Solar and Wind

Question 1

Overview of Wind

Answer 1

1. Average capacity factor for wind farm is usually 36%.
2. Wind is not distributed equally, usually far away from where people live.
3. Tend to be regulated at the local level.

Question 2

Overview of Solar

Answer 2

1. Can pose problems because of infrastructure that wasn’t designed for two-way flow of electricity.
2. Predominately in the SW, though NY leads in rooftop solar.
3. Keeps getting better & better, breakeven point decreasing.
4. Regulated at the local level.

Question 3

Utility Scale vs. Distributed

Answer 3

Utility Scale: Wind farms & solar farms
Distributed: Personal wind or solar

Question 4

Types of Solar Panels

Answer 4

1. Semiconductor Substances: Photovoltaics or thin film semi conductors. Utility or distributed scale.
2. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) - heating liquid, creating steam

• Parabolic Troughs - solar reflectors concentrate solar rays on pipe that carries liquid
• Solar Dishes - Follow the sun & concentrate solar rays on focal point
• Solar Tower - Use ground mirrors to concentrate solar rays onto tower-mounted heat exchanger

Question 5

Capacity Factor

Answer 5

1. Capacity factor (how much energy is it likely to create) is low. Around a third.
2. This creates significant issues for operators.

Question 6

Duck Curve

Answer 6

1. Duck Curve: the amount of energy outside of solar that is needed. The curve is getting worse, as in we don’t need energy from another source in CA for part of the day.
2. Perverse outcome, because you need to ramp up quickly other form of energy when the sun sets.
3. Nuclear power, or batteries may be the solution here. Or demand response (turn off electricity when we ask you to).

Question 7

Federal Policies in Support of Renewable Energy

Answer 7

1. Generally, fiscal support for renewables

• Direct funding (grants)
• Tax benefits: investment tax credit - how much you spent investing or production - how much green energy did you create.
• These tax benefit are controversial and change depending on Congress, but now companies don’t need them

Question 8

State Policies in favor of Renewable Energy

Answer 8

(1) Mandates: telling power companies that they must have a certain percentage of renewables in their portfolio by a certain date.

• Some states allow for the buying of renewable credits, but there is no way to stop states from double selling renewable credit (RECs)

(2) Incentives: Paying solar panel customers or charging different rate

Question 9

PACE Programs

Answer 9

1. Homeowners have been skittish to install solar panels because of the length of recouping costs
2. PACE program: municipality will lend you the money for solar, and then it is added to your tax bill. If the homeowner moves, they are free of the tax
3. Banks don’t like this because tax liens jump the line in terms of repayment if the mortgage payment defaults. Fannie May and Freddie Mac jumped in and said that they would refuse to conform the mortgage.
4. Not much has been done to overcome this problem. Third Party Solar has been a solution (third party coming in and adding them, owning them, controlling them, giving you a small portion)

Question 10

Flat Moratorium on Renewables
(land use)

Answer 10

(1) Ecogen: A town may enact regulations not permitting the construction of wind turbines as long as it bears a rational relationship to a legitimate governmental purpose.

(2)Perennial Solar: The grant of authority to state agencies may preempt local regulations regarding renewable energy.
- CCN: Certificate of Convenience and Necessity - authorizes utility to build something.

(3) Quechen Tribe: Laws regarding the protection of native American artifacts & historical sites may slow or cancel renewable energy projects. Obligation to actually consult with tribe.

Question 11

States Changing Basic Property Laws

Answer 11

1. Some states are giving basic rights that protect wind and solar.
2. e.g. New Mexico passed a solar rights statute.