The Importance of Net Metering and Interconnection Standards; Feed-in Tariffs Gaining Ground in North America

By Stephen Lacey, Podcast Editor
December 13, 2007 | 5 Comments

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Peterborough, New Hampshire [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] The necessity of good net metering laws and interconnection standards can't be understated. In order to grow the market for solar and other distributed forms of energy in the U.S., the appropriate laws must be in place to make installation easy and the investment cost-effective.

Dear Listeners -- While the written companion article for each episode of the Inside Renewable Energy podcast remains below, the associated audio files have necessarily been removed. We apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate the support you gave to our podcast production.

Thank you,
RenewableEnergyWorld.com

On Thursday, the Network for New Energy Choices released a report called “Freeing the Grid,” which looks at the best and worst net metering laws and interconnection standards around the country. Adam Browning, Executive Director of the Vote Solar Initiative, joins us to talk about the report and how distributed generators are treated differently from state to state.

Also in the podcast: Author and Renewable Energy Analyst Paul Gipe updates us on the increased interest in feed-in tariffs around North America. In the last few months, some Canadian provinces and U.S. states have expressed support for feed-in tariffs. And while this support may not necessarily turn into action, Gipe says that the government recommendations are a positive sign that the feed-in tariff movement is making progress in North America.

Inside Renewable Energy offers the latest in renewable energy news and information.

Additional Information

NNEC Report: Freeing the Grid

Bioenergy, Geothermal Energy, Green Power, Hydropower, Hydrogen - Fuel Cells, Ocean Energy, Other, Solar Energy, Wind Power

5 Reader Comments

Comment
1 of 5

tim-economu-23341

December 14, 2007

Thanks Stephen for an overview of the condition of feed-in and net metering. This makes me think you should do a piece with a score card for all the states, to give our local government some feedback on how "green" we are compared to the others. It would be nice for us all to know how we stand eh?

While our new laws in WA are keeping the installers busy, we have not seen the explosion yet, because the highest feed-in rate come from WA made modules, which are not yet in production, and I fear that when they do become available, may be slow to gain acceptance. How many want to put a module from a new company on a roof? I am rooting for Silicon Energy though...go Bill!!!
Later,
Tim

Comment
2 of 5

StephenLacey

December 14, 2007

Hi Lee,
You are correct -- Washington State's law is a great success. However, I decided to look at new proposals for feed-in tariffs rather than the laws we've already covered in order to highlight emerging interest. That was a purposeful decision.
Thanks,
Stephen Lacey

Comment
3 of 5

lee-bidgood-jr-69216

December 14, 2007

In the brief discussion of feed-in tariffs, there was no mention of Washington State's law. Why not? Isn't that a success story? All the rest were merely proposals.

Lee in Florida

Comment
4 of 5

ian-sampson-72933

December 16, 2007

Please provide HTML versions in addition to PDFs

1.PDFs are environmentally unfriendly as they encourage printing.
2.They are user unfriendly, as they hamper cut and past and therefore the distribution of information,
3.They are user unfriendly, as visually impaired and disabled (dyslexia) cannot use audio conversion.

Comment
5 of 5

steve-szabo-75797

February 11, 2008

How many states have adopted feed-in tariffs, or similar programs? What states are looking at the possibility of adopting FIT's? What about the federal government?

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Stephen Lacey

About: I am a reporter with ClimateProgress.org, a blog published by the Center for American Progress. I am former editor and producer for RenewableEnergyWorld.com, wh... more »