The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has released the Q2 2024 edition of “The 50 States of Solar Energy.” The quarterly series provides insight into regulatory and legislative discussions and actions in distributed solar policy, with an emphasis on net metering, distributed solar rating, community solar, residential fixed charges, demand and residential, third-party owned and utility-directed solar loads. rooftop solar programs.
The report shows that 44 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, took some form of distributed solar policy action by the second quarter of 2024 (see figure below), with the largest number of actions continues to address net metering policy (64), and residential fixed charges or minimum bill increases (48), and community solar policy (42). A total of 182 distributed solar policies have been implemented in the second quarter of 2024, with the majority in California, Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Virginia.
The report identifies three trends in solar policy activity in the second quarter of 2024: (1) states examining the trade-off between Inflation Reduction Act funding and solar programs, (2) states using formal studies to inform efforts for net metering successors, and (3) states that support existing community solar programs.
“After several quarters of states introducing new net metering rates, a number of states are now initiating their own studies on net metering and alternatives to net metering,” said Brian Lips, Senior Policy Project Manager at NCCETC.
The report lists the top five distributed solar policy actions of the second quarter of 2024:
- California regulators making decisions about community solar and income-based fixed charges;
- Alaska Lawmakers Pass Community Solar Legislation;
- Colorado lawmakers approve changes to the states’ community solar garden program;
- Lawmakers in Connecticut and Washington initiating net metering studies; And
- The Kansas Legislature is expanding the availability of net metering.
“States are beginning – or more accurately, beginning again – to explore net metering programs outside of distributed solar valuing,” said Rebekah de la Mora, Senior Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “These studies focus on program redesigns and successors, looking at the policy, economics, outcomes, and future projections of net metering programs. Some of these studies have already been signed into law, such as in Puerto Rico, while others were proposed by recently passed bills, such as those in Delaware and Washington.”
News release from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center
