As the energy grid evolves to accommodate more and more solar energy, conflicts emerge.
As solar power moved from thermal panels to photovoltaic systems and as installing solar panels became less expensive, more and more property-owners started generating solar power. Sometimes, these home owners can sustain some of their energy needs while supplementing their solar generation with energy from their local utility. But, increasingly, some have been able to generate enough power to sell some back to the utility.
"Huge political battles are now being fought all over the U.S. about what rate should be paid to people with solar panels for the electricity they produce, and engineers and economists are starting to look at completely different solutions – like redesigning the electric meter to better reflect the true economic value of electrons at a given moment," 99% Invisible writes. Naturally, the utilities would prefer to pay the people generating solar energy, with whom they're directly competing, as little as possible; and the people generating the energy, as well as the companies installing those panels for them, want to get the highest price they can.
For more background on the issue of net metering, the term that describes the issues at the heat of the controversy, see past Planetizen coverage.
FULL STORY: Reversing the Grid
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
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AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
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City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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