Comments of the Solar Energy Industries Association on MA D.P.U. 12‐120
RE: D.P.U. No. 12‐120 Investigation by the Department of Public Utilities on its own motion regarding the service quality guidelines established in Service Quality Standards for Electric Distribution Companies and Local Gas Distribution Companies, D.T.E. 99‐84 (2001) and amended in Service Quality Standards for Electric Distribution Companies and Local Gas Distribution Companies, D.T.E. 04‐ 116 (2007).
2012 Top 10 Solar States
In 2012, the U.S. solar industry installed 3.3 GW of solar capacity, growing 76% over 2011's total. What happened in your state? Find out!
SEIA Calls on Massachusetts to Increase Solar Carve-Out
The Patrick Administration today announced a process to further accelerate solar energy deployment in Massachusetts. This news comes as Massachusetts is within a year to 18 months of reaching the 400 megawatts (MW) target of the existing solar carve-out.Establishing a more aggressive solar carve-out program would bring Massachusetts up to the level of other states in the northeast that are supporting local solar industries. New Jersey has a 4 gigawatt (GW) goal for solar energy deployment, while Maryland has a 1.3 GW goal.
Massachusetts Pilots
In Massachusetts, developers have faced a number of issues surrounding tax valuations of solar projects. In order to help provide a bit of clarity on this issue, SEIA has sought to collect the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreements of successfully completed projects. It is our hope that these documents will be a starting point for the Department of Energy Resources to compile a complete database that will provide local assessors the information and guidance needed to properly valuate solar arrays in their towns. In developing this list, we have limited ourselves to projects that have an executed agreement (PILOT or PPA) and a pulled building permit. The average agreement is approximately $6,500 per MW DC per year, normalized to a 20 year agreement.
Comments by SEIA on the Distributed Generation Interconnection Working Group Report and Draft Tariff Language
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) hereby responds to the notice issued on November 26, 2012, by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), requesting comments no later than December 7, 2012, on the Distributed Generation (DG) Interconnection Working Group Report submitted to the DPU on September 14, 2012, and related proposed tariff language to implement Report recommendations filed with the DPU on October 31, 2012.
Massachusetts Keeps Solar Power Shining
Today Governor Deval Patrick signed into law the 2012 Energy Act. Among other provisions, this comprehensive energy bill raises the cap on an important solar program called “net metering.” Most solar electric installations are connected to the grid and feed excess power produced to other utility customers; net metering rules gives customers credit for extra power they generate.
Massachusetts Solar
Get facts and figures on the growth of solar energy in Massachusetts, including companies, projects, and policy resources.