NC: If you produce power you are a utility...

[begreen]

A non-profit put solar panels on a church roof. Now they are being sued by Duke Energy. This is wrong on so many levels, but endorsed by ALEC written legislation and the Kochs.
http://insideclimatenews.org/news/0...rd-party-solar-faith-community-church-nc-warn

 

[EatenByLimestone]

A church put solar panels on its roof. Now they are being sued by Duke Energy. This is wrong on so many levels, but endorse by ALEC written legislation and the Kochs.
http://insideclimatenews.org/news/0...rd-party-solar-faith-community-church-nc-warn

It looks like they are going after the 3rd party, WARN, not the church.

 

[begreen]

You're right Matt. I will change to clarify. Only four states have limitations on third-party sales. This limits renewables in these states in spite of long term requests to permit them by major corporations, businesses and non-profits. A bill was propose to address this need but Duke opposed that also.

“There is a long history in North Carolina of electricity customers like the U.S. military, the [University of North Carolina] system, data centers and retail employers asking for more access to renewable energy,” according to a statement released by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA)."
http://www.greentechmedia.com/artic...aunch-opportunity-for-third-party-owned-solar

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It looks like the church will keep the panels either way. I imagine their use spikes on the weekends and is low during the week. I bet they would be good candidates for a battery system since they have the time to really charge up the system.

I think the only way to break the power of the large monopolies like Duke energy is to tell them they aren't needed anymore.

 

[semipro]

“There is a long history in North Carolina of electricity customers like the U.S. military, the [University of North Carolina] system, data centers and retail employers asking for more access to renewable energy,” according to a statement released by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA)."
http://www.greentechmedia.com/artic...aunch-opportunity-for-third-party-owned-solar

There's a long history in NC for the legislature ignoring the writing on the wall when they don't like the content.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/03/us-usa-northcarolina-idUSBRE86217I20120703
I guess its a good thing the capital building is on higher ground in Raleigh.