Solar Policy
Regardless of technology or size, every facet of the solar industry is affected by local, state and federal policy. SEIA is engaged with policymakers at the regulatory and legislative levels in Washington, D.C. and across the country to establish supportive policy frameworks that allow solar to compete in the marketplace and offer cost-competitive, reliable energy to consumers.
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Electricity produced at or near the point where it is used is called Distributed Generation (DG). Distributed solar energy can be located on rooftops or ground-mounted, and is typically connected to the local utility distribution grid. There are a wide variety of policies at the state and local level that impact distributed solar and its customers.
Spotlight: Net Metering
Net metering allows residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity from solar power to sell the electricity they aren't using back into the grid. Many states have passed net metering laws. In other states, utilities may offer net metering programs voluntarily or as a result of regulatory decisions. Differences between state legislation, regulatory decisions and implementation policies mean that the mechanism for compensating solar customers varies widely across the country.
Featured Rooftop Solar Resources
Principles for the Evolution of Net Metering & Rate Design
Solar Automated Permit Processing
Solar Cost-Benefit Studies
Local Permitting
Learn MoreGrid Modernization
Learn MoreUtility Rate Design
Learn MoreRebates & Incentives
Learn MoreSolar Access Rights
Learn MoreProperty-Assessed Clean Energy
Learn MoreUtility-Scale Solar
Utility-scale solar has been generating reliable, clean energy with a stable fuel price for more than two decades. By enacting federal and state-level policies to accelerate the growth of utility-scale solar, we can create jobs nationwide and quickly diversify America’s energy portfolio.
Utility-Scale Solar Development
Utility-scale solar facilities and traditional power plants are constructed through a very similar process. Project developers work with financiers, solar technology suppliers, engineering firms, legal counsel, and others to identify appropriate sites for renewable energy projects, secure access to transmission infrastructure, interconnect facilities, and comply with government information reporting requirements.
Featured Resources
EIA Generation Forms
Factsheet: PURPA 101
Long-term Clean Energy Contracting Authority
Renewable Energy Standards
Learn MoreSiting, Permitting & Land Use
Learn MoreTransmission
Learn MoreHabitat Conservation Planning
Learn MoreWater Use Management
Learn MoreCommunity Solar
Community solar has become a critical tool for bridging the gap between those who can and can't access local, affordable, clean energy.
Quick Facts
- There are 40 states with at least one community solar project on-line, with 1,523 cumulative megawatts installed through 2018.
- At least 19 states and D.C. have recognized the benefits of shared renewables by encouraging their growth through policy and programs.
- The next five years will see the U.S. community solar market add as much as 3.5 gigawatts. A single MW of solar powers 190 homes; 3.5 GW will be able to power roughly 700,000 homes.
Renewable Energy Deployment
Policy plays an important role in deploying solar energy by helping create competitive markets for new and innovative energy technologies. Mechanisms for compensating solar system owners, markets for selling wholesale solar power, and funding for the U.S. Department of Energy can all impact the growth trajectory of the solar industry.
Related News
West Virginia Enables Solar Power Purchase Agreements
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The West Virginia legislature has passed a bill to make it easier for West Virginians to benefit from solar energy. House Bill 3310 enables power purchase agreements (PPAs). PPAs are a widely available method to finance distributed energy generation projects such as rooftop solar panels. PPAs are now allowed in 29 states.
South Carolina PSC Adopts SEIA’s Proposal to Preserve Net Metering
COLUMBIA, SC and WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, South Carolina Public Service Commissioner Tom Ervin motioned to accept a proposal that included several suggestions from the various non-utility parties, including the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCEA), regarding successor net metering tariffs.
Taking the Next Step Toward Our Clean Energy Goals
The latest U.S. Solar Market Insight report makes it clear that the solar industry will see historic growth over the next decade. In fact, the report’s forecasts show the U.S. solar market will grow 4x by 2030 and reach over 419 gigawatts (GW) of capacity.