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Central board approves co-ops' solar farm plan
A plan to build South Carolina's largest solar farm took another step forward this week when Central Electric Power Cooperative's board of directors approved the project. The solar panels, to be installed on property owned by Coastal Electric Cooperative by the end of the year, will produce 3,000 kilowatts of electricity.
"Solar technology has come a long way in recent years, but it still has some real challenges," said Ron Calcaterra, president and CEO of Central Electric Power Cooperative. The solar farm will be a tool for cooperatives to learn how to integrate solar power into its system.
"It was not appropriate to discuss our plans publicly before details were in place. It was particularly hard to remain silent about this project recently as some groups perceived electric cooperatives as working against solar energy instead of working in favor of its cost-effective deployment," wrote Mike Couick, Statewide president and CEO, in an op-ed published today in The Post and Courier. "As we did with energy efficiency, we are applying our 'measure twice, cut once' philosophy to solar generation. We will learn some valuable lessons about how to incorporate these resources technically and in a financially sustainable way."
Related Stories:
Couick: Electric cooperatives let energy innovation shine in
Santee Cooper, electric co-ops to create solar farm
Biggest solar energy project in S.C. coming to Colleton County
S.C.'s Santee Cooper adding solar power to its grid
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USDA advancing rural energy loans
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Electric cooperatives are key to reversing the economic decline of the nation's rural areas. That was the message delivered by head of the Rural Utilities Service this week at a meeting of NRECA Regions 1 and 4. RUS Administrator John Padalino also told co-op leaders that the Agriculture Department is finalizing its energy-efficiency loans which will be managed by co-ops. Through the loan program, electric co-op members can borrow money for home energy efficiency improvements, then repay the loan with money saved on their electric bills. During Paladino's address, the U.S. Department of Agriculture also announced loans to eight electric cooperatives for infrastructure improvements. Among the eight were Halifax Electric in North Carolina, which will receive a $4 million loan to improve two miles of distribution line.
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Utilities, consumer groups eye California ruling
How can utilities make sure that people using solar panels pay their share to maintain the grid? It's a question asked from South Carolina to San Diego, one that new legislation in California is attempting to resolve. A bill proposed in that state would re-structure rates, with people in temperate coastal areas most likely seeing their rates go up, while others in the state's hottest areas possibly getting a rate reduction. According to The Los Angeles Times, the bill would authorize the public service commission to rewrite rules for those selling excess solar power back to utilities and require utilities to generate even more electricity from renewable sources. The bill has already passed two votes and faces one more before being sent to the governor for his signature. The measure is backed by utilities, consumer groups and the AARP. Farmers heavily invested in solar and the Sierra Club have raised concerns.
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