State, utilities to develop solar farms - Charlotte Business Journal:

igoeosysata1533.blogspot.com
The agreement comes a year aftedr the Green Communities Act was signedby Gov. Deval authorizing utilities to own and operate up to 50 megawatte ofsolar generation. Deregulation of the electricityu markets in 1997 barred utilities from owningvgeneration facilities. Utilities participating in the prograinclude , , Unitil/ and Coakley’z office, which serves as ratepayer advocate in negotiatione with utilities, has agreed to a proposao that would with the to develop a streamlined system to develop “costy competitive solar projects” that would benefit ratepayeras across the state.
“Governor Patriclk has made solar power a top priorityg andlast year’s landmark energ y reform legislation gave the Commonwealth new tool to make sure it gets deployed said Energy and Environmental Affair Secretary Ian Bowles. “Through this importantf partnership with theAttorney General, the ratepayers and the electric utilitiex will see a race to develop the best, lowest-cost largee scale installations. This is a novel approach and I’m confidengt it will accelerate clean energy development in the will be the first utility to develop asolar array, some 6 in a separate program outside of the statewid e pool.
The utility will participate in the joint venturer forfuture developments. Commercia scale solar arrays are a critical componentt tothe state’s goal of 250 megawattsz of solar power by but such facilities are scant. The largest solard array in the state is the BrocktonBrightfields project, a 425 kilowatgt system. The agreement is pending approval fromthe .