22 Oct 2020
Solar and Snow: To Brush or Not to Brush

Solar and Snow: To Brush or Not to Brush

Education and Information, , ,
It's late October in Montana and we're already seeing some early season snowfall. Some Montanans are enjoying the early wintry vistas, some are getting excited for ski season, and for owners of rooftop or ground-mounted solar systems they may be wondering: do I need to clear the snow off of my panels? To Brush or Not to Brush A thin layer of snow is unlikely to be a problem. In fact, research has shown that as the panels begin to collect sunlight they'll warm up and the snow will typically either burn off of slide off of the panels without…
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26 Nov 2019
Montana PSC Rejects Changes to Net Metering In Win for Montanans, Local Jobs, and Clean Energy

Montana PSC Rejects Changes to Net Metering In Win for Montanans, Local Jobs, and Clean Energy

Policy & Advocacy,
Victory! NorthWestern Energy’s anti-solar proposal rejected by unanimous vote HELENA, MT – In a vote of 5-0, the Montana Public Service Commission supported clean energy jobs and the right of Montanans to harness clean electricity from their own solar panels. The Commission rejected NorthWestern Energy’s proposal to end net metering, implement a separate rate class, and impose punitive demand charge rates for rooftop solar customers. That proposal would have penalized Montana families who invest in rooftop solar and sent solar jobs to other states. Instead, the Commission preserved net metering that allows current and future solar customers to offset their electricity…
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