Nov252009
New Hampshire gets a C for “freeing the grid”
Filed under Alternative energy by david brooks at 1:32 pm
A group that thinks states should make it as easy as possible for homeowners and business to generate their own solar/wind/whatever electricity has graded all the states on net metering and interconnection, which are the two systems that let you connect to the grid and sell excess power, rather than being an “off-the-grid” extremist. Net metering and interconnection policies have done more to push small-scale alternative energy than any technology.
The report by the Network for New Energy Choices, called “Freeing the Grid,” measures state policies compared to what they call “best practices” covering such things as allowing larger systems to participate, not requiring extra insurance, and applying existing IEEE standards.
New Hampshire gets a C in both interconnection and net metering; Massachusetts gets two B’s; Vermont and Maine both get a B for net metering, Vermont gets a C for interconnection and Maine gets no grade at all, which I don’t quite understand.
Overall, the report says things are improving greatly in much of the country.
Greentech Media has a good story about the report here. The whole report (in a hefty PDF) is here.
