Video & Transcript Research : 'distributed solar'
Page 7 of 356
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/10/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:21:36.960>
distributed all of the scales of solar distributed all of the scales of solar - solar in distributed generation solar in Minnesota<00:48:45.359>
so <00:48:45.559>that - , if the goal is solar for all, the future distribution grid is better suited to many small solar systems
- Reduced distribution capacity costs. And solar creates a more redundant distribution system.
- <01:20:39.120>
solar <01:20:39.520>system and Lawns we distribute solar system and
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
November 18, 2025 - 10:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- solar and cause roads or we're via time for questions.
- And 3rd piece today is a is a growing solar flee.
- You see your yellow solar use your blue batteries.
- Much like solar.
- Those solar Farms are located.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/12/26
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- And then, you know, I think as we've talked about in that 20% for transmission and distribution, solar
- And then, you know, I think as we've talked about in that 20% for transmission and distribution, solar
- <01:24:53.360>
solar <01:24:53.679>is transmission and distribution solar is transmission - and distribution solar is providing<01:24:54.159>
some <01:24:54.480>value. - The state saw benefit of promoting on-site, customer-owned distributed solar, and I want to say for rural
Keywords:
utilities, rate cases, cost recovery, reporting requirements, gas infrastructure, 1183, house
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming
Transcript Highlights:
- At its core, Solar App stands for Solar Automated Permit Processing.
- At its core, Solar App stands for Solar Automated Permit Processing.
- that's actually a term that ISO New England uses to refer to all solar sited on the distribution system
- And more remarkably, over 5 gigawatts of distributed solar saved 4,400 megawatts from peak demand, preventing
- The Mosaic Act's 40% distributed energy target by 2040 creates a pathway for batteries and solar systems
Summary:
The hearing focused on ways Massachusetts can accelerate solar deployment, lower costs, and preserve reliability as electricity demand rises and federal support for solar and other renewables changes. Chair Creem opened by emphasizing solar’s role in meeting climate mandates and peak demand, citing June heat-wave data showing behind-the-meter solar reduced wholesale prices and saved ratepayers money. Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney of DOER said Massachusetts has grown from 3 MW of solar in 2008 to 3.5 GW today, highlighted SMART 3.0 as a flexible, evergreen incentive program, and said DOER is working on updated rates, interconnection reforms, flexible interconnection, net crediting, and a petition to the DPU to speed implementation. She also said Massachusetts joined the lawsuit over canceled federal Solar for All funding.
Committee members and witnesses discussed several policy changes to speed projects before federal tax credits expire, including automated permitting, remote inspections, faster interconnection, and changes to caps on municipal and regional solar development. Senator Barrett pressed Mahoney on whether the 10 MW municipal cap and regional caps should be lifted, and on whether the state should increase its solar tax credit to offset the loss of the federal residential credit. Mahoney said the municipal cap should be revisited and that interconnection cost allocation and other market issues need to be worked out before lifting broader caps. She also said DOER is open to automated permitting and is already developing a permitting portal under the 2024 climate law.
Industry and advocacy witnesses largely supported streamlining measures. Sunrun’s Bronte Payne urged removal of a proposed requirement that all net-metered facilities enroll in SMART, and recommended automated permitting, remote inspections, flexible interconnection, better hosting-capacity information, consumer protections, and continued support for Connected Solutions and virtual power plants. Permit Power’s Hannah Bernbaum and Solar App’s Matthew McAllister argued that smart permitting and remote inspections can significantly reduce soft costs and delays, with McAllister saying Solar App now operates in over 320 jurisdictions and saves about three weeks on average. They said remote inspections are already common and can be done safely with photos, video, and qualified third parties. Community solar and clean energy advocates, including CCSA’s Kate Daniel and Vote Solar’s Lindsay Griffin, supported a 10 GW solar target by 2035, a higher refundable state tax credit for low-income households, interconnection reforms, flexible interconnection, and preserving the option to build outside SMART so projects can retain renewable energy certificates. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members requested follow-up materials and draft language from witnesses.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (04/13/2026)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you. in the construction of solar panels. And in the construction of solar panels.
- damages solar that much. damages solar that much.
