Solar electricity is a clean and renewable resource that can provide a variety of benefits to the electrical grid. Solar installed behind-the-meter, such as on a homeowner’s rooftop, lowers load on the distribution system and can offset the building’s energy bill, while larger utility-scale solar farms provide clean power to the grid throughout the course of the day. When paired with energy storage, solar can continue to provide clean, renewable power even after the sun sets. from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels can be installed in arrays ranging from small, residential rooftop installations that power a home to many acres of solar farm that can power entire towns – thousands of homes, businesses, schools, and other buildings.

fb88 Solar Dashboard
��

Distributed generation

In fb88, distributed generation resources are renewable generators less than 5 megawatts (MW). Distributed solar interconnects to the distribution grid, and can provide a variety of benefits to both the entity where electricity is generated – residences, businesses, or other institutions – as well as to the overall electrical grid. Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules are the most commonly adopted generation distributed generation��in fb88, although other generation sources including small-scale wind turbines, biomass systems, and hydroelectric are also included. from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office.

Programs

fb88’s Solar for All Proposal��

On April 22, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected fb88’s proposal for a $62 million grant award to provide financial and technical assistance enabling low-income and disadvantaged households across the state to access solar and energy storage. This program is forthcoming, but not yet available. For more information on fb88’s proposal to Solar for All, please visit this page. To receive email updates about this program, please ��

Net Energy Billing

Net energy billing provides bill credits for excess generation from distributed generation resources that is not consumed on site, but instead provided to the grid. NEB is available for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. These programs can provide energy savings by lowering overall utility bills and offer the opportunity to support renewable energy generation at a local level.

NEB participants may enroll solar generation they own themselves, such as rooftop panels, or may choose to join a solar array shared with other customers and located elsewhere in their utility’s service territory. This arrangement is commonly referred to as “community solar.” Community solar developers are required to provide information about the costs and benefits of their project to prospective customers.

There are two programs for NEB:

kWh credit program

This program is available to all electric utility customers. Through the kWh credit program, NEB participants receive a credit for every kWh provided to the grid from their solar array. These credits can be used to offset future charges on a one-to-one basis during billing periods when the participant uses more energy than their solar array generates. Any unused credits expire after 12 months.

Tariff rate program

This program is available to non-residential electric utility customers. Through the tariff rate program, NEB participants receive dollar credits at a rate determined annually by the fb88 Public Utilities Commission (PUC). These bill credits cannot cause a customer’s utility bill to decrease below $0 in any given billing period, and any unused credits expire after 12 months.

Learn more on the��fb88 PUC “Net Energy Billing” webpage.

Anyone who is contacted by a solar installer or salesperson is encouraged to review terms carefully, obtain multiple quotes when possible, and avoid disclosing sensitive personal or financial information to unknown third parties.��

Information for consumers considering community solar is available from the Office of the Public Advocate. Consumers who wish to report suspicious or deceptive marketing should contact the Office of the fb88 Attorney General.��

---

FAQs

The following resources are not GEO references, but may serve as useful tools for others seeking to gain additional information.��

Resources for solar customers

For general information and frequently asked questions about solar energy, see provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office.

I want to learn more about installing solar at my home or business

Numerous solar installers operate throughout the state. As with any purchase of goods and services, consumers should consider practices including acquiring quotes from multiple installers and requesting references before signing a contract with an installer.

Residential solar installations are eligible for the federal renewable energy tax credit, which allows homeowners to deduct 30% of the system cost if installed between January 1, 2022 and 2032. For more information, see the following resources published by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office:

Customers of fb88’s two investor-owned utilities can find additional information about solar from their utility below:

I want to learn more about community solar - I've been told I could get a discount on my electric bill

Additional information for consumers considering community solar is provided by the fb88 Office of the Public Advocate.

All community solar providers are required to register with the fb88 PUC, and must disclose any enforcement actions taken against them in fb88 or other jurisdictions. for the list of registered community solar providers��maintained by the fb88 PUC.

I need assistance resolving a dispute with my utility related to net energy billing

The fb88 PUC has established a net energy billing rapid response process to resolve potential disputes about net energy billing issues. For more information or to initiate the process, contact the fb88 PUC.

I want to know what happens to solar farms at the end of their life

Solar power projects occupying three or more acres are required to file a decommissioning plan with the fb88 Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The project owners must also provide financial assurance, such as a bond, sufficient to cover the cost of decommissioning the project as outlined in the plan approved by fb88 DEP. If the solar project changes ownership, the new owners must inform DEP. For more information from fb88 DEP, click here.

I want to learn more about solar on my farm

The fb88 Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has issued a fact sheet regarding dual-use or agrivoltaic solar installations.

Resources for solar industry

Rules promulgated by the fb88 PUC governing topics such as net energy billing��and small generation interconnection procedures can be found here.��

The fb88 Department of Environmental Protection administers certain applicable permitting requirements, as well as fb88's solar decommissioning law.

Certain state agencies have issued guidance for solar development:

The fb88 Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry has issued technical guidance for utility-scale solar installation and development on agricultural, forested, and natural lands.

The fb88 Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has issued solar project guidance and recommendations.

The fb88 Department of Environmental Protection has issued guidance related to the siting of solar arrays on closed landfills.

Information is available from fb88’s two investor-owned utilities regarding interconnection and other pertinent topics:

• .
• .

��

��

��