Top 3 Factors Affecting Electricity Prices
The cost of electricity varies greatly based on a number of factors: the prices of coal, natural gas, renewables and other sources of power.
Let’s examine some of the most important factors more closely:
#1 The capacity factor of different power sources
A capacity factor measures the running intensity of a generating unit.
A crucial shift has taken place last year: the average capacity factor of natural gas combined-cycle plants ended up higher than coal power plants.
What does this mean?
For example, a capacity factor approaching 100% tells us that this unit is 1) operating near its maximum possible power output and 2) operating almost constantly. This increase of capacity factor indicates that electricity generation in the United States is shifting towards using a mix of energy sources. In fact, the use of coal steam power plants has experienced a steady decline in the past ten years, while the utilization of natural gas combined-cycle plants is much higher today.
Congress Passes ITC Bill Pushing The Solar Industry Forward
The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), a vital piece of legislation for the solar industry, was recently extended by Congress.
This extension aligns with American’s demand for solar energy, and continues to support a green energy future for the U.S.
What is the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), how does it work, and why is it important?
Follow the Guvernator: Why California’s Solar Initiative is a Good Model for ITC Extension
The solar industry has emerged as a major economic driver and is becoming a robust industry. Over 170,000 people are employed by the solar industry.
The potential end of the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) could mean ½ of those jobs are lost in 2016.
Solar is providing increasingly cheaper and more reliable power, while allowing for domestic energy independence. In 2014, 32% of all new electric generation came from solar, largely because solar is economically viable. The abrupt end to this program will crush growth and set the industry back. What is needed is a clear ramp to allow a transition to new business models that allow for continued and possibly accelerated growth. You may have seen Schwarzenegger’s facebook post about climate change, but what you might not know is that he started the Million Solar Roofs initiative, which lead into the California Solar Initiative. Read on to find how why we should follow this model and extend the ITC.
What do Homeowners Want to Know Most About Going Solar?
After working in the solar industry for over a decade, it’s hard to imagine not understanding the most fundamental details about solar power, including how much it costs, where it’s suitable, and so on.
But the reality is that the average homeowner doesn’t know that much about going solar.
In order to learn more we decided to directly ask prospective solar customers during the signup process (i.e. when filling out a solar request form). While we don’t claim to have come to a scientific consensus here (n=220) we do think these results are consistent with our experience in what potential solar customers most want to know.
And big surprise: everyone wants to know how much it’s going to cost.Continue reading