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Canary Media’s Electrified Life column shares real-world tales, tips, and insights to demystify what individuals can do to shift their homes and lives to clean electric power.
Micah Parkin wanted to quash her home’s carbon pollution to help fight climate change. So she took a familiar step among climate-inclined homeowners: She got a heat pump — just not the typical variety.
Her heat pump pulls warmth from the ground, rather than the air, and the appliance “has been doing wonderfully well,” Parkin, the executive director of grassroots climate-action group 350 Colorado, told me from her home on a snowy January day. “It’s had no problem keeping up with these zero and negative temperatures.”
Heat pumps, whatever their heat source, are critical for decarbonizing space and water heating, which accounts for more than 60% of the energy homes consume in the U.S. Switching from gas, propane, and fuel-oil systems can save homeowners money and is guaranteed to have health benefits given the toxic pollutants fossil-fuel systems emit.
Ground-source, or geothermal, heat pumps have a superpower over the much more common air-based systems: efficiency. While air-source heat pumps can perform two to three times as efficiently as fossil-fuel systems in cold weather, ground-source heat pumps can perform about twice as efficiently again. To put it in dollar terms: That means cutting the heating bill from an air-source heat pump in half.
That efficiency is what won Parkin over. She has a 7-kilowatt solar panel system on her roof, and she and her husband wanted a heat pump that would minimize their reliance on comparatively dirty grid power by staying within the budget of what their solar produces. “It was really important to us that it be the most efficient system possible to use as little electricity as possible,” she said.
But for all their efficiency gains, geothermal heat pumps have one big thing holding them back: They cost roughly double to install compared with air-source systems.
Out of 123.5 million U.S. homes, just 1.3 million — or about 1% — rely on a geothermal heat pump, according to a January report by the Department of Energy. Air-source heat pumps provide primary heat for 13% of homes and are outselling fossil-gas furnaces by a wider margin than ever.
The DOE sees ample room for geothermal heat pumps to take off though. With the right policies and investments, annual adoption of the tech could double, with the equivalent of 7 million more American homes installing geothermal heat pumps by 2035.
“In the next five or 10 years, you’re really going to see these become much more of a household name as a way to heat and cool your home,” said Timothy Steeves, report co-author and geothermal fellow at the DOE.
The benefits could be enormous not only for the homeowners involved but for the power system overall. Geothermal heat pumps are way less of a burden on the grid due to their efficiency, the report found — enough to net roughly $4 billion in annual savings on grid system costs, which could be passed on to utility customers.
Could geothermal heat pumps, with their unrivaled efficiency and grid and climate advantages, be a good fit for you? Let’s dig into the details of this clean-heating tech.
Ground-source heat pumps, also called geo-exchange, earth-coupled, and earth-energy heat pumps, are so efficient because they tap heat where it’s steady and abundant: underground.
The appliances connect to flexible plastic pipes that delve into the earth. These ground loops, laid horizontally in trenches less than 10 feet deep or vertically in boreholes 100-plus feet deep, carry a nontoxic mix of water and glycol to absorb thermal energy from the ground. That energy is then delivered indoors and transferred to refrigerant in the heat pump unit. A compressor squeezes the refrigerant gas, raising the temperature further to provide heating that can flow through ducts, mini-splits, or radiators.
Drawing heat from underground is a winning strategy because the shallow earth stays at a fairly constant temperature of somewhere between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, it’s easier to find heat in the ground than it is in the volatile — and often chilly — air. Conversely, in the summer, the ground is cooler, making it a better heat sink.
Some geothermal heat pumps draw energy from water bodies, rather than the ground, through a similar process.
Another selling point for ground-source heat pumps is their longevity. The heat pump unit itself has a slightly better average lifespan — around 20-plus years for ground-source heat pumps compared with 15 years for air-source heat pumps, according to the DOE. But the underground infrastructure can last 50 years, potentially more, said Kathy Hannun, founder and president of Dandelion Energy, a home-geothermal company and spinout from X, Google’s “moonshot factory.”
Ground-source heat pumps can also simplify some aspects of installation, Hannun said. Dandelion designed a ground-source heat pump that doesn’t need as much electrical capacity and can produce warmer air than typical heat pumps, making it more compatible with existing ductwork, she said.
The reason ground-source heat pumps tend to be much more expensive upfront is their drilling costs.
