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Dive Brief:
States can enable faster growth of distributed solar and energy storage by streamlining interconnection reviews, reducing fees and increasing transparency for interconnection applicants and utilities, according to the latest update to “Freeing the Grid,” a joint analysis and scorecard by Vote Solar and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
New Mexico was the only state to earn the highest possible grade of “A,” signifying it had adopted a majority of the interconnection best practices identified by “Freeing the Grid.” It received high marks for its robust energy storage interconnection framework, frequent public reports on its interconnection queue and incorporating IEEE’s technical standard for DER interconnections. Eight other states earned “B” grades, meaning they have adopted many best practices but have some room for improvement.
IREC and Vote Solar developed “Freeing the Grid” nearly 20 years ago to provide state policymakers and regulators with state-specific road maps for DER interconnection. This month's update, the first since 2023, lands amid significant shifts in federal clean energy policy and growing focus on the role of DERs on the grid.
