Industry & Technical - Montana Renewable Energy Association

14Sep 2019 by Andrew Valainis

Interconnection Docket closes, more to come

Note: This is not NWE's proposal to change their net metering program rates. MREA has a separate webpage with updates on the rate case. In August, MREA concluded its work on a regulatory docket which updated Northwestern Energy's interconnection agreements and procedures for small generators (including net metered systems). Interconnection procedures are the technical requirements and documents that are used when a generating system (like solar or wind) wants to connect to the grid. It includes everything from detailing the safety and technical standards required for the equipment, to the application forms you need to fill out and file with the utility. These are important issues, directly affecting how installers may design systems and how they plan their workflow with their customers. MREA saw this as a critical docket to…

12Feb 2019 by Andrew Valainis

2018 National Jobs Census Highlights

Industry & Technical

In its 9th annual National Solar Jobs Census, The Solar Foundation presents a year in review for the solar industry, highlighting trends in workforce numbers, demographics, wage and salaries, and key factors affecting the industry. The Solar Foundation's website has a copy of the full report, as well as a summary infographic of key facts and figures. Below are some of the key highlights and takeaways from the report. Short term loss, long-term growth for solar jobs Nationally, solar jobs are down by 3.2% from 2017. This is due in large part to two factors. The first is the effects of the Section 201 tariffs placed on solar modules and cells causing uncertainty for utility-scale developers, where the tariffs hit the hardest. Utility-scale projects – which account for large job numbers –…

29Nov 2018 by Andrew Valainis

MREA establishes ground-breaking alliance with OSHA

Industry & Technical, Safety & Training

[caption id="attachment_1877" align="alignright" width="375"] MREA President Henry Dykema (left) and OSHA Area Director Art Hazen (right) signing the Alliance agreement documents[/caption] The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has two programs that proactively engage contractors working in industries across the country. One is the Cooperative Partnership program, and the other is the Alliance program. The Montana Renewable Energy Association (MREA) was the first renewable energy group in the country to join OSHA’s partnership program. We worked together with OSHA to identify hazards specific to the renewable energy industry, discuss what trainings would be useful to the industry, and how industry members could provide input to OSHA. In return, OSHA worked to share informational resources with the industry, including training and education opportunities. MREA has now transitioned…

30Jan 2018 by MREA

What do these solar tariffs mean?

Industry & Technical, Policy & Advocacy

Last week the President ordered 30% tariffs on imported solar cells and modules. These tariffs are nothing short of artificial price increases, leaving many in Montana to wonder how this will affect their ability to purchase solar. This will be a surmountable, albeit frustrating, speed bump on the road towards energy independence. The decision, touted as a way to bolster american manufacturing and create jobs, is projected instead to cost the american solar industry 23,000 jobs. Most of these will be in installation, which makes up the majority of the solar industry. In Montana, installation makes up approximately 80% of the solar industry. These are small businesses, hiring a local workforce, and providing well paying jobs. Already, the uncertainty over the tariffs has caused businesses to curtail expansion. The tariffs…

30Nov 2017 by MREA

Solar Tariffs threaten Montana’s Solar Industry

Industry & Technical, Policy & Advocacy

In May, two foreign-owned U.S. solar manufacturers (Suniva and SolarWorld) filed a “Section 201” request with the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to place tariffs on imported solar cells and modules. The petition claimed that imported solar cells and modules were harming the domestic manufacturing industry. The USITC took up the petition and began looking into whether or not these imported cells and modules were indeed doing harm. On September 22nd, the USITC ruled that an increased volume of solar imports did injure domestic solar manufacturing. This is significant because a confirmation of injury to the market requires the USITC to then make remedy recommendations to the President who will decide what, if any, remedies to enact. The original tariffs requested by the domestic manufacturers could double the cost of…