In 2010, 37 states received A or B grades for their net metering policies, according to the latest edition of the Freeing the Grid report. That number is up from 13 states in 2007.
Freeing the Grid is a policy guide that grades states on two key programs: net metering and interconnection procedures. Together these policies empower energy customers to use solar and other renewables to meet their own electricity needs. Now in its fourth year of publication, the 2010 report indicates that states continue to drive progress in the nation’s renewable energy economy.
"Electricity rules and regulations can be incredibly complex and difficult to get right, particularly in the pioneering territory of renewables and self-generation. Freeing the Grid is intended to help states understand how their policies currently rank and how to improve them to achieve real renewable energy market and job growth," said Kyle Rabin, Director of the Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC). "The tremendous progress we’ve seen over the four short years of the report’s publication leaves no doubt that states are able and willing to tackle these tough issues and advance our clean energy economy."
Freeing the Grid 2010 report highlights:
- Net metering rules: Commonly known as the policy that lets a customer’s electric meter spin backwards, net metering is a simple billing arrangement that ensures solar customers receive fair credit for the excess electricity their systems generate during daytime hours. In 2010, 37 states received A or B grades for their net metering policies, up from 13 states in 2007.
- Interconnection procedures: Interconnection procedures are the rules and processes that an energy customer must follow to be able to "plug" their renewable energy system into the electricity grid. In some cases, the interconnection process is so lengthy, arduous and/or expensive that it thwarts the development of clean energy altogether. In 2010, twenty states received A or B grades for good interconnection practices, a tremendous improvement over the solitary B grade awarded in 2007.
- Head of the Class: Massachusetts and Utah received exceptional "A" grades in both interconnection and net metering. This is the first time in the report’s history that any state has achieved "A" grades in both categories.
- Most Likely to Succeed: Colorado’s use of proven best practices and innovative new policy models earned it the top score in net metering. Colorado allows many customer types and systems sizes to benefit from net metering, enabling broad participation in the state’s renewable energy economy. In 2010, the state also took pioneering steps to allow shared, community solar energy systems to receive net metering credits through "Community Solar Gardens."
"I am proud that Colorado is leading the way on distributed renewable energy," said Gov. Bill Ritter who also contributed the foreword to the 2010 report. "We have worked hard to diversify our energy supplies and create jobs, while also trying to make distributed renewable energy affordable for our commercial and residential sectors. This is smart, forward-thinking policy that other states can, and should, follow."
"One of the most exciting developments graded for the first time this year’s Freeing the Grid is the state-wide community solar programs that are moving forward in a number of places throughout the country. Community solar allows renters, customers with shaded roofs, and others who were formerly unable to participate in solar energy to do so, which supports green jobs in their local communities while simultaneously expanding markets for renewable energy," said Joseph Wiedman, Partner at Keyes and Fox, LLP which represents IREC.
Freeing the Grid is produced annually by NNEC in partnership with Vote
Solar, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), and the North
Carolina Solar Center.
You can download the full text of the 2010 report at the linnk below.
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