As the world continues its quest for sustainable energy solutions, the spotlight on solar power shines brighter than ever. In 2024, the landscape for solar incentives is evolving, reflecting both the growing urgency of combating climate change and the increasing viability of solar technology. Here's a comprehensive overview of the solar incentives landscape in 2024 and what it means for individuals, businesses, and the planet.
Showing posts with label Government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Government. Show all posts
Solar Farms Are Being Turned Off Due To Limited Storage Capacity
In the realm of renewable energy, solar power stands out as a beacon of sustainability, offering a clean and abundant source of electricity. However, as solar farms proliferate and their capacity grows, a pressing challenge emerges the mismatch between solar generation and the ability to store or utilize the energy produced. The result? Solar farms are being turned off even when the sun is shining brightly due to an oversupply of electricity and insufficient storage capacity. This conundrum sheds light on the urgent need to enhance energy storage infrastructure to accommodate the burgeoning output of solar energy.
When Do Federal Solar Tax Credits, Rebates & Incentives Expire?
Incentives, Rebates, and Tax Credits Help Make Solar Panels Affordable
What are Solar Energy Grants in Canada?
Solar Power should be available to everyone. For those living in British Columbia, there is a perfect solar power firm to meet your needs, and subsidies, or grants, for solar energy investments.
Why Don’t We Put Solar Panels Everywhere?
Once a novelty associated with mad scientists and eccentric visionaries, solar panels eventually became a mainstream technology in the early-21st century. They went from being a rare sight to frequently spotted on rooftops all around town. That transition is owed mostly to the increasing affordability of solar panel installations and a growing desire among the public to support green energy solutions.
Benefits of Solar LED Street Lighting
Solar led street lights is the mantra of today, so let us talk about how the solar-empowered street lighting system shapes the future of the lighting industry.
An Overview of Solar Energy Usage in North Dakota
North Dakota has the reputation for being a cold
state, with long winters. There is some truth to that reputation. With that
noted, North Dakota does have more sunny days than any other U.S. states along the
Canadian border. Therefore, because the state does outrank the others that
border the U.S. neighbor to the north, you may be wondering about how solar
energy is utilized in the state of North Dakota.
Solar Power: A Little Used Resource in North
Dakota
At this juncture in time, solar energy is a
little-used resource in the state of North Dakota. Indeed, North Dakota ranks
in the last place when contrasted with all other U.S. states when it comes to solar
energy use. North Dakota even ranks under the other U.S. Canadian border states
that enjoy less sunny days than North Dakota.
As of 2017, North Dakota has a meager installed
solar capacity of 220 kW. There are a variety of reasons why North Dakota is in the last place when it comes to the utilization of solar energy.
North Dakota Governmental Solar Energy Policy
Advocates for the use of solar energy maintain
that the government of North Dakota has established policies that are decidedly
"anti-solar energy." This seems to be particularly the case when it
comes to the state's "net metering policy." In the state of North
Dakota, a home or business owner that takes advantage of solar energy. (As an
aside, North Dakota technically does not have a true net metering policy
because meters are not read monthly.)
A home or business owner's utilization of solar
energy is reconciled monthly. A home or business owner utilizing solar energy
obtains what can best be described as a credit for that usage up to a specific
amount each month. If a consumer exceeds this amount, rather than obtain additional credit, or have the additional credited amount roll over into the
next month, or a future month, the home or business owner loses the credit altogether. In other words, a home or business owner ultimately is penalized for
using "too much" solar energy in a particular month.
This policy is considered to be one of the worst
in the nation. If continuous rollover was permitted, as is the case in some
other states, during the winter months, a consumer could apply for the excess credits
earned in the summertime during a time period when less energy can be
generated via solar power.
Primary Types of Solar Power Uses in North Dakota
There are two primary ways in which solar power
is being utilized in North Dakota. First, solar panels are being utilized in
residential and commercial buildings. This is not as widespread as is the case
in many states. Moreover, this utilization is subject to the limitations just
discussed.
The second way in which solar energy is being
utilized in North Dakota involves pumping water at remote wells. Supplying
power to remote wells has long been a notable problem in North Dakota.
Utilizing traditional means to supply power to
remote wells in North Dakota required the installation of power lines. The installation
of power lines costs an average of $15,0000 per mile. This could result in what
really might be called astronomical costs to provide the necessary power to remote
wells.
With the utilization of solar panels at remote
well sites, a mere $800 is expended to provide the setup for necessary power.
The expense of installing solar panels at these sites logs in at under $1,000,
no matter where the pump and well are located in the state of North Dakota.
The geographic location is such that the
construction of solar farms is not economically advisable at this time.
Generally speaking, the determination in the industry is that there is not
enough sunshine in the state to generate enough electricity within a specified
period of time to assist in offsetting the costs of solar farm construction.
Noting this fiscal reality associated with solar
farms in North Dakota, the costs associated with constructing these facilities
continues to decrease. In other words, at some juncture in the future, when a
cost and benefit analysis is run, solar farms may be considered more financial
feasible in the state of North Dakota.
Solar Energy Research
Despite limited use of solar energy in the state,
North Dakota State University is involved in research associated with solar energy.
This includes work on applications that may render solar energy more widely
useful in North Dakota in the not too distant future.
Jessica Kane is a professional blogger
who writes for Federal Steel
Supply, Inc., a leading steel tubing suppliers of carbon,
alloy and stainless steel pipe, tubes, fittings, and flanges.
What is a Solar Utility CCA or Community Collective Aggregation?
A Solar Community Collective (aka Solar Farms) Aggregation (CCA) is an optional buying group organized by a municipality or a group of municipalities to benefit electric customers. (CCA) is a state policy that enables local governments to aggregate electricity demand within their jurisdictions in order to procure alternative energy supplies while maintaining the existing electricity provider for transmission and distribution services.
- Came out of the Utility Deregulation Act of 1997 to enhance the competitive market
- A CCA would enter into an electricity supply contract for all customers who remain on default service within a given municipality.
- Customers can participate in the long-term fixed rates
- Customers are automatically enrolled, unless they opt-out
- Solar & Wind - more options to generate power using renewable energy and distributing power on the grid
- Choice - No longer "stuck" with utility default rates
- Stability - Municipality can seek long-term rates to avoid market volatility
- Savings - CCA obtained rates are generally below to substantially below average default rates.
- Economic Development - Stable and lower utility rates provide a competitive advantage for businesses choosing locations
- Pro-Consumer - Contract terms and conditions are designed to protect consumer rights
- No Penalties for Consumers - Opt-out anytime and go back to default service or choose another provider
- Environment - less fossil fuels used by traditional coal, gas and nuclear power plants.
The White House Solar Roof Panels
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| Solar Roof Panels on the White House |
On June 20, 1979, President Carter installed 32 solar thermal panels to generate hot water, but the panels were taken down (and not reinstalled intentionally) while the roof was being resurfaced in 1986 while Reagan was president.