An update on state-level clean energy news from around the country

[kristopher]

1. Resistance from the heart of coal country

... Appalachian Power is asking the State Corporation Commission to approve a different program — the Experimental Rider R.G.P. — that offers far less to customers than the existing Dominion plan.

Under the Experimental Rider R.G.P., an Appalachian Power customer such as a college or university would be able to contract with a solar developer to install, own and operate solar panels — but the customer would not be allowed to use the solar electricity generated on its own property!

Instead, the customer would have to continue buying mostly coal-powered electricity from Appalachian Power, while the solar electricity would be sold on the grid.

Appalachian Power would credit the customer for the value of the solar electricity according to a complicated and highly unfriendly formula.

Instead of saving money on electricity bills by going solar, the customer would pay substantially more...

http://www.roanoke.com/opinion/commentary/christopulos-appalachian-power-s-solar-program-would-leave-southwest-virginia/article_2aeb9891-1373-5581-b7ae-48c99587e068.html