 in 2014 to more than 2.7 million in 2023.

"The U.S. market for plug-in electric vehicles is reaching a new level of maturity and expansion," said Scott Shepard, research analyst with Navigant Research. "The introduction of PEV options in the truck, van, and sport utility vehicle segments -- which make up half the North American automotive market -- will help drive strong growth in the PEV market going forward."

Further, the major regional PEV markets, North America, Western Europe, and Asia Pacific, will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 23.7 percent through 2023, according to Navigant.

For more:
- see this report

By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

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