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

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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