3 Lessons From Comparing Solar Value Studies + The Legislative Response

In a week, where California regulators required all new homes, after 2020, to include solar panels, a comparison of solar studies reveals:

• Volume. In 2017, 28 valuation studies were proposed, pending or decided in 21 states and DC
• Disparity. 88% difference in these 2 studies:
  • ​March 29 study | Northwestern Energy in Montana shows BTM solar’s levelized 25-year value to be between $0.035/kWh and $0.046/kWh
  • April 10 draft study | Maryland’s Public Service Commission shows BTM solar’s 2019 value in the state’s investor-owned utility (IOU) territories to be between about $0.31/kWh and about $0.41/kWh
• Flaws. According to Former Texas utilities commissioner and Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Karl Rabago
  • “Montana study fails to accurately credit solar for its benefits
  • Maryland study is more accurate on solar’s costs and benefits, but fails to treat solar as a long-term generation resource”
• Legislative response. Montana’s HB 219 (2017 | MT)  wants supporting data for the solar value

Utility Dive | How two value-of-solar studies add up to no clear value of solar.