Congress debates distributed solar ahead of new legislation

This set the stage for a lively discussion over the value of distributed solar, mirroring debates that have erupted in state regulatory proceedings and legislatures around the country over the costs and benefits of onsite solar generation. Held in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the hearing was one of a series called this month as Congress drafts broad energy legislation. Precisely how solar power could be impacted is not yet clear, but it appears to be an important topic. "With the rise of distributed generation and smart grid technologies, Americans are gaining more control over how they use and consume electricity but, as a result, the grid must be even more closely integrated. Innovation and new technologies, such as commercially viable storage, are clearly necessary to assist in this transformation," said Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), in her opening remarks. "The reliability of our nation's grid is therefore paramount, and the impact of policy directives must be seriously considered - not dismissed as somehow anti-environment or anti-future." The hearing on Tuesday included an added element of intrigue because one of the panelists was an executive vice president at American Electric Power (AEP)-one of the largest utilities in the U.S. that currently is pitted against the nation's largest rooftop solar installers over net energy metering rules in several of AEP's ...

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