Dive Brief:
- Denver-based SunShare, a developer of community solar gardens, has filed a formal protest challenging a June settlement between Xcel Energy and a wide range of parties that limited new solar fees and pushed for the development of more shared resources, the Denver Post reports.
- While the settlement allowed private developers to construct solar gardens up to 2 MW in capacity, SunShare says the Colorado Public Utilities Commission should raise that to 50 MW—the size Xcel Energy is allowed to own.
- More than two dozen parties have signed onto the settlement, including major Colorado solar interests, but support is not unanimous. Only eight of the parties fully backed the settlement, which must now be reviewed by the PUC.
Dive Insight:
A solar settlement in Colorado has been hailed as a "monumental achievement" by some advocates, but not everyone agrees. The Denver Post reports SunShare has filed a formal challenge to the settlement, arguing it gives Xcel Energy inherent advantages of scale in the development of community renewables.
Specific to SunShare's complaint, the settlement modifies Xcel's 2017 Renewable Energy Plan to add 225 MW of solar to the utility's Solar*Connect program, which will be renamed Renewable*Connect, as well as development of 105 MW of community solar gardens. Under Colorado rules, existing shared solar programs can be no larger than 2 MW and can only be marketed locally. The R*C 50 MW project would be marketed statewide.
By allowing Xcel to develop a community solar facilities 50 MW in size, SunShare argues that Xcel can generate renewable power 40% cheaper while also being able to access the grid at lower cost. The company wants regulators to allow privately-developed community solar garden at the same size as the utility.
The compromise would also avoid new grid fees, prevent cuts in payments to solar owners, and institute time-of-use rates.