On average and before incentives, air-source heat-pump systems cost $12,000 to $20,000, according to Joe Parsons, senior marketing sustainability manager at the Climate Control Group, a geothermal-heat-pump manufacturer. A ground-source heat pump system costs between $25,000 and $40,000, he noted.
The typical payback period for home systems ranges from 3 to 10 years, depending on the location, the kind of ground loop required, and available incentives, according to experts.
A big factor affecting installation costs is the physical environment. “If you live in a very rural community, one type of geo[thermal system] that people can consider is horizontal loops,” Hannun said. They “take a lot of space, but you can install them using an excavator” instead of a drilling rig. Digging a horizontal loop field, which could cost around $5,000, is “much less expensive, lower-skilled work” compared with installing a vertical loop.
But if you’re in a dense residential neighborhood where labor costs are high, and you use a lot of heat in the winter, “it might cost more like $20,000 to put in your ground loop,” Hannun said.
The good news is that costs are coming down, Hannun pointed out. Dandelion has gotten better at taking geology into account; a home on bedrock, a great thermal conductor, doesn’t need as much ground loop as a similar home on clay. And the company has moved from water-well drilling rigs to more-compact ones that can be operated by fewer people, she said. Today, drilling costs are about two-thirds of what they were when the company started in 2017.
The beloved TV show This Old House showcases home-geothermal company Dandelion drilling boreholes in a tight space for a ground-source heat pump system in 2019.
Reducing a home’s heating demands by weatherizing it first can help you spend less on a heat pump and energy bills, whether you choose an air-source or ground-source system.
Homeowners can take advantage of thousands of dollars in tax credits and rebates from the federal government, states, and utilities to get ground-source heat pumps.
The biggest incentive is the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit, called 25D after its section of the tax code. Offering 30% of the cost of installing a geothermal heat pump off your federal tax bill, 25D is uncapped. By contrast, the tax credit for air-source heat pumps, 25C, is limited to $2,000.
The 25D tax credit first took effect in 2008 and was extended by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act at full value through 2032, though the Trump administration has blustered about killing the IRA’s clean-energy tax credits.
Even if Congress does repeal the tax credit, homeowners should still be able to claim the credit next year as long as they have finished installing their ground-source heat pump systems while 25D is still on the books, according to Ryan Dougherty, president of the nonprofit trade association Geothermal Exchange Organization. “It would be unprecedented for Congress to retroactively revoke a tax credit for systems that were installed in good faith in accordance with existing law,” he added.
Generous, even enormous incentives can also be found elsewhere, especially in the Northeast with its cold winters and a legacy of expensive fuel-oil systems. New York offers a $5,000 state tax credit on top of utility Con Edison’s eye-popping rebate covering 50% of total project costs, with a cap of $25,000. For households in disadvantaged communities, the rebate maximum climbs to $35,000.
Check with reputable contractors about what financial help you can get, and search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency for incentives in your area.
If you’re considering geothermal heat pumps, look for experienced contractors who will calculate the heat load of your home to accurately size the system. Ask about the projected total lifetime cost; it could be lower for a geothermal heat pump than for an air-source system because of its low operating costs, especially after incentives. And as with any major home project, get multiple quotes.
Geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient home-heating systems available. But only you can decide whether they make sense for you, your goals, and your budget.
For her part, Parkin of 350 Colorado is thrilled that her ground-source heat pump keeps her home cozy while using little enough power that she can offset it with her solar panels. She put it simply: “I’m super pleased with it.”
Correction: This article initially identified Climate Control Group as a trade organization. It has been updated to reflect that it is a heat-pump manufacturer.
