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March 2009 February 2009
   
   
   
 
March 2009
Florida Utility Updates PV Program To Encourage Participation                        Mar. '09

The Gainesville City Commission has endorsed Florida utility GRU’s proposal to offer what the utility says is the first solar photovoltaic (PV) electric feed-in-tariff (FIT) program in the U.S.

According to GRU, program participants will invest in their own PV systems to generate electricity and sell it directly to GRU under a 20-year contract at a rate of $0.32 per kilowatt hour. This rate is an increase from the originally proposed $0.26 per kilowatt hour.

GRU’s previous program offered rebates to encourage the installation of PV systems and bought back the excess power that was not used in the home or business. GRU says the advantage of the FIT is that the participant’s income is predictable because all of the power generated will be sold directly to the utility. This factor, according to the company, is expected to increase program participation.

GRU also reports that it already has received applications to install PV systems with a total combined generating capacity of approximately 4 MW, fulfilling the utility’s first-year target for the program.

With its first-year target met, GRU says it will accept applications to fulfill its 2010 target of 4 MW. The rate of $0.32 per kilowatt hour will remain in effect for 2010, and GRU will use market data to evaluate and set the rate for 2011.

Press clipping courtesy of GRU

 


February 2009
Coffee Company To Install Solar System For VT Operations                                Feb. '09
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) has sealed an agreement with White River Junction, Vt.-based groSolar for the installation of a 100 kW photovoltaic array at GMCR’s distribution center in Waterbury, Vt.

The company expects the electricity generated by the system’s approximately 530 solar panels to produce a small percentage of the total electricity GMCR needs for its production facilities in Waterbury.

Company officials say the greater benefit of the project is in demonstrating the viability of solar power technologies for projects in the future.

“Renewable energy must be a part of our overall energy strategy,” said Paul Comey, vice president of environmental affairs for GMCR, in a press statement. “We want to show our state and federal governments that solar energy works, and that we need a policy that provides a broad-reaching structure for renewable energy.”

GMCR will benefit from Vermont utility Green Mountain Power’s SolarGMP program, which provides financial incentives to its customers to install solar generation at their homes and businesses.

Press clipping courtesy of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc.
 
Utah PSC Order Improves Rules To Jump-Start Net Metering Interest                Feb '09
The Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) recently issued an order in Docket# 08-035-78 addressing the net metering tariff of Rocky Mountain Power.

The order increases the amount of the credit received by customers for delivering excess electricity to the transmission grid, increases the total amount of electricity that may be customer generated and clarifies that renewable energy certificates are owned by net metering customers unless otherwise agreed to by the customer.

According to the PSC, this investigative docket was established to determine why relatively few customers were taking advantage of legislation passed in 2002 to encourage customer generation of electricity. The order was based on information provided by Rocky Mountain Power, the Division of Public Utilities, the Committee of Consumer Services, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City and approximately 25 other interested parties.

Press clip courtesy of the Utah Public Service Commission
NY Raises Maximum System Size Allowed For Net Metering To 25 kW             Feb. '09
The New York State Public Service Commission has approved changes to the tariffs of New York’s investor-owned utilities to promote installation of renewable energy systems in homes and businesses through a greater expansion of a customer’s ability to sell power to the utility.

The new provisions increase the maximum size of residential solar generation systems eligible for net metering to 25 kW from 10 kW. The provision also increases the maximum size of residential farm wind systems to 500 kW from 125 kW. The limit for residential wind systems remains unchanged at 25 kW.

“Net metering encourages the use of small-scale renewable energy systems, which provides long-term benefits to the environment and the economy,” Commission Chairman Garry Brown said in a press statement. “By using net metering, a home or business owner will be able to take excess electricity created by a solar panel or other qualifying renewable generator and in effect either bank the electricity until it is needed or sell it back to the utility at its retail value - a win for the consumer and the environment.”

The tariff change is for Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc., Orange & Rockland Utilities Inc., National Grid, Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. and New York State Electric & Gas Corp.

Press clip courtesy of the New York State Public Service Commission
 
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