Rusty HaynesN.C. Solar Center / DSIRE

N.C. State University

Keeping a Pulse on PV Policy:A Current U.S. Overview

PV AmericaPhiladelphia, PA

April 4, 2011

Why is the U.S. PV market challenging?

• Investor-owned (210)• Public utilities (2,009)• Electric co-ops (883)• Federal (9)

• Federal (1)• States, territories, DC (~65)• Counties (3,143)• Municipalities (~30,000)

Regulatory Regimes Utility Types

DSIRE

• Created in 1995• Funded by U.S. DOE / NREL• Managed by N.C. Solar Center

(NCSU)• Scope = government & utility

incentives & policies that promote RE & EE

• ~ 2,650 total summaries• ~175,000 users/month• DSIRE Solar (dsireusa.org/solar)• myDSIRE services for

businesses (mydsireusa.org)

Net Metering Interconnection

www.freeingthegrid.og

Average Retail Electricity Rates, 2009

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

Aggregate State Budget Shortfall (FY, in $B)

Long-Term Policy Perspective

• A decade of overwhelmingly solid policy progress at state level• A handful of snags (PACE, FIT), but very little actual policy back-pedaling• Exceptions: occasional PBF raids, tax credit abuse, net metering snafus• Federal policy consistently a wildcard

Immediate Policy Considerations

• Frustrations with SREC markets, FITs, PACE, community solar • Clarifying viability of 3rd-party PPA & lease models• Reducing non-module costs• Impacts of federal, state & local budget implosions• Implications of increasing policy complexity

Rusty HaynesDSIRE Project Manager

N.C. Solar Center NCSU, Box 7409

919.513.0445rusty_haynes@ncsu.edu

Contact Info: