More US States Cooking Up Renewable Energy Incentives

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53327

August 15, 2008

More US States Cooking Up Renewable Energy Incentives

Wisconsin Governor's task force calls for feed-in tariffs; South Carolina tests net metering; New York expands net metering, green building legislation.

by Paul Gipe, Contributing Writer and Graham Jesmer, News Editor
Wisconsin, New York and South Carolina, United States

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle's Task Force on Global Warming has called for implementation of Advanced Renewable Tariffs to encourage the development of the state's renewable energy resources.

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However, the recommendation is the first time that an advisory committee to a U.S. governor has formally endorsed the policy common in continental Europe. It follows on the California Energy Commission's proposal of feed-in tariffs (FITs) as a remedy for the failures of the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), and premier Gordon Campbell's call for feed-in tariffs in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

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South Carolina Enacts Net Metering

In related news, last month a decision by the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC SC) came to fruition as net metering for solar energy began in the state. The ruling came after the commission began hearings on subject in 2005. This new PSC SC ruling applies to all investor-owned utilities including Duke Energy, Progress Energy and South Carolina Electric and Gas, it also makes South Carolina the 43rd state to have a net-metering policy.

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New York Expands Net Metering and Green Building Legislation

Also in the news last week, New York Governor David Paterson signed a legislative package on August 5 that could encourage people throughout the state to install grid-connected solar and wind power systems, systems that generate power from farm wastes and "green" roofs. Most of the bills relate to net metering. Senate Bill 7171 expands net metering to include non-residential solar power systems up to 2 megawatts (MW) in capacity, or equal in size to the customer's peak load, whichever is less, and increases the maximum solar power system size for residential customers to 25 kilowatts (kW), up from 10 kW.

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[ElectricGrid]

1. When will KS get net metering????? Freaking puke politicians.

[DCKit]

2. I had to tell a friend in VA earlier this week it just wasn't worth doing the right thing.

The incentives just aren't there - yet.

I'll be looking at a solar hot water system for him, but support for solar electric is seriously lacking. How long do we have to wait for sane programs?

However, money spent on insulation and energy efficiency is always a good thing and I've got a long list of potential projects.