Topics - State Solar Policy
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RAPID Solar Toolkit
Working on solar project is a multiyear venture that requires following regulations and gathering permits during each phase of the project. Search below for information overviews on specific topics to discover some of the regulatory nuances for particular jurisdictions. To help navigate the regulatory process and point you toward specific actions and permits, review the detailed flowcharts provided in the flowchart library.
Net Metering and Market Feedback Loops: Exploring the Impact of Retail Rate Design on Distributed PV Deployment
The advent of net metering has spurred growth in the PV market by allowing PV users to sell excess electricity back to the grid at retail price. This study examines two feedback loops caused by net metering. A positive feedback loop is created due to increased DG solar leading to under-recovery of fixed costs by the utility and thus higher retail electricity prices. A negative feedback loop is made because increased PV deployment leads to a shift in the timing of peak pricing to where solar is less cost efficient, raising solar user’s bills.
Solar Regulations and Permitting RAPID Toolkit
Open Energy Information has a webpage of summaries and flowcharts to navigate solar regulations and permitting. The webpage informs users on land use, land access, power plant, transmission siting and construction, and water use regulations at the Federal level, as well as State level, for California and Nevada.
The Impact of Solar Powered Oil Production on California's Economy
This ICF International report provides an economic analysis of Innovative Crude Production Methods under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has proposed to re-adopt the LCFS, reaffirming its original target of a 10 percent reduction in the carbon intensity of transportation fuels used in California by 2020 and subsequent years.
Shining Rewards: The Value of Rooftop Solar Power for Consumers and Society
Solar energy is on the rise in the United States. At the end of the first quarter of 2015, more than 21,300 megawatts of cumulative solar electric capacity had been installed around the country, enough to power more than 4.3 million homes. The rapid growth of solar energy in the United States is the result of forward-looking policies that are helping the nation reduce its contribution to global warming and expand its use of local renewable energy sources.
Bipartisan Efforts Help to Keep New Jersey Solar Installations on Track
If approved and signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie, bipartisan legislation approved this week by the New Jersey Legislature will help to keep New Jersey solar installations on track for 2015. The state is projected to add nearly 300 megawatts (MW) of new installed solar capacity, according to the recently released U.S. Solar Market Insight Report compiled by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
Georgia on Pace for Record-Shattering Year in Solar Installations
With its new, forward-looking Solar Power Free Market Financing Act set to become law on July 1, Georgia is expected to have its best year ever for new solar installations in 2015, according to the recently released U.S. Solar Market Insight Report compiled by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
Raising NEM Caps in Massachusetts Seen as Vital to Future Solar Growth
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Despite a strong first quarter, industry leaders are warning that future solar growth in Massachusetts is being jeopardized because net energy metering (NEM) caps have been reached in many areas of the state. These caps have been hit because of the exploding popularity of solar – evidenced by a 150 percent increase in new solar capacity in the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same quarter a year ago.
North Carolina Tops 1,000 MW of Solar Capacity, But Threats Looming
North Carolina became the fourth state in the nation to top 1,000 megawatts (MW) of installed solar capacity during the first quarter of 2015. Today, North Carolina trails only California, Arizona and New Jersey in total installed solar capacity, according to the recently released U.S. Solar Market Insight Report compiled by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). But despite the state’s rapid progress, solar industry leaders are warning that attempts to freeze North Carolina’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) will hurt solar growth, as well as the state’s economy.
Solar Market Insight Report 2015 Q1
U.S. Solar Market Insight™ is a collaboration between the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®) and GTM Research that brings high-quality, solar-specific analysis and forecasts to industry professionals in the form of quarterly and annual reports. Released June 9, 2015.