OFFSHORE WIND: Shell withdraws from its partnership in an offshore wind farm off New Jersey, claiming a loss of $1 billion, but the developers say they will still proceed with the project. (New Jersey Monitor)
ALSO:
GRID: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announces a plan to fast-track the development of power plants and offer hefty tax incentives to new generators and projects that use hydrogen fuel. (Associated Press)CLIMATE:
TRANSPORTATION: Trump considers revoking a key federal approval for New York’s congestion pricing program. (New York Times)
AFFORDABILITY: Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from Canada could increase energy bills for Maine residents drawing power from across the border or using electricity from power plants fueled by gas coming from Nova Scotia. (Portland Press Herald, subscription)
UTILITIES: Two utilities file suit against a Connecticut regulatory agency, saying the chairperson is unfairly taking control of all decisions made by the body. (CT Insider)
STORAGE: A New England hydropower company lays out plans to build its first battery storage installation at one of its stations in western Massachusetts. (Greenfield Recorder)
EMISSIONS: A Massachusetts metal production company says it has developed processes to refine rare earth metals, used in technologies including electric vehicle batteries, without producing any emissions or toxic waste. (New Hampshire Public)
EFFICIENCY: A new program in New Haven, Connecticut, uses $1.5 million in federal funds to help low-income residents access weatherization, heat pumps, and other energy efficiency measures. (NBC Connecticut)
COMMENTARY: Pennsylvania lawmakers should prioritize bills that promote renewable power so the state doesn’t miss out on environmental benefits, job creation, and lower energy prices during the Trump administration, says an environmental advocate. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
FOSSIL FUELS: Interconnection delays for renewable energy and rising demand from data centers are prolonging Illinois’ clean energy transition and extending the life of coal and gas plants. (Chicago Sun-Times)
ALSO: Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is confirmed as the Trump administration’s Interior Secretary, a role that Republican supporters say can help advance oil, gas and coal production on federal land. (North Dakota Monitor)
EMISSIONS: Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions increased 6.4% from the end of 2020 to the end of 2022, signaling a return to activity coming out of the pandemic but that state officials say doesn’t reflect recent climate investments. (Star Tribune)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Panasonic officials are optimistic that the company’s new $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant outside Kansas City will be able to ramp up to full production even as the Trump administration targets EV incentives. (Flatland)
CARBON CAPTURE: Opponents of North Dakota legislation to ban eminent domain for carbon pipelines cite a recent study claiming enhanced oil recovery using carbon dioxide could generate billions in new tax revenue. (North Dakota Monitor)
CLEAN ENERGY:
CLIMATE: A Nebraska lawmaker wants to join 26 other states in creating a dedicated climate office that could help leverage federal funds for climate initiatives. (Nebraska Examiner)
NUCLEAR: The owner of a shuttered southwestern Michigan nuclear plant that secured a $1.5 billion loan from the Biden administration to restart the facility is not concerned about the Trump administration attempting to claw back the financing. (Grist/Interlochen Public Radio)
OVERSIGHT: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appoints an energy efficiency expert focused on the gas industry to an open seat on the state’s Public Utilities Commission. (Star Tribune)
SOLAR: A developer brings online two solar projects totaling 95 MW of capacity in southern Minnesota. (Solar Power World)
GRID:
BIOFUELS: A company cites the oversaturated ethanol market as a main reason for temporarily closing a Minnesota biofuel plant. (Star Tribune)
FINANCE: The Trump administration’s reversal of its federal funding freeze doesn’t extend to climate spending allocated under the Inflation Reduction Act and sets the administration up for a fight over Congress’ constitutional spending authority. (Canary Media)
ALSO:
POLITICS:
OIL & GAS:
STORAGE: Tesla installed 31.4 GWh of battery storage last year, double its total in 2023, and the company told analysts that it expects installations to grow another 50% this year. (Utility Dive)
HYDROGEN: Two southern California cities launch the nation’s first public hydrogen utility, saying they hope to make the fuel more accessible, affordable and transparent. (Utility Dive)
NUCLEAR:
OFFSHORE WIND: Shell withdraws from its partnership in an offshore wind farm off New Jersey, claiming a loss of $1 billion, but the developers say they will still proceed with the project. (New Jersey Monitor)
UTILITIES: North Carolina clean energy advocates are angry after Duke Energy joins other utilities calling on the U.S. EPA to weaken coal ash and gas regulations that would affect 31 unlined coal ash ponds and plans for four new gas plants in the state. (Inside Climate News)
CARBON CAPTURE: A carbon capture company signs a deal with Microsoft to provide the tech company with more than seven million tons of carbon removal credits from projects in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. (Axios)
TRANSPORTATION:
A state-funded climate financing authority will begin ramping up lending in Minnesota this year after hiring its first executive director in October.
The Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority, established by state legislators as part of a flurry of climate and clean energy bills in 2023, is charged with annually lending at least $25 million to stimulate clean energy development and greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects.
The timing — as the Trump administration sows chaos and confusion around federal grant funding — is coincidental, but could help some projects withstand the uncertainty.
Kari Groth Swan, the state authority’s executive director, said she hopes to use her background in banking and community development to help connect promising projects with state and private money.
