ELPC is Reforming State Policies to Advance Renewable Energy
ELPC is working on many fronts to increase the use of less-polluting, energy efficient, and renewable electricity generation. One goal is to reduce reliance on old, dirty, centralized power plants and advance “distributed generation” – literally shifting some generation of electricity to wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, combined heat & power (CHP) systems, and other clean and efficient resources that are distributed across the electric grid and are often sited at a customer’s home or small business.
Interconnection Standards
In order to accomplish this structural shift, state policies must be reformed. Statewide interconnection standards make it easier to connect solar panels, wind turbines and other clean energy systems to the electric grid. These standards streamline the interconnection process by including uniform engineering requirements, reasonable fees and timelines, standard application forms and legal agreements, and “expedited review” for small projects.
Net Metering
Net metering is a special metering and billing agreement between utilities and their customers which allows customers to sell excess electricity back to the grid and gives customers a financial incentive to invest in renewable sources of energy. When a net metering customer’s renewable generator is producing more power than the customer needs, the electric meter runs backward generating credits. At the end of the billing period, the customer is only charged for the “net” power that they consume.
Model Net Metering and Interconnection Standards
ELPC’s “Model Net Metering and Interconnection Standards for Renewable Energy Systems” [pdf file] were developed with the input of industry experts and reflect recent best practices at the state level. Although the model contains both net metering and interconnection standards, these two parts can be used separately. To make it easier, the Net Metering Standards [pdf file] and Interconnection Standards [pdf file] are also available as two separate documents.
Promoting State Policy Changes
ELPC is leading broad coalitions of clean energy advocates and entrepreneurs to promote distributed generation and the necessary state policy changes in several states across the Midwest and Great Plains, especially in Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota. These coalitions are broad-based and diverse, including rural interests such as the Iowa Farmers Union and American Corn Growers Association, business interests and renewable energy developers, and environmental and public health interests such as the Iowa Environmental Council and the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago.
We are now deeply engaged in state administrative proceedings in Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota. Building from ELPC-authored model state rules, we’ve filed extensive legal briefings on behalf of our state partners with the respective state utility commissions. In summer 2008, the Illinois Commerce Commission issued final net metering and interconnection rules after several years of ELPC-led advocacy.
In addition to our leadership in Iowa, Illinois, and South Dakota, ELPC is providing key regional perspective and expertise to support similar projects across the region. We expect our current and future work to significantly reduce existing barriers to distributed generation, which will help diversify electricity generation, provide economic benefits, and encourage the development of efficient and clean sources of power in the Midwest and Great Plains.
