Posts by John Fitzgerald Weaver
If we ask nicely, wind+solar+storage can run the power grid
Research shows that a combination of wind, solar and energy storage can provide the seven fundamental services needed to run the power grid at levels ranging from “Good” through “Excellent”. The old trope is that you can’t replace the inertia of the rotating mass of metal that makes up a generator – because that’s what…
Read MoreMassachusetts’ SMART program fills up fast
This article originally appeared on pv magazine USA. Beginnings are difficult times. And given the delayed roll-out and pent-up demand for Massachusetts’ SMART program, it was long projected that some portions of the program would rapidly fill up as soon as it became available. These expectations appear to be largely correct, and the program reports…
Read MoreSMART solar tour complete, Massachusetts DOER readies launch
The State of Massachusetts completed a seven stop tour educating the public on its newest electricity grid development program – the 1.6 GW SMART solar program. As the highly successful SREC programs come to an end on November 26, at 12 PM EST, over 11,000 direct solar professionals within the state are paying attention. Kaitlin…
Read MoreMassachusetts’ SMART program is a go – the details matter though
The solar power market in Massachusetts is the perfect example of the infamous solar-coaster. The state’s highly successful SREC & SREC II programs both ended faster than politicians expected, leaving large gaps of market continuity after each of the programs ended. Valiantly, the Department of Energy and Resources extended the SREC II program multiple times…
Read MoreAgrovoltaics: a solar-powered safety net for Massachusetts farmers
The long-term, steady income of solar power complements the higher revenue, but harder work of traditional farming. The Massachusetts SMART program looks to increase this trend with “agrovoltaic” incentives for solar co-located with crops. They’re called solar farms for a reason – we deploy our seeds of steel, we water the ground with copper, and…
Read MoreMassachusetts calls for ‘Clean Peak Standard’ to green dirtiest, most expensive power
The State specified that retail electricity suppliers must provide customers with clean electricity during defined ‘clean peak periods’, at less than $0.005/kWh averaged across annual usage. The State of Massachusetts has put forth plans that will require retail electricity utilities to provide buyers with cleaner and cheaper electricity options during the most expensive and dirtiest…
Read MoreSMART problems in Massachusetts
The state’s upcoming solar program looks as if it will very quickly move through allocated volume, stranding developers and installers and tens of millions of dollars worth of projects. The State of Massachusetts has a solar powered problem on its hands. The problem might be that the state has created a program that is too…
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