Sun Is The Future

Dear Friends, Visitors/Viewers/Readers,

(Please click on red links below)

There are still more valuable interviews to be shared with you from my trip up to the Philadelphia, PA last week. Today’s post is an interview with Carmine A. Tilghman, Director of Renewable Resources & Programs at Tucson Electric Power, during PV America East 2013, in Pennsylvania Convention Center of Philadelphia, PA.

Mr. Tilghman commented on how Tucson Electric Power (a  UniSource Energy Company) worked collaboratively with University of Arizona, Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (aka AzRISE), and various other entities for grant opportunities (such as IBM and other universities, research institutes and developers). Such collaboration is very instrumental in promoting solar and renewable energy use to the next level. He also mentioned a recent “leasing model” that addresses the main concern or challenge of consumers in dealing with cost effectiveness of implementing solar energy. Furthermore, the dramatic drop in cost of solar energy makes it much more affordable for every one. Therefore, the larger integration of distributed generation as well as utility scale projects will continue to provide plenty of opportunities and challenges to utility companies. As the utilities move forward to meet the various RPS standard in different states, utilities will continue to operate the grid while meeting reliability criteria and providing the reliable service enjoyed by consumers. Some challenges faced by installers or developers, such as regulatory uncertainty, back lash, or recession have been overcome.

Some clarification for RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard): it is state requirement for regulated utilities to have specified fraction of their electricity from renewable energy sources. Not all 50 states have RPS (I know FL does not have one whereas 37 states already have either RPS standards (mandatory) or Goals (voluntary). Please refer to the map provided by U.S. Energy Information Administration for states with RPS.

Mr. Tilghman mentioned that AZ RPS is based on certain percentage of sales for each of the regulated utilities, with expectation of 15% renewables by 2025. AZ RPS started its infancy in 2000, then through public process, corporation commission hearings, was designed in 2006 and finally implemented in 2007. This lengthy process was well worth it for the state of AZ. In five years, AZ Public Service (largest investor in utility serving greater Phoenix area) as well as Tucson Electric Power & UNS Electric Inc. have all reached beyond the minimum requirement set by AZ RPS. Mr. Tilghman observes that implementation of distributed generation programs, when successfully implemented (as has been the case in AZ), solar installations will continue without any incentives. On behalf of Tucson Electric Power, Mr. Tilghman expresses their acceptance in meeting the challenge in moving forward to renewable energy and have demonstrated their success and willingness in sharing their trials and tribulations with other utility companies throughout USA.

Any states or utility companies interested in learning more about lessons learned from the process of obtaining AZ RPS or successfully integrating distributed generation into the utility or grid, please feel free to contact Mr. Carmine A. Tilghman of Tucson Electric Power via ctilghman@tep.com

Thank you, Mr. Tilghman, for sharing your experience with our viewers/visitor.

~have a bright and sunny day~
Interviewed, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker, sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Any of your comments/suggestions/ questions are welcomed.
Homepage:  http://www.sunisthefuture.net

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Tags: Arizona public service, Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy, AZ public service, AzRISE, Carmine A. Tilghman, Director of Renewable Resources & Programs, EIA, leasing model, Renewable Portfolio Standard, RPS, solar, Sun Is The Future, sunisthefuture, sunisthefuture.net, susan sun nunamaker, Tucson Electric Power, U.S. Energy Information Administration, University of Arizona, UNS Electric Inc.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 15th, 2013 at 5:55 PM and is filed under Educational. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.