- So, the bottom line here is net metering is often sufficient to support financing for distributed solar
- <02:52:09.439>
solar support financing for distributed solar support financing for distributed - to our environment than solar panels. to our environment than solar panels.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Public utilities to develop and implement a virtual power plant program 2/24/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- .<00:04:50.080>
Distribution <00:04:50.720>costs <00:04:51.199>are distribution. - Distribution costs are distribution. Distribution costs are growing<00:04:51.919>
substantially. - I want to thank Vote Solar.
- <00:18:30.880>
and <00:18:31.200>solar we've found that with uh solar and solar we've - battery policy, I mean solar and and battery policy, I mean solar and solar<00:18:33.919>
and
Summary:
Representative Craft presented House File 2986, as amended with the DE6, and asked that it be laid over for possible inclusion. He described the bill as an affordability measure centered on virtual power plants, explaining that aggregating distributed energy resources such as solar panels, batteries, EVs, smart thermostats, heat pumps, and water heaters can help utilities reduce peak demand and avoid costly generation and distribution investments. He said the bill would require utilities to reduce system peak through a virtual power plant program by 5% by the end of 2028 and 10% by the end of 2032, using an independent third-party RFP process, with plans incorporated into integrated resource planning and a savings clause if requirements prove infeasible.
Testimony in support came from the Department of Commerce, Vote Solar, Solar United Neighbors, Kite Rocket, and Mincia. Supporters said virtual power plants can function like grid-scale resources, lower spot-market and peak costs, improve reliability and resilience, and make better use of existing distribution infrastructure. Commerce said the approach fits an all-of-the-above strategy and noted consumer protections in the bill, including standards for contracts, disclosures, dispatch frequency, notice, opt-out, and compensation. Several supporters cited estimates of significant savings, including a national DOE estimate of 10% to 20% of peak load by 2030 and a Minnesota-specific estimate from Solar United Neighbors of about $63.5 million in savings if 10% of peak demand were met with VPPs in 2030.
Committee members raised questions about how much cheaper VPPs are than peaker plants and whether utilities, especially Xcel Energy, are already implementing similar programs. Representative Baker expressed concern that the bill could move faster than the technology or market would naturally develop and asked about the risk of forcing utilities into a mandate before the economics are fully proven. In response, a Solar United Neighbors witness pointed to a fact sheet and Brattle Group-based analysis comparing VPP costs and benefits in Xcel territory, while an Xcel representative said the company has been discussing the bill with Representative Craft for months. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion, and no final vote on the bill itself was taken in the transcript.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Feb 10th, 2026 at 08:32 am
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- It's Senate Bill 55, which I think is solar market tax credit.
- So far, it's Senate Bill 55, which I think is solar market tax credit.
- Solar panels are more common than battery storage in New Mexico, but increasingly solar systems are being
- Unfortunately, solar without storage cannot participate.
- Because a solar system charges or takes in energy and you can sell energy to the grid with their solar
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- I don't think it should have any negative impact on solar development or the pace of solar development
- solar.
- solar.
- This bill: distributed energy resources, or DERs, such as solar energy and energy storage, are to play
- They include solar, batteries, local wind power, microturbines, small hydro, all of that are local distributed
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on H. 4144, the Governor’s Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act, with the administration arguing the bill would lower bills in the short and long term while expanding clean energy supply and innovation. The Governor and Secretary said the bill would reduce or restructure charges on customer bills, reform Mass Save, expand securitization as a financing tool, speed interconnection, create energy-ready zones, strengthen consumer protections in competitive supply, and allow broader state procurement of energy resources. They said the package could save consumers billions over time and would help address high energy costs, especially during extreme heat and winter spikes.
Committee members pressed the administration on several provisions, especially securitization, asking whether the bill requires an apples-to-apples comparison of total costs over time, including interest and lost tax revenue, versus paying through rates. Administration witnesses said DPU review and public comment would be required and said they would work to clarify the language if needed. Members also questioned the bill’s solar and procurement provisions, including reduced net metering compensation for some large facilities, the scope of all-resource procurements, and whether hydro, solar, and nuclear would be included; the administration said those resources were contemplated and that procurement would still be reviewed by DPU. Other questions focused on the short-term relief from bill changes, the treatment of low- and moderate-income discounts, and whether the bill’s heat pump and Mass Save reforms would help customers who cannot afford upfront costs.
