Three new reports, recently released by the Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs), shed some light on key issues facing the electrical industry as it moves toward the goal of achieving energy independence. According to this organization, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, growing demand for solar energy and other distributed generation systems calls for federal and state legislation that streamlines procedures for interconnection of these systems to the electric utility grid. Otherwise, widespread adoption of safe, reliable, and cost-effective solar technologies will be stifled.
To help improve efficiency and educate the industry, one of the reports, “Comparison of the Four Leading Small Generator Interconnection Procedures,” written by Jason B. Keyes and Kevin T. Fox of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), compares four sets of interconnection procedures, including:
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP) and Small Generator Interconnection Agreement (SGIA)
California's Rule 21 (CA Rule 21), under which the majority of solar facilities and other distributed generation facilities in the United States have been interconnected
The Mid-Atlantic Demand Resource Initiative procedures
IREC's Model Interconnection Standards and Procedures for Small Generator Facilities
To download the full report, visit http://solarabcs.org/interconnection/.