Collaborations between Utilities and the Solar Community

Conference Panel to focus on Distributed Generation

What does it take to get more utilities to develop their own solar energy projects? A recent panel at SPI discussed the question, as reported recently in Renewable Energy World by Lindsay Morris. The discussion, as could be expected, centered around the costs of solar. Representatives from PSEG, Duke Energy, and others stated that the combination of declining solar costs, the need for reliability improvements to the grid, and the retirement of coal-fired power plants will help solar move into a more dominant place in the energy supply world.

However, when we ask how utilities can scale-up solar, are we asking the right question? A panel at MDV-SEIA’s upcoming conference, Solar Energy Focus 2011, will be tackling the utility issue from a different angle. Distributed solar is a significant growth opportunity for utilities and electricity producers. This panel will discuss how and why these traditional energy suppliers and utilities are collaborating with the solar community to move towards a distributed generation (DG) energy future. Panelists include:

Tony DePrima, Executive Director of Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility
Bryan Miller, Vice President of Energy Policy at Constellation Energy
Yuri Horwitz, CEO of Sol Systems
Harry Warren, President of Washington Gas Energy Services

Other related panels and discussions at the conference include a look at SREC programs and markets in the region, a talk from Dr. John Byrne about Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility financial model, and distributed solar thermal development. Please join in the discussion on November 17^th and 18^th in Washington, DC. We hope to see you there!

About mdvseia

Founded in 1984, MDV-SEIA is a regional chapter of the national trade association for solar energy, the Solar Energy Industries Association. MDV-SEIA represents the interests of photovoltaic and solar thermal equipment manufacturers, installers, distributors and component suppliers serving Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. Our members design, sell, integrate, install, maintain and finance solar energy equipment for residential, commercial and institutional customers throughout the region. Among our ranks are the accountants, attorneys, builders, architects, electricians, plumbers, and consultants that support the solar industries. Solar represents our cleanest most abundant energy resource. A stronger solar energy economy means job-creation and a safer workplace cleaner air; a more reliable energy supply; resiliency against the growing threat of climate change; and lower, more predictable energy bills. MDV-SEIA delivers on policy formation and advocacy, market representation, networking, education, and additional benefits to our 100 members representing nearly 2000 direct jobs in our region. We publish a quarterly newsletter for our membership; we host an annual solar energy conference, workshops, and a webinar series; and generate targeted analyses and industry reports for our members. We are in a high growth mode: we're bringing in new members, diversifying our membership services, and raising our profile among state and local legislators and regulators.

View all posts by mdvseia →