Analysis of PURPA and Solar Energy

Technical Report · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5381164· OSTI ID:5381164

Rice, Michael

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) is designed to promote energy conservation, the efficient use of utility resources, and equitable rates. PURPA specifically directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to encourage small power production from renewable resources (and also cogeneration of electric energy as well as heat) by setting standards under which facilities qualify for interconnection, and guidelines for sales between utilities and independent facilities. The way FERC carries out this mandate may critically affect the development of solar alternatives to electric power production from fossil and nuclear resources. This report comments on proposed FERC regulations and suggests ways to encourage small power production within the PURPA mandate. In addition, some internal strains within PURPA are analyzed that seem to limit the effectiveness with which FERC can encourage independent facilities, and possible modifications to PURPA are suggested. 255 references.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 5381164
• Report Number(s): SERI/TR-434-484
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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CO-GENERATION
DEUS
economics
electric utilities
energy
ENERGY SOURCES
INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEMS
laws
LEGAL ASPECTS
load management
MANAGEMENT
MODIFICATIONS
national energy act
policy and economy
power generation
POWER SYSTEMS
prices
PUBLIC UTILITIES
public utility regulatory policies act
RATE STRUCTURE
REGULATIONS
reliability
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
sellback
SIZE
solar energy
STEAM GENERATION
TIME-OF-USE PRICING