Solar could make state shine

Solar could make state shine

AS I SEE IT

By Peter Rothstein and Mike Hall

Massachusetts is extremely competitive with other states for solar development, ranking sixth in the country in terms of installed solar capacity and ahead of much sunnier states like Colorado and New Mexico.

But it hasn't always been that way.

Today there is enough solar installed in the commonwealth to power more than 86,000 homes. The amount of solar installed has grown from about 3 megawatts (MW) in 2007 to over 600 MW today as a result of political leadership and forward-thinking policies enacted by the Massachusetts Legislature.

Today, the commonwealth's vibrant solar industry is at a critical juncture, and needs the Legislature to lead once again.

Despite solar's momentum in Massachusetts, many planned solar projects across the commonwealth are threatened due to the fact that some utility jurisdictions have hit their net metering caps — a state-mandated cap on the amount of renewable energy projects that can sell electricity back to the grid.

Customers of these projects, which range from cities and towns to schools and affordable housing developments, are prevented from being able to develop solar projects to meet their energy needs. With most utility jurisdictions expected to hit their caps by the end of the year, the majority of solar development is poised to come to a screeching halt.

Recognizing the impending problem this spring, legislative leaders asked clean energy developers, utility companies, the commonwealth's Department of Energy Resources and other stakeholders to come together to create a solution to adjust the net metering cap, but also to develop a new public policy that will advance solar energy in a sustainable way that benefits ratepayers, the solar industry, and the commonwealth's economy, energy prices and environmental objectives.

Enter "An Act Relative to Net Metering and Solar Power," a bill that is supported by clean- energy developers, industry organizations, utilities, environmental organizations and the state's Department of Energy Resources, and is currently awaiting action in the Legislature.

The bill supports the continued growth of solar and other renewables by lifting the net metering cap entirely, and by reforming the commonwealth's solar incentive program so that it declines over time as solar continues to mature, saving ratepayers money.

It puts Gov. Deval Patrick's goal to install 1,600 MW of solar energy by 2020 into law, and creates a solar incentive program that provides greater price predictability and lower financing costs for solar projects, benefitting both solar developers and solar customers.

This bill will help ratepayers and continue to grow the state's solar sector, which now employs almost 10,000 people.

This legislation came together in a significant way. It is a direct result of an intensive and comprehensive process involving solar companies large and small, utilities, and other stakeholders, to create a policy that is good for everyone involved.

At a time when nearly 20 states across the country are experiencing utility efforts to roll back progress on solar development and net metering, this bill is a leading model of how states can resolve the net metering policy debate between the solar industry and utilities, and it serves as an example for the rest of the nation to follow.

This precedent-setting legislation will ensure that Massachusetts continues its leadership in solar energy, which is good for our economy, our energy future, and our environment.

Peter Rothstein is president of the New England Clean Energy Council, and Mike Hall is CEO of Borrego Solar.