She recently spoke with the Energy News Network about the launch of the program, which has already drawn dozens of applications.
What kind of projects are eligible?
The finance authority seeks to fund projects that help Minnesota meet its climate action goals, including the Climate Action Framework. The green bank has received applications for district hydrothermal energy, solar gardens, new energy-efficient construction, electric vehicle charging stations, air source heat pumps, battery manufacturing, and the Solar on Schools program.
How does it work?
The funding process is similar to what conventional lenders use. Applicants provide two years of financials, a narrative, a project budget, a list of commitments from other funders, and other financial information.
“We’re not funding ideas,” Swan said. “We’re funding viable, actionable projects that can get done and create jobs.”
A governing board appointed by Gov. Tim Walz makes the final lending decisions. The board includes representatives of state agencies, industry organizations, tribal nations, labor unions and people from other professions.
Why does the state need a green bank?
Green banks are mission-driven to promote clean energy projects, and have technical expertise in energy lending. Minnesota’s green bank intentionally focuses on underserved markets unlikely to receive all their capital from private lenders. By deploying a lending institution rather than relying on grants for clean energy projects, the state creates a revolving fund as loans are repaid.
The finance authority won’t ever be the primary lender on a project, but having the state involved helps move projects forward, Swan said. The green bank has a pipeline of $25 million in loan applications from projects worth over $265 million.
Swan said the first wave of applicants came fully formed and with significant capital in place. The second wave might need some additional advocacy with lenders. “I will be out talking to the traditional lenders, saying, ‘Here’s an example of a project and here’s what the capital stack looks like. Will you partner with us?’”
How large are the loans?
A wide range of loan amounts are available. The green bank requires a minimum loan amount of $250,000, and while the first three loans it issued were all over $1 million, Swan expects a greater variety of loan amounts now that the bank is fully operational. In addition, no loan can exceed 10% of the amount the bank loans annually. The bank may also fund nonprofit lenders who could provide capital to smaller clean energy projects.
How much money is available?
By statute, the bank must lend at least $25 million annually. The Legislature allocated $45 million in 2024 to get the green bank going. Last year, the state competitiveness fund provided $60 million and the federal government added $25 million.
What other requirements are there?
Half of the loans must meet guidelines for environmental justice communities based on the U.S. Department of Energy’s current definition. To qualify, a community’s non-White population must be at least 40%, and 35% of the population must have an income at or below 200% of the poverty level.
How could President Trump’s attacks on federal clean energy affect the program?
Swan thinks federal investment tax credits for clean energy will survive under Trump, adding that unwinding them quickly will be challenging because they’re part of the tax code. But the Trump administration has already signaled a willingness to usurp Congress’ constitutional spending authority when it comes to clean energy, which could mean a greater need for money but also fewer projects ready to fund in Minnesota.
SOLAR: Virginia lawmakers and lobbyists back a proposed state board that would weigh in on proposed solar and battery storage projects but leave final decisions to localities, although its creation could be vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. (Inside Climate News)
ALSO: Duke Energy announces it’s completed its 10th solar farm in Florida, making good on its 2020 pledge to state regulators to build nearly 750 MW of solar generation in the state. (Panama City News Herald)
COAL ASH: Duke Energy, Louisville Gas & Electric/Kentucky Utilities and other power companies send a letter to Trump’s EPA nominee asking for“immediate action” to roll back federal regulation of toxic coal ash and rescind recent enforcement actions. (Canary Media)
STORAGE:
GRID:
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Alabama suspends its electric vehicle charger installation program, citing President Trump’s order pausing its federal funding. (E&E News, subscription)
COAL:
EFFICIENCY: A new report finds Tennessee residents use 30% more electricity than the national average, largely because of the state’s lagging energy-efficiency building standards. (Knoxville News Sentinel)
NUCLEAR: South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster calls for the expansion of the VC Summer nuclear plant, which previously collapsed in the “Nukegate” controversy but recently has been revived by state-owned utility Santee Cooper. (Post and Courier, South Carolina Daily Gazette)
OIL & GAS: A Texas city council approves a gas company’s proposal to expand its fracking operations near a daycare center and neighborhood. (Inside Climate News)
BIOMASS: South Carolina residents deal with noise, dust and pollution from a nearby wood-pellet plant, one of 28 similar facilities across the Southeast and seven in the Carolinas. (WSOC)
