Spencer Rosen

Discover how Idaho's energy landscape is changing and how utilities are responding to these shifts. From a decrease in hydroelectricity generation to an increase in renewable energy sources, Idaho is adapting to new challenges and opportunities. Learn about the strategies electric utilities are implementing and the impact of changing climate patterns on the state's energy future. #IdahoEnergy #RenewableEnergy #ClimateChange #EnergyTransition https://lnkd.in/eAeDsHSe #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #GreenTech #SustainableLiving #EcoFriendlyInnovation

Via PV Mag: " Utility-scale solar development: Good planning makes good neighbors: A recent study by Berkeley Lab, the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University found that sharing plans for large-scale solar projects with local residents improves the perception of such sites. From pv magazine 6/24 The United States has set a goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035. To do so, a vast amount of land needs to be used for solar energy production. The US National Renewable Energy Lab estimates that if the United States were to meet all of its electricity needs with solar alone, around 10 million acres, or 0.4% of the area of the country, would be needed. Solar siting can run into local opposition, so public perceptions need to be addressed. That was the subject of “Perceptions of Large-Scale Solar Project Neighbors: Results from a National Survey,” a report conducted by the Energy Markets and Policy (EMP) department at the Berkeley National Laboratory, in collaboration with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. The impetus for the study is the tremendous buildout of large-scale solar (LSS) plants (greater than 1 MW) across the United States. According to the US Solar Photovoltaic Database, as of November 2023 there were 3,676 solar projects with capacities of more than 1 MW, for a total generation capacity of 54.9 GW. As of 2022, there were more than 10 million US homes within 4.8 km of LSS plants. Understanding the perceptions and attitudes of people who live near these installations can help with future deployment, according to Joseph Rand, lead author of the study and an energy policy researcher in the EMP department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. As no study had previously been done asking LSS site neighbors for input, the Berkeley group teamed up with the University of Michigan and Michigan State researchers to conduct a survey of residents who live within three miles of 380 unique LSS projects ranging in size from 1 MW to 252 MW in 39 states. Rand noted that it is early in the analysis of survey results but the key takeaways at this point are that residents had more negative reactions to installations greater than 100 MW in scale. He said the planning process also plays an important role in perception, because if residents “thought the planning process went well, they were more positive overall.” Part of the planning process is communication about a project. Rand said the biggest surprise in the survey results was that less than one-fifth of respondents actually knew about projects before construction. A team from the University of Michigan sent out the questionnaire along with a map showing solar power plants in close proximity to survey recipients. The survey asked several questions aimed at determining how LSS development impacted local tax revenue, supported local workers, or… " #EnergyStrorage #BatteryStorage #Energy

Via PV Mag: " Roadmap to designing an efficient community solar program: The Coalition for Community Solar Access released a Policy Roadmap that offers legislative guidance including model legislation. The Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) released its Policy Roadmap that includes a guidebook, model legislation, inclusive solar access solutions for low-to-moderate income subscribers and consumer protection best practices. It’s intended to serve as a blueprint for states without competitive community solar programs to pass legislation that supports programs. It also provides insight into how to maximize federal funding. “Our Roadmap boils down nearly a decade of the best lessons we’ve learned from creating community solar markets across the country into a succinct set of documents,” says Molly Knoll, Vice President of Policy, CCSA. “With many states exploring the development of new, or revamped, community solar programming and federal funds ready to deploy, this felt like the perfect time to release this helpful guide for all our advocates.” The community solar is on the rise as it brings economic and social benefits to all Americans seeking local, clean community solar energy. By its design it lets people benefit from solar energy who may be unable to install solar either due to financial restrictions or because they do not have a suitable rooftop for solar. Wood Mackenzie expects 7.6 GW of new community solar will come online in existing state markets between 2024 and 2028, and the national total of community solar installations is expected to pass 10 GW of cumulative capacity in 2026. Source: Wood Mackenzie The CCSA’s aim with the Roadmap is to help the industry continue on the upward trajectory it’s currently experiencing, which requires strong programmatic and policy decisions. The Roadmap’s release coincides with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is set to deploy $7 billion to state applicants through its Solar for All program, a funding opportunity that has a goal of bringing solar energy to low-income households. Recipients were chosen based on their proposals to develop programs designed to serve communities facing barriers to distributed solar deployment, with 100% of funding supporting low-income and disadvantaged communities in all 50 states the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and territories. Supporting low-income households As recently shown in community solar programs and research reports from Wood Mackenzie and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab  (LBNL) community solar has effectively expanded solar access to multifamily housing occupants, renters and low-income households. Based on a sample of 11 states, the LBNL study found that community solar adopters in 2023 were about 6.1 times more likely to live in multifamily buildings than rooftop solar adopters, 4.4 times more likely to rent, and earned 23% less… " #EnergyStrorage #BatteryStorage #Energy

The U. S. Department of Energy has closed a $73 million loan guarantee to develop a solar-plus-energy-storage microgrid on Tribal lands in California. The project will benefit the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Native Americans by providing utility-scale renewable energy generation and storage infrastructure. The project company, Indian Energy, is 100% Native-owned, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous involvement in renewable energy projects. The microgrid will create 250 construction jobs and eight permanent jobs, while also reducing energy costs for the Tribe and supporting economic development. State and federal resources are working together to ensure the success of large-scale Tribal energy projects like this one. Overall, the project showcases how renewable energy initiatives can drive economic growth, create jobs, and support a more sustainable future for all communities involved. Isn't it amazing seeing renewable energy being accessible to a wide range of people? We can't wait to see the day that everyone has green energy! Source: https://lnkd.in/gyah8Dxj #Renewableenergy #Microgrid #Solarfarms #Greenenergyaccessability

Advocates hope utility’s winter heat pump rate discount becomes model for Massachusetts utilities Residents with heat pumps in four Massachusetts towns will soon pay hundreds of dollars less for their electricity over the winter, thanks to a new pricing approach advocates hope will become a model for utilities across the state.  State regulators in June approved a plan by utility Unitil to lower the distribution portion of the electric rate from November to April for customers who use heat pumps, the first time this pricing structure will be used in the state. It’s a shift the company hopes will make it more financially feasible for residents of its service area to choose the higher-efficiency, lower-emissions heat source.  “We asked, is there a way we can structure the rates that would be fair and help customers adopt a heat pump?” said Unitil spokesman Alec O‘Meara. “We recognize that energy affordability is very important to our customers.” Source- https://lnkd.in/g8RZ6Hug #energynews #business #energy #news #ceo #renewableenergy #renewable #energy

The energy transition continues to accelerate with improved infrastructure.