Solar Policy Landscape –...
Transcript of Solar Policy Landscape –...
Andy Newbold, Public Affairs ManagerJanuary 2018
Solar Policy Landscape – East
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State Of Solar It took 40 years to get to 1 million solar systems around the U.S.
It will take 2 years to get the next 1 million systems
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Solar As An Economic Engine
Nearly 260,000 Americans work in solar - more than double the number
in 2012 - at more than 9,000 companies in every U.S. state.
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The cost to install solar has dropped by more than 70% since 2010, leading the
industry to expand into new markets and deploy thousands of systems nationwide.
The Solar Fight “Today, a variety of disruptive technologies are emerging that may compete with utility-provided services. Such technologies include solar photovoltaics (PV), battery storage, fuel cells, geothermal energy systems, wind, micro turbines, and electric vehicle (EV) enhanced storage. As the cost curve for these technologies improves, they could directly threaten the centralized utility model.”
- Edison Electric Institute: “Disruptive Challenges”
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The Solar Fight (Cont.)
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The Alliance For Solar Choice (TASC)
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Outside Game
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Over the past four years, more than 100,000 advocates nationwide have taken action through TASC and Sunrun to support solar energy growth and consumer choice.
Types Of Solar Fights
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Northeast Landscape
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New York Landscape
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Current Priorities Strategy Partners
● NY REV ○ Grid mod ○ Next gen rate
design○ Storage
(1500 MW targets)
● Expand storage
● Monitor utility rate cases (NGrid)
● Participate in working groups and submit comments ○ SEIA, other key stakeholders
● Work with Commission develop a rate
structure that sends an easily understandable price signal
● Run storage pilots to build out new markets
● Promoting solar + storage as 1) backup power in emergencies / natural disasters (Sandy) 2) maximize your solar savings
● Monitor, provide comments, and possibly intervene when needed at Commission
● SEIA, ● VSI● Acadia ● Utils through
SPP ● Solar
companies
Washington, DC Landscape
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Current Priorities Strategy Partners
● Stop demand charges in upcoming PEPCO GRC
● Develop energy storage market
● Monitor cases before Commission (interconnection, grid mod)
● Robust outside game to stop demand charges ○ Illinois strategy (educate,
coalition build, PESO with coalition, etc)
● Build pilot programs for energy storage
● Work with strategic partners to create goodwill for solar industry
● Build on relationship with PSC staff, write comments and intervene when warranted
● Grid Alternatives Mid-Atlantic
● MDV-SEIA● Chesapeake Climate
Action Network ● TESLA
SunPower ● Vote Solar ● Center for
Renewables Integration
● Energy Storage Association
Massachusetts Landscape
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Current Priorities Strategy Partners
● Appeal solar-specific demand charges from Eversource GRC
● Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) incentive program - RPS compliance program ○ Includes storage
● Monitor legislature for NEM & storage action
● Seek legal or legislative fix to demand charge prior to implementation Dec 31, 2018.
● Work with DPU (Department of Public Utilities) to approve future SMART tariffs
● Further advance regulatory framework for PV+ storage deployment in MA.
● SEIA, VSI. NECEC, ● Tesla, SunPower● Assorted envior groups
Southeast Landscape
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South Carolina Landscape
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Current Priorities Strategy Partners
● Ultimate objective: Pass solar reforms (H.4421 - Energy Consumer Bill of Rights Act) at the legislature
○ NEM cap○ Property tax
exemption
● Other solar goodies (HOA limitations, expands to unregulated utilities, interconnection standards, etc.)
● Continue to tie in solar to the public nuclear discussion
● Support legislative engagement on energy (work with new Energy Caucus)
● Build up allies around jobs messaging
● Demonstrate severity of a NEM crisis (Nevada, wake of VC Summer)
● Robust outside game (PESO)
● Palmetto Conservative Solar Coalition (PCSC)
● Christian Coalition of America
● Palmetto Solar● EFCA/SCTY/Tesla● Vivint ● Conservation Voters of
South Carolina● Southern Environmental
Law Center ● South Carolina Solar
Business Alliance● Coastal Conservation
League ● Current and former
Democrat and Republican state legislators
● Cypress Creek
Florida Landscape
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Current Priorities Strategy Partners
● Pass storage incentive
● Guard against any future NEM challenges
● Make solar more available and affordable (TPO not legal)
● Hurricane Irma focus○ More than half of the state of
Florida - 10 million people - lost power during Hurricane Irma.
● Build on Amendment 1 and Amendment 4 successes○ Florida voters strong support
of solar
● Work with industry and advocacy groups to engage legislators around need for energy storage
● Engage with PSC and monitor rate cases for NEM challenges
● SEIA ● Vote Solar● Solar
companies ● Solar
advocacy groups
● Conservatives for clean energy
Puerto Rico Landscape
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Current Priorities Strategy Partners
● Help rebuilding efforts
● Demonstrate the value of solar and storage as a more resilient and reliable energy option
● Open up funding for clean energy rebuilding○ Stafford Act
● Work with policymakers, businesses, industry groups, and advocates to create strategic rebuilding plans
● Urge policymakers to amend the Stafford Act
● Solar and storage companies
● Local installers● Environmental groups ● Non-profits ● Firefighters
Midwest Landscape
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Current Priorities Strategy Partners
● Solar industry trying to find clariety on TPO
● WiSEIA filed petition at PSC asking for declaratory ruling on TPO clarity -- that was passed back to legislature
● Robust outside game campaign to push for legislative fix and all other options○ Build conservative
support for DG
● WiSEIA● ELPC● Sierra Club /
Earthjustice● Clean Energy Choice
groups● NAACP● Interfaith Energy Group● League of
Municipalities● Schools/Churches● WI Farm Union● Industrial Rate
Advocates● WI Cons Energy Forum
Wisconsin Landscape
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How Can You Help?Stay connected on social media● Twitter
○ TASC: @alliance4solar○ Sunrun: @Sunrun
● Facebook○ Follow, like, comment on policy-related Sunrun and TASC posts
Become a solar advocate ● TASC Advocate Sign-Up: www.allianceforsolarchoice.com
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