HYDROGEN: The U.S. Energy Department collects public input on plans to produce hydrogen from natural gas at multiple sites in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania that are part of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub. (WYSO)
COAL: Executives from a dozen U.S. power companies urge the Trump administration to roll back federal regulations on coal ash disposal and rescind recent enforcement action. (Energy News Network)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The Trump administration’s efforts to claw back upwards of $7.5 billion in federal electric vehicle charging funding from states will likely be met with legal challenges, experts say. (Canary Media)
NUCLEAR: Home electrification, electric vehicles, new data centers and a 2040 carbon-free power mandate are putting pressure on Minnesota lawmakers to lift the state’s ban on new nuclear plants. (Minnesota Reformer)
UTILITIES: Missouri’s two largest utilities want state permission to charge customers for new gas plants before they’re built, which consumer advocates slam as a scheme to increase utility profits. (Missouri Independent)
GRID:
SOLAR: Consumers Energy breaks ground on a 360 MW solar project in southwestern Michigan that the utility says will help meet its goal of 8,000 MW of solar by 2040. (WWMT)
POLITICS: Jurors begin to deliberate in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is accused of ushering favorable legislation for ComEd in exchange for jobs for associates. (Chicago Sun-Times)
COMMENTARY: A lung cancer specialist says Wisconsin utilities’ plans to prolong the life of coal plants and open new gas plants will harm public health. (Wisconsin Examiner)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The Trump administration singled out funding for electric vehicle chargers in his orders halting climate and clean energy spending, but experts say agencies legally can’t hold back these “mandatory” grants allocated by Congress. (Canary Media)
POLITICS:
SOLAR:
OIL & GAS: The Trump administration directs the Army Corps of Engineers to use emergency powers to sidestep the Clean Water Act to build gas pipelines, but environmentalists say they don’t have that authority. (E&E News)
GRID:
HYDROGEN: A last-minute infusion of funds from the Biden administration will allow the Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub to begin planning and collecting community input, though some environmental advocates are skeptical the process will truly be climate-friendly. (Delaware Public Media)NUCLEAR: South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster calls for the expansion of the VC Summer nuclear plant, which previously collapsed in the “Nukegate” controversy but recently has been revived by state-owned utility Santee Cooper. (Post and Courier, South Carolina Daily Gazette)
NUCLEAR: The Navajo Nation agrees to allow Energy Fuels to transport uranium ore across tribal land from the company’s Grand Canyon-area mine to its Utah mill. (AZ Mirror)
ALSO: Wyoming lawmakers kill legislation that would have encouraged the federal government to establish an interim nuclear waste repository in the state, citing concerns it would end up being permanent. (WyoFile)
UTILITIES:
COAL:
SOLAR:
CLEAN ENERGY: Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signs an order aimed at accelerating clean energy targets and setting a goal of 50,000 distributed solar and battery installations by 2030. (Maui Now)
STORAGE: A Utah utility and a firm look to develop 70 MW of demand response capacity using flywheel energy storage systems. (news release)OIL & GAS: The U.S. EPA reports seven methane super-emission events over one week near oil fields and refineries in a southern California county. (KBAK, news release)
BIOFUELS:
CARBON CAPTURE: Northwestern New Mexico officials hope a direct air carbon capture hub proposed for the area will replace declining coal industry jobs. (New Mexico Political Report)
COMMENTARY: Colorado labor advocates say a new pro-clean energy union coalition aims to tackle the climate crisis while ensuring green jobs also prioritize workers. (Colorado Newsline)
A recent ruling by a Wisconsin appeals court closes the door on the long-standing battle for third-party-owned solar in the state — at least for the near future, as disappointed advocates see it.
On Jan. 3, the court dismissed ongoing legal proceedings regarding a Stevens Point family’s efforts to buy electricity from solar panels that would have been installed on their home but owned by a solar company. The arrangement, known as third-party solar, allows customers access to solar power without the upfront cost of installing panels.
The family moved before their case concluded, though, making it “moot” in the court’s opinion. Advocates had hoped a court decision could still clarify that under existing law third-party-owned solar is indeed legal, but those hopes are now dashed.
“I think this road is at a dead end at this point,” said Will Kenworthy, Midwest regional director for Vote Solar, which had brought a petition before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin on the family’s behalf, asking the commission to affirm their right to do the project. “We had a chance to resolve it once and for all, and we made the effort to get it this far, then had the carpet pulled out from underneath us.”