Several witnesses and committee members discussed Mass Save reforms, including securitization of program costs, on-bill financing, pre-approval of rebates, and shifting program administration away from gas utilities. Administration witnesses said the changes were intended to reduce volatility, lower administrative costs, and better align costs with long-term savings. Questions also touched on geothermal permitting, municipal participation in offshore wind procurement, and the proposed repeal of the ballot requirement for nuclear power, which the administration defended as preserving future options under heavy review. No votes were taken during the hearing portion described.
Supportive testimony came from labor, environmental, business, planning, and development groups. The AFL-CIO, NECA, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts backed the bill, emphasizing lower bills, job creation, labor standards, just transition protections, and cleaner energy. NAIOP, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and MAPC supported provisions on energy-ready zones, interconnection reform, microgrids, extreme-heat shutoff protections, and Mass Save improvements. A HEET representative praised the bill’s use of securitization, geothermal, and utility financing tools but urged guardrails and workforce protections. Overall, testimony was broadly favorable, with most witnesses calling for refinements rather than opposing the bill outright.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 2/19/26
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- That is the current solar distribution in Minnesota.
- That is the current solar distribution in Minnesota.
- That is the current solar distribution in Minnesota.
- solar projects to utility distribution solar projects to utility distribution systems.<01:25:27.440
- >
the projects like solar uh to the projects like solar uh to the distribution<01:28:15.679>
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Might a small distributed solar or a gas-fired peaker at a distribution-level interconnection be a better
- People were putting solar panels on their homes only to find out that they were... ...solar panels on
- Back in 2002, technologies like distributed batteries, rooftop solar, smart thermostats, virtual power
- Texas already has a growing base of distributed energy, batteries, rooftop solar, and smart devices that
- especially solar.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- and solar energy systems.
- This is likely due to the fact that solar is a more affordable and overall more accessible distributed
- This is likely due to the fact that solar is a more affordable and overall more accessible distributed
- of distributed wind and solar<00:58:54.960>
energy <00:58:55.359>systems. - I'm not sure people buying<01:08:59.279>
solar buying solar buying solar like<01:09:01.440>
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 04/07/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- Minnesota solar. That was in the base. Minnesota solar. That was in the base.
- solar system has.
- Thank you. solar garden. Nearly 30% of motans are solar garden.
- Community solar solar garden program.
- We have utility-grade solar. We have solar that's available on the marketplace.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Science, Technology and Telecommunications Nov 12th, 2025
Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So why are distribution costs rising? Well, distribution is no longer sort of business as usual.
- Number two is cost distribution.
- Okay, number two, cost distribution.
- Distribution is the cost frontier.
- That distribution is, and I guess...
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (04/14/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Well, I think this subject because... distributed been distributed to distributed been distributed to
- interconnected electric distribution interconnected electric distribution utility<04:11:46.319><
- for property taxes for solar for property taxes for solar infrastructure.<04:28:20.720>
They< - distributed energy resources. In fact, distributed energy resources.
- Having distributed solar means we're burning less of that oil, and it stretches farther.
Summary:
The committee met on April 14 and began by welcoming a new member, Representative Samban Denier, who briefly described his background as a Clarkson University environmental engineering graduate and Air Force veteran. The committee then moved into a work session on five energy-related bills, starting with Senate Bill 65 on stormwater management for solar arrays. Representative McGee presented amendment 1594H, which would exclude projects in shoreland areas from the bill’s permit-by-notification process and require the standard alteration-of-terrain permit review instead. Members asked for clarification, and McGee explained the amendment was requested by the New Hampshire Lakes Association and others to preserve the fuller review process for shoreland projects. The committee appeared satisfied with the explanation and moved on.
The committee next discussed Senate Bill 230 on electric utility restructuring and investment in distributed energy resources. Members concluded that section one was unnecessary because a better definition of advanced nuclear resources had already been added to House Bill 710, and that section two would allow investment in advanced nuclear resources in a way they had already rejected in another bill due to ratepayer risk. Several members agreed the bill was redundant and supported an ITL motion. They also discussed Senate Bill 232 on net metering terms and conditions, focusing first on whether hydroelectric generators could be listed in ISO New England while also taking net metering credits. Granite State Hydropower Association representative Heidi Kroll testified that generators are subject to checks and balances, that double-dipping is not occurring, and that rules and tariffs already require participation in one market arrangement or the other.
