Solar Thermal Electric

Net Metering / Net Billing

Note: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a decision in December 2022 phasing out the previous Net Energy Metering (NEM 2.0) tariff and replacing it with a new net billing tariff. Customer generators who submit interconnection applications on or after April 15, 2023 will only be eligible for the new net billing tariff. The summary immediately below describes the net billing tariff, followed by a description of the previous NEM 2.0 rules for historical purposes. 


Net Billing Tariff 

Customer generators who submit interconnection applications on or after April 15, 2023 must take service under the new net billing tariff

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Interconnection Standards

The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission was required to adopt interconnection standards and net-metering rules by the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004. The PUC subsequently adopted interconnection standards for net-metered distributed generation (DG) systems in August 2006. In July 2007, H.B.1203 required the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to develop "technical and net-metering interconnection rules for customer-generators... consistent with rules defined in other states within the service region of the regional transmission organization that manages the transmission system in any part of the [state]."

In July 2008 the PUC issued a final rulemaking order (effective November 2008) adopting new net

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Net Metering

In December 2005 the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted standards for net metering and interconnection, as required by Amendment 37, a renewable energy ballot initiative approved by Colorado voters in November 2004.

Customer-generators are eligible for net metering in Colorado for retail renewable distributed generation. The following sections describe the rules that apply to investor-owned utilities (IOUs), with the last section detailing net metering for municipal utilities and electric cooperatives. All utilities subject to the below net metering rules are required to provide net metering service at non-discriminatory rates to customer-generators.

Systems sized up to 200% of

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Nevada Solar and Wind Easement Laws

Nevada has a number of laws which prohibit restrictions on solar and wind energy systems. 

Nevada Revised Statutes 111.239 and 111.2395 relate to property. The laws disallow covenants, deeds, contracts, ordinances or other legal instruments which unreasonably restrict a property owner from using a solar or wind energy system on his or her property. For solar systems, unreasonable restrictions are those which decrease system performance by more than 10%. For wind systems, unreasonable restrictions are those which “significantly” decrease the efficiency or performance of the system. Further restrictions can be placed on a wind system based on its height, noise

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Renewable Energy Standard

Note: The Arizona Corporation Commission is currently considering changes to the state's Renewable Energy Standard in Docket No. RE-00000A-24-0026.

In November 2006, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) adopted final rules to expand the state's Renewable Energy Standard (RES) to 15% by 2025, with 30% of the renewable energy to be derived from distributed energy technologies. In June 2007, the state attorney general certified the rule as constitutional, allowing the new rules to go forward, and they took effect 60 days later. Investor-owned utilities and electric power cooperatives serving retail customers in Arizona, with the exception of distribution companies with

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Alternative Energy Law (AEL)

In 1983, Iowa became the first state in the U.S. to adopt a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by enacting the Alternative Energy Production law. The Iowa RPS requires its two investor-owned utilities (MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy Interstate Power and Light) to own or to contract for a combined total of 105 megawatts (MW) of renewable generating capacity and associated energy production.

Eligible Technologies

Eligible resources include solar, wind, waste management, resource recovery, refuse-derived fuel, agricultural crops or residues, wood-burning facilities, or small hydropower facilities.

Requirements

The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) has allocated the 105 MW requirement between the two

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Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard

Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS), created by S.B. 1030 on November 30, 2004, requires each electric distribution company (EDC)* and electric generation supplier (EGS) to retail electric customers in Pennsylvania to supply 18% of its electricity using alternative-energy resources by 2020.** 

Eligible technologies

The eligible alternative energy resources are categorized into two “Tiers”. The standard calls for utilities to generate 8% of their electricity by using "Tier I" energy sources and 10% using "Tier II" sources by May 31, 2021. 

Tier I sources include new and existing facilities which produce electricity using the following sources/technologies

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Indiana Solar Easements & Rights Laws

Indiana state law includes both covenant restrictions and solar easement provisions. The state's covenant restrictions prevent planning and zoning authorities from prohibiting or unreasonably restricting the use of solar energy. Indiana's solar easement provisions are similar to those in many other states. Although they do not create an automatic right to sunlight they allow parties to voluntarily enter into solar easement contracts which are enforceable by law. Passive solar structures are explicitly included in the type of solar-collection equipment that may be protected by solar easements.

In March 2022, Indiana adopted a bill, H.B. 1196, preventing homeowners' associations from

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City of Portland - Green Building Policy and LEED Certification

In 2001, the City of Portland adopted a Green Building Policy requiring new construction and major renovations of all city facilities to meet the Certified level of LEED. This policy was amended on April 27, 2005 by Resolution Number 36310, which was adopted by the Portland City Council. At that time, the Green Building Policy was changed to require new buildings to meet the LEED Gold standard. Additionally, the 2005 changes required LEED EBOM Silver for existing buildings. This policy was further amended in April 2009, with the passage of Resolution Number 36700. This resolution includes measures to incorporate the

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Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit (Corporate)

Utah's individual income tax credit for renewable energy systems includes provisions for both residential and commercial applications. The Utah Office of Energy Development administers the tax credit and has responsibility for revising the tax credit rules and certifying systems as eligible for the credit. Legislation (section 5) enacted in 2007 extended these tax credits through at least 2012. On or before this time, and every five years thereafter, the Utah Tax Review Commission must review the tax credit and make recommendations as to whether the tax credit should be continued, modified, or repealed. 

Residential Systems:

The individual income tax credit

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