Public Power - July/August 2008 - (Page 31)

Shares program, with proceeds used to make up the difference between what SMUD pays for the solar power and the discounted rate it charges participants. SmartHomes is also funded by the California Solar Initiative. This year, SMUD is mulling feed-in tariffs, which allow small renewable systems to sell power to utilities. These tariffs are credited for Germany’s exploding solar industry. California already has a few, but those in place have not been popular and the concept was not included in the California Solar Initiative. Bertolino said staff members intend to propose a feed-in tariff to the board as an alternative or compliment to its traditional incentive/net-metering program. It would target larger remote or alternatively owned systems. He hopes it will be in place by next year. Existing electric distribution systems are not designed to accommodate numerous intermittent generating units and can operate only with a photovoltaic penetration of up to 15 percent “without negative effects,” said the Electric Power Research Institute. Therefore, much of SMUD’s new photovoltaic capacity is going up in new developments. Although the utility’s renewable portfolio goal for 2011 is 23 percent, Bertolino said SMUD is not facing any imminent operational issues due to photovoltaic penetration. SMUD is also negotiating in partnership with other utilities for one or more large concentrating solar plants in the Southwest and evaluating possible sites in Sacramento. The utility’s solar program will help it meet its 136-MW share of the California Solar Initiative’s statewide, 10-year 3,000-MW goal for power from photovoltaic systems, Bertolino said. “Year one has seen a lot of activity. But we are not a solar company. We provide incentives. It is up to the industry to come in with products and prices to make the market grow.” Other solar-friendly best practices can be found under the “resources” tab at the California Solar Energy Association’s Web site, http://calseia.org/Home/. ❚ www.APPAnet.org Visit APPA’s Energy Efficiency Resource Central for all your energy efficiency needs. SM look to the sun Having built some of the largest photovoltaic power plants for cities and utilities across North America, SunEdison understands the challenges municipal utilities face regarding their renewable energy needs. At SunEdison, we make it simple for public power agencies to adopt solar by offering long-term predictable pricing with no up-front capital costs. Our fully managed solar services allow you to pay only for the power generated and never for the construction or maintenance of the solar power plant itself. So whether you are looking to strengthen your existing renewable portfolio, or position yourself ahead of anticipated mandates look to the sun and look to SunEdison. utility scale solar www.SunEdison.com 1. 866. SunEdison JULY-AUGUST 2008 31 http://www.sunedison.com http://calseia.org/Home/ http://www.APPAnet.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - July/August 2008

Public Power- July/August 2008 Contents Perspective 10 Questions Solar Energy Rising Sacramento's Solar Shares Gainesville Crowns a Conservation Idol By the Numbers Curbing Costs of Outages Reliability Green Energy Hometown Connections Customer Service Parting Shot

Public Power - July/August 2008

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