Qualifying facility interconnection conversions can be an effective way to bypass the interconnection queue, even during a repower. But there are groundrules to a conversion, and today FERC applied those rules and determined that qualifying facility owners may not be entitled to as much converted capacity as they might think.
Continue Reading Qualifying Facility Conversions – It’s What All the Kids Are Talking About
waste
Failed Solar Cell Could Be Hazardous to More Than the Owner’s Bottom Line
By Allison Smith on
Posted in Solar
See my colleague Wayne Rosenbaum‘s recent post on the question of how failed solar panels could be treated under federal and California waste laws:
Recently the New York Times published an article highlighting the high rate of solar panel failures well before their expected life times. While the article focused on the question of product liability, it raises another question. How does the law, particularly waste laws, define a solar panel that is no longer fit for its original intended use or purpose?
Under current federal and California law, the manufacturer of a non-functioning solar panel does not have an obligation to take back panels at the end of life as it does under the EU WEEE Directive. However, it is likely that this will change as the US PV market matures and more arrays approach end of life or fail. Panel manufactures are encouraged to monitor this issue and potentially to participate in contingency planning or rulemaking.
Regarding the disposal of defective panels, once an entity takes title to the panel it becomes the owner of that panel. This includes lenders who take title through foreclosure. As such, the owner becomes responsible for the panel’s proper handling and disposal. This requirement raises the question: Once the owner takes possession what will it do with the panel or its components at the end of their useful life?
Continue Reading Failed Solar Cell Could Be Hazardous to More Than the Owner’s Bottom Line
A National Renewable Energy Standard Bill Surfaces in DC
By Jason Johns on
Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Sam Brownback (R-KS), with Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Udall (D-NM), Mark Udall (D-CO) and others joining, announced today that they will introduce a stand-alone Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) bill. The bill will require sellers of electricity to obtain the following milestones in adding renewable energy resources or energy efficiency:
2012-2013 – 3%
2014-2015 – 6%
2017-2018 – 9%
2019-2020 – 12%
2021 – 2039 -15%
Renewable resources that can be used toward compliance will include wind, solar, ocean, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, incremental hydropower, hydrokinetic, new hydropower at existing dams, and waste-to-energy. For utilities that are unable to meet their RES targets, the bill proposes to charge a compliance payment at a rate of 2.1 cents per kilowatt hour, with such amounts then being used for renewable energy development or to offset consumers’ bills.
A first step, yes. But a small one.
Follow the link to learn more:Continue Reading A National Renewable Energy Standard Bill Surfaces in DC