Posts by John Fitzgerald Weaver
Massachusetts’ 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…
Read MoreNREL aiming to bring HVPE to Earth – hoping for 20-80¢/W
The researchers at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are trying to bring back, and refine, a solar cell technique from the 50-60s to help make the same solar cells as are on NASA’s Mars rovers. The technique makes solar cells from gallium arsenide that are already hitting 25.3% efficiency. David Young,…
Read MoresPower secures 100 MW solar power PPA with California aggregator
Community choice aggregator CleanPowerSF has signed a 22-year PPA with sPower for a 100 MW project in Lancaster, California. The project is expected to be online in 2019. …
Read MoreLowest public solar power contract in the United States: 2.49¢/kWh
Arizona’s largest power user has approved a 20-year power contract with a 30 MW solar project at 2.49¢/kWh, the lowest confirmed price for a public solar power contract to date. The deal also involves shutting down a coal plant. …
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