Distributed Generation Law: A Guide to Regulations, Policies, and Programs - Sarah A . W. Fitts

Distributed Generation Law: A Guide to Regulations, Policies, and Programs Sarah A . W. Fitts ISBN 9781641056557

Distributed generation (DG)—which encompasses a wide range of technologies that produce, store, and deliver energy close to the end user—is one of the most transformative developments reshaping the electric power grid. Written by attorneys with diverse professional backgrounds, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the key regulatory and commercial issues surrounding distributed generation, while bridging the rapidly evolving intersection of DG technology and the law.

As distributed generation technologies continue to advance and expand across the United States and around the world, practitioners face an increasingly complex set of legal and practical challenges. To address these issues, the authors present clear, non-technical explanations of the core concepts and technologies most commonly used in U.S. distributed generation installations.

Topics covered include:

• Fundamental electricity laws, including the Federal Power Act (FPA) and PURPA, as well as the role of FERC and key orders affecting regional transmission organizations and independent system operators

• The role of states in shaping distributed generation law and policy, including state authority under the FPA and PURPA, with state-by-state summaries

• Distributed generation economics, including valuation and pricing considerations

• Siting, permitting, and environmental issues

• Financing challenges and tools for widespread DG deployment, including soft costs such as customer acquisition, permitting, inspections, interconnection, installation, taxation, and system financing, as well as design, construction, engineering, and operational costs

• State and federal legal frameworks addressing privacy and cybersecurity concerns related to distributed energy resources and associated data

• Energy storage, including the commercial aspects of storage transactions and policy mechanisms that promote cost-effective deployment

• The regulatory environment governing electric vehicle charging stations

• Climate change–related policies influencing the growth of distributed energy resources

• How the U.S. military—the world’s largest energy consumer—integrates distributed generation systems into its operational and installation energy portfolios

Comprehensive and accessible, this book is an essential resource for lawyers, regulators, policymakers, and industry professionals navigating the legal and commercial landscape of distributed generation.

Distributed Generation Law: A Guide to Regulations, Policies, and Programs Sarah A . W. Fitts ISBN 9781641056557, 978-1641056557 & 9781641056564

Editors
Sarah A . W. Fitts
Florence K Davis