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<\/a>\r\nThe largest utility in the U.S. is doubling down on distributed\r\nsolar by taking an equity stake in commercial solar developer, REC\r\nSolar. The companies announced today that Duke will now own a\r\nmajority stake of REC Solar and that together they will make it\r\neasier for commercial customers to go solar. In 2013, Duke Energy\r\ninvested in\r\n\r\n Clean Power Finance, a company that provides financial\r\nservices and software to the distributed solar industry.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nToday’s annoucement “is a great thing. Fantastic news for the\r\nentire company,” said Allan Bucknam, CEO of REC solar. Bucknam\r\nsaid that the partnership would simplify the process of going solar\r\nfor small commercial customers, a market for which he sees great\r\npotential. “Over the past decade, a typical commercial sale\r\nhas been a slow process,” he explained. With this announcement\r\nthere will now be “a pre-defined document between us and\r\nDuke,” he said.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n
\r\nThat article likens what Duke is doing for small commercial customers\r\nto what SolarCity is doing with financing for residential rooftop solar.\r\n
\r\nAnd the next day this:\r\nStaff Report, GSA Business, 10 February 2015,\r\n\r\nDuke Energy proposes solar programs for S.C.<\/a>,\r\n
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<\/a>\r\nOne day after announcing its purchase of majority interest in a\r\nsolar equipment installer, Duke Energy is proposing new solar\r\nprograms for customers in South Carolina. The programs stemming from\r\na December agreement with state regulators and environmentalists\r\nexpand options for customers to use renewable energy….\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nA mid-December agreement supported by utilities, the S.C. Office of\r\nRegulatory Staff, businesses and environmental groups set a 60-day\r\ndeadline for utilities to propose a net metering program.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nThe utility’s proposals include rebates to customers who install\r\nrooftop or small-scale solar on their property. A typical rooftop\r\ninstallation could earn rebates of about $5,000 under the program.\r\nThe rebates will help customers with the initial investment.\r\nCustomers with rooftop solar installations will still get retail net\r\nmetering for the next 10 years, which means the price to sell excess\r\nenergy to the utility will be the same price at which the utility\r\nsells the power to its customers.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nCustomers who often are unable to participate in renewable energy\r\noptions — including nonprofit organizations, churches,\r\ncommunity centers, renters and schools — will be able to\r\nsubscribe to a specific solar facility and share in the economic\r\nbenefits of the power produced.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n
\r\nYou already can’t drive down I-95 in North Carolina without\r\nseeing\r\n\r\nsolar farms<\/a>,\r\nwith county governments\r\nchanging their building codes to make that easier<\/a>\r\nand\r\nthe NC business press saying\r\nsolar benefits outweight costs<\/a>.\r\nWith these new moves by Duke Energy, we’ll see even more of that,\r\nand in South Carolina, too.\r\n
\r\nMeanwhile, the Georgia House \r\nunanimously passed a solar financing bill<\/a>.\r\n