New ‘Freeing the Grid’ Report Shows State-Level Renewable Energy Policy Progress

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renewable energy advocates today released the 2010 Edition of Freeing the Grid, a policy guide that grades states on two key programs: net metering and interconnection procedures. Together these policies empower energy customers to use solar and other renewables to meet their own electricity needs. Now in its fourth year of publication, the 2010 report indicates that states continue to drive progress in the nation’s renewable energy economy.

“Electricity rules and regulations can be incredibly complex and difficult to get right, particularly in the pioneering territory of renewables and self-generation. Freeing the Grid is intended to help states understand how their policies currently rank and how to improve them to achieve real renewable energy market and job growth”

“Electricity rules and regulations can be incredibly complex and difficult to get right, particularly in the pioneering territory of renewables and self-generation. Freeing the Grid is intended to help states understand how their policies currently rank and how to improve them to achieve real renewable energy market and job growth,” said Kyle Rabin, Director of the Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC). “The tremendous progress we’ve seen over the four short years of the report’s publication leaves no doubt that states are able and willing to tackle these tough issues and advance our clean energy economy.”

Freeing the Grid is produced annually by NNEC in partnership with Vote Solar, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), and the North Carolina Solar Center. Download the full text of the 2010 report at: www.freeingthegrid.org

Freeing the Grid 2010 report highlights:

Net Metering Rules: Commonly known as the policy that lets a customer’s electric meter spin backwards, net metering is a simple billing arrangement that ensures solar customers receive fair credit for the excess electricity their systems generate during daytime hours. In 2010, 37 states received “A” or “B” grades for their net metering policies, up from 13 states in 2007.
Interconnection Procedures: Interconnection procedures are the rules and processes that an energy customer must follow to be able to “plug” their renewable energy system into the electricity grid. In some cases, the interconnection process is so lengthy, arduous and/or expensive that it thwarts the development of clean energy altogether. In 2010, twenty states received “A” or “B” grades for good interconnection practices, a tremendous improvement over the solitary “B” grade awarded in 2007.
Head of the Class: Massachusetts and Utah received exceptional “A” grades in both interconnection and net metering. This is the first time in the report’s history that any state has achieved “A” grades in both categories.
Most Likely to Succeed: Colorado’s use of proven best practices and innovative new policy models earned it the top score in net metering. Colorado allows many customer types and systems sizes to benefit from net metering, enabling broad participation in the state’s renewable energy economy. In 2010, the state also took pioneering steps to allow shared, community solar energy systems to receive net metering credits through “Community Solar Gardens.”

“I am proud that Colorado is leading the way on distributed renewable energy,” said Gov. Bill Ritter who also contributed the foreword to the 2010 report. “We have worked hard to diversify our energy supplies and create jobs, while also trying to make distributed renewable energy affordable for our commercial and residential sectors. This is smart, forward-thinking policy that other states can, and should, follow.”

“With gridlock at the federal level, state and local leaders have been busy expanding opportunities for Americans to invest in our new energy economy. These states are to be applauded for their leadership and vision in driving real renewable energy progress and job growth. In combination with policies that grow wholesale renewable generation for the utility sector, these state-level policies for customer self-generation are building robust and sustainable renewable energy markets across the country,” said Adam Browning, Executive Director of Vote Solar.

“One of the most exciting developments graded for the first time this year’s Freeing the Grid is the state-wide community solar programs that are moving forward in a number of places throughout the country. Community solar allows renters, customers with shaded roofs, and others who were formerly unable to participate solar energy to do so which supports green jobs in their local communities while simultaneously expanding markets for renewable energy,” said Joseph Wiedman, Partner at Keyes and Fox, LLP which represents IREC.

“States are continually raising the bar for interconnection and net metering policies, which are widely viewed as some of the least-cost, most effective ways to encourage renewable energy investment. This report provides an excellent barometer of the progress that states are making toward this goal as well as a clear roadmap for further improvement,” said Laurel Varnado, Policy Analyst for the North Carolina Solar Center.

Added Carrie Hitt, President of the Solar Alliance, a state-focused association of solar equipment manufacturers, integrators and financiers, “Freeing the Grid shows that, with the right leadership and policy design, states can quickly make substantial clean energy gains. We look forward to working alongside legislators, regulators and other partners to continue building our nation's new energy economy, state by state and community by community."

About NNEC: Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) promotes policies that ensure safe, clean, and environmentally responsible energy options. www.newenergychoices.org

About Vote Solar: The Vote Solar Initiative is a grassroots non-profit organization working to combat climate change and foster economic development by bringing solar energy into the mainstream. www.votesolar.org

About IREC: The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is a premier resource for current information, education, credentialing and best practices regarding renewable energy. www.irecusa.org

About the North Carolina Solar Center: A public service center at North Carolina State University, the Solar Center manages the go-to resource for current clean energy policies nationwide, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE). www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/