In late 2022, the Public Service Commission ruled in favor of the family, who wanted to install rooftop solar that would be owned by North Wind Renewable Energy Cooperative, a developer based nearby.
After the commission decision, the Wisconsin Utilities Association filed a lawsuit challenging the commission’s ruling, arguing such arrangements violate utilities’ monopoly rights to provide power.
A trial court remanded the issue back to the commission for further information. Vote Solar, represented by the Environmental Law & Policy Center, appealed that ruling and hoped the appeals court would affirm the commission’s decision.
But when the Public Service Commission members found out that the family had moved without installing solar, they withdrew the decision on their case.
“It closes this phase of the very long and ongoing saga here to clarify the law for third-party financing,” said ELPC Senior Attorney Brad Klein. “What’s frustrating with this setback is a lot of work went into teeing up a strong legal case for the commission and the courts. It got knocked out on a procedural non-substantive issue on the status of the customers, which leaves the rest of Wisconsin customers in the dark on the lawfulness of this tool.”
The commission’s decision on the Stevens Point case had applied only to that particular project. But advocates thought the move could pave the way for others to do third-party-owned solar.
“The hope with that decision was it would serve as a precedent — if this one family can do it, then a second family, a third family, a fourth family could do it too,” said John Albers, a director at Advanced Energy United, which filed an amicus brief in the case. “The frustrating part is none of this should be happening. Wisconsin is an outlier — you’ve got Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa that all allow third-party ownership.”
Nationwide, third-party ownership makes solar more accessible for many households, nonprofits, churches, schools, and government agencies since the solar developer or other third-party owner pays the upfront costs and reaps the tax incentives while providing power and passing on energy bill savings to the resident or nonprofit.
The direct-pay provision in the Inflation Reduction Act makes third-party ownership less crucial for nonprofit entities including government agencies since direct payments — unlike tax incentives — can be tapped even if one doesn’t pay taxes. But the paperwork requirements for direct pay can be onerous, and under the Trump administration, pieces of the IRA may be rolled back.
Advocates have long argued that existing Wisconsin law actually does allow for third-party-owned solar. But without clarity from a government authority, utilities have refused to interconnect third-party-owned solar arrays, and developers have been reluctant or unwilling to explore the arrangement with customers.
A legal battle over Eagle Point Solar’s plans to do a third-party-owned solar project with the city of Milwaukee, for example, has been before the Public Service Commission and in the courts for years.
Kenworthy said advocates were hoping the commission and appellate court would offer “an interpretation of statute that avoids this preposterous outcome that someone putting a small solar array on someone’s roof is suddenly constituting a utility.”
“We think it’s as urgent as ever to get third-party ownership available to the people of Wisconsin. We’re still interested in trying to figure out if there’s a way we can address it,” Kenworthy continued. That could mean another resident attempting third-party-owned solar, a lengthy and frustrating undertaking, as the Stevens Point family saw.
“It was illustrative of the problem people are facing,” Kenworthy said. “Getting solar on a residential rooftop is a tough choice anyway, and when you have that type of uncertainty out there it really is a deterrent.”
In an amicus brief, Advanced Energy United had made the case that residential third-party-owned solar would benefit all ratepayers and could reduce reliance on planned new gas plants in Wisconsin. The group is among many that have filed testimony opposing a $1.2 billion new gas peaker plant that the utility WEPCO plans to build at the site of its Oak Creek coal plant.
“Really, the more behind-the-meter solar you have in Wisconsin, the better for all ratepayers,” he said. “Utilities wouldn’t need to spend as much on new generation if homeowners were able to generate at home.”
In years past, advocates have pleaded with the legislature, courts, and commission to offer clarity on third-party ownership, so far to no avail. The Public Service Commission declined to rule on a petition from the Midwest Renewable Energy Association seeking to develop third-party-owned solar, noting that the association did not have a specific project contract.
“The problem remains unresolved, and it’s going to require some additional work over time, but we are going to continue pushing,” Klein said. “I’m confident in the long-term outcome because I think we’re right on the law. We don’t know if the next effort will mirror this one, which was an attempt to be responsive to the commission’s request to bring a specific case to them. We may do that again, or there’s other avenues. Certainly, the legislature could act. There are other ways the commission could act. We’ll be exploring all of those options.”
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