November solar policy snapshots A guide to recent legislation and research throughout the country.

California legislators push for community solar provision in new net-metering plan
Sacramento, California

California legislators are asking the utility commission to establish a program that compensates community solar subscribers based on the value of a project’s generation at the time it’s provided to the grid. Other community solar programs compensate subscribers at a set rate.

CALSSA sets goal to collect 100,000 public comments defending net metering in California
Sacramento, California

The California Solar & Storage Association has set a goal to collect 100,000 public comments by the end of November asking the California Public Utilities Commission and Gov. Gavin Newsom to preserve net metering in the state. The group is rallying support in advance of the NEM 3 proceedings, which start in December.

California’s C-10 solar + storage licensing requirement on hold for at least a year
Sacramento, California

The Attorney General of California agreed to voluntarily stay enforcement of the Contractor State License Board’s decision requiring contractors to hold C-10 electrical licenses to install solar + storage projects. Contractors carrying C-46 licenses may continue to build these systems.

North Carolina energy bill would set carbon standards and increase renewables
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina’s governor and senate president pro tempore reached an agreement on a new bill that would establish one of the Southeast’s first carbon standards and establish a new split ownership program for solar + storage projects. The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association was involved in the legislative process.

DOE sets goal requiring 700% more community solar over next four years
Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Dept. of Energy announced a new target to enable community solar to power 5 million homes by 2025. Reaching the new goal would require a community solar increase of more than 700% in the next four years.

Ohio Republicans introduce community solar-enabling legislation
Columbus, Ohio

Ohio House Republicans have introduced a bill that would allow up to 2 GW of community solar development in the state. The bill uniquely allows more capacity for projects on “distressed sites” such as brownfields, land eligible for new market federal tax credits and closed solid waste facilities.

New Jersey to start designing permanent community solar program
Trenton, New Jersey

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced it is converting the state’s Community Solar Energy Pilot Program into a permanent program by February 2022. The board will begin stakeholder input on the program design before the end of 2021.

Advocates push for large-scale transmission upgrades to accommodate more solar power
Washington, D.C.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced it will start a rulemaking process to evaluate transmission and interconnection as the country’s energy makeup evolves. SEIA and other organizations are pushing for large-scale upgrades to accommodate more renewable energy.

Arizona eliminates grid access fee for solar customers
Phoenix, Arizona 

The Arizona Corporation Commission decided to eliminate a decade-old grid access fee for residential solar customers after SEIA offered testimony about what it considered an unfair charge. The fee came out to about $100 per year per solar customer under the guise that it cost more to provide them with electricity service.

Florida Public Service Commission approves enough utility-scale solar to power 1 million homes
Tallahassee, Florida

The Florida Public Service Commission unanimously approved FPL’s new four-year rate settlement agreement that supports the buildout of more than 50 new solar sites. The agreement also more than doubles the utility’s community solar program.

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/11/november-2021-solar-policy-snapshots/