Nevada Task Force to Consider Legislation on Microgrids…Renewvia to Bring Solar Microgrids to Kenya
Legislation on Microgrids in Nevada?
A Nevada gubernatorial task force, which is looking at ways to make the grid more clean and resilient, will consider proposing microgrid legislation next week.
The Nevada New Energy Industry Task Force is scheduled to discuss possible legislation for microgrid and distributed energy pilot projects at its September 27 meeting.
Formed by Gov. Brian Sandoval in January, the task force is looking at policies to expand distributed energy resources, with a specific focus on microgrids, energy storage, electric vehicles, renewable resources and other forms of clean energy.
A technical advisory committee on grid modernization is recommending that the task force push legislation next year to incentivize one or more demonstration projects. The projects would integrate distributed energy resources into the grid and couple them with utility data platforms and security, operation protocol, interconnection and communication systems.
The committee is recommending other legislative action on clean energy as well, including setting energy storage procurement targets and requiring that utilities take into account storage in plans for generation, transmission, and distribution.
Gov. Sandoval issued an executive order in January 2016 reconvening the New Energy Industry Task Force and charging it with providing recommendations on best energy policies for the state.
USTDA to Fund Study of Solar Microgrids in Kenya
Renewvia Energy is conducting a feasibility study for the development of solar microgrids in key geographies in Kenya, funded by a grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) as part of the Power Africa initiative.
Trey Jarrard, CEO of Renewvia, signed the cost share agreement during the U.S.-Africa Business Forum held in New York City on September 21.
In addition to providing the data and analysis necessary to complete the feasibility study, Renewvia will work on securing financing for up to 50 MW of solar microgrids in Kenya over the next five years
“For the first time hundreds of rural Kenyan citizens are receiving power at a rate that is commensurate with off-grid generation without being responsible for maintaining power equipment,” said Jarrard.
Renewvia Energy designs, installs, owns, and operates commercial and utility solar power systems. The company has installed projects on four continents, interconnecting to numerous utilities under what it describes as complex and challenging financing structures.
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