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California’s boost for distributed solar power

“This program is a great step forward in facilitating the expansion of distributed solar power generation,”

Commission votes to expand mid-sized renewable energy development, California’s feed-in tariff program: Clean Energy, Allie Gardner, 22 Dec 10, Smaller scale solar energy development just got a significant leg-up in California. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted unanimously to approve a new program designed to drive small to mid-sized renewable energy development.

“This program is a great step forward in facilitating the expansion of distributed solar power generation,” said Marc Van Gerven, CEO of Q-Cells North America, a global leader in developing solar power systems, in a statement. “We are committed to partnering with utilities and the CPUC in continuing to grow solar adoption and California’s leadership in the renewable energy market.”

The Renewable Auction Mechanism, or RAM, is a next generation feed-in tariff program that will require investor-owned California utilities to purchase electricity from solar and other renewable sources with an output of 20 megawatts or less. Proponents of the plan and of solar energy in general are applauding the CPUC for this innovative tariff approach to building a strong renewable energy economy in the state of California,  …………….. many experts are looking upon the commission’s decision as a boost for the industry.

“In combination with California’s 80,000 behind-the-meter solar systems and the Renewable Portfolio Standard that is driving large-scale projects, this program pioneers a new approach to wholesale distributed generation,” said Adam Browning, executive director of Vote Solar, a non-profit organization working to make solar a mainstream American energy resource, in a statement. “At scale, solar is more cost effective than the fossil fuel alternatives.”

December 22, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | decentralised, USA