Discussion on Senate Bill 232 then shifted to section two, which would bar retroactive changes to net metering tariffs in place as of January 1, 2025. Representative McGee proposed alternative language to protect existing customer generators, group hosts, and municipal hosts from retroactive changes, while others said the language was needed to provide stability for current participants operating on thin margins. Some members supported the clearer wording; others argued the committee should not tie the hands of the PUC and DOE, noting future circumstances could require regulatory flexibility and that conflicts could be resolved in court if necessary. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the meeting provided, and the discussion was still ongoing when the transcript ended.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 02/23/26
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (01/27/2026)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- be solar panels, could be anything that provides uh electricity in a distributed form on the grid.
- avoiding distribution and transmission. avoiding distribution and transmission.
- <00:24:23.360>
Distributed into rateayer bills. Distributed into rateayer bills. - distributed management. distributed management.
- solar exemption. solar exemption.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (04/14/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Jul 7th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So, we don't finance solar projects just because they're solar projects.
- This covers residential solar, including single-family, multifamily, and shared solar.
- solar and distributed batteries.
- What does shared solar mean? A lot of people are asking, 'Is that community solar?'
- Shared solar, on the ground, If you drove by, it would look like community solar.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EEP Public Hearing - Tue Feb 17, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- Supply, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, PVT Tech, and Alternate Energy.
- They lower the entry point for putting rooftop solar on a home.
- They lower the entry point for putting rooftop solar on a home.
- So, for putting rooftop solar on a home.
- :19.200>
are <01:01:19.280>installing the solar companies that are installing the solar
Keywords:
renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, lead materials, drinking water, public health, water infrastructure, safety regulations, HB1566, energy efficiency, LED lighting, light-emitting diodes, fluorescent bulbs, fluorescent fixtures, compact fluorescent lamps, CFL ban, mercury-free lighting
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on a bill to expand the solar energy tax credit for single-family residential properties by removing certain cap amounts and raising the adjusted gross income limits for taxpayers to elect a refund of excess credits. The Hawaii State Energy Office and Department of Taxation both said they were standing on written testimony, while industry and advocacy groups largely supported the measure. Members questioned whether the income thresholds were set appropriately, how many taxpayers would be affected at different income levels, and how many would qualify for refundable treatment; Taxation said it did not yet have the requested numbers but was preparing a fiscal estimate. A major issue raised was drafting and administration: witnesses said the bill appears to apply differently to owner-purchased systems versus third-party leased systems, and Taxation said it likely could not easily verify household income for leased systems or cross-reference different taxpayers. Discussion also covered whether the credit should remain refundable, whether credits should be limited to amounts actually expended, and whether the bill should instead be structured to keep the credit with the system owner or lessor, with concerns about equity, market effects, and possible incentives to lease rather than buy.
The committee then moved to HB 2316, which would align state restrictions on lead materials in drinking water infrastructure with federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. The Department of Health and other supporters testified in favor, and there were no questions from the chair. Next, HB 1566 on energy efficiency would require state agencies to use energy-efficient lighting, with the Hawaii State Energy Office providing technical assistance and a compliance survey prioritized for first responder facilities; testimony from state agencies and advocates was in support, and again there were no questions.
For HB 1926 on Red Hill, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Board of Water Supply, and multiple organizations and individuals supported funding for remediation studies, environmental monitoring, groundwater research, independent testing, and a public dashboard, with DLNR emphasizing that decades of work remain necessary even after defueling and that the bill supports ongoing university and community partnerships. The committee then heard HB 1673 on landfill units. The Department of Health initially said it was in support but later corrected the record and stated it strongly opposes the measure, saying the bill would undo protections enacted last session that keep landfills out of areas over aquifers; the Board of Water Supply also opposed repeal of those protections, while the City and County of Honolulu supported the HD1 version that leaves siting decisions to the counties. Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi and the Energy Justice Network opposed the bill, arguing the original protections should remain and that the amended version had confused commenters; supporters of the original version urged restoring it and considering additional language on ash.
MN