There's a New Sheriff in Town...

It's fair to say that environmentalists have just about always considered America's utility companies the bad guys. While utilities create and deliver the energy we rely on everyday to power our homes and our lifestyles, they also typically fight most environmental regulations and clean energy expansion.

However, these days there seems to be a new kind of utility -- and utility CEO -- emerging.

Utility heads like John Rowe of Exelon and Jim Rogers of Duke Energy are now sharing the playing field with leaders like Don Brandt: the courtly, driven and pragmatic Chief Executive Officer of Arizona Public Service (APS). Almost overnight Brandt is making APS a true champion in battling climate change and expanding clean energy resources, while continuing to provide safe, reliable and affordable power to his customers.

Two weeks ago I attended the Solar Electric Power Association's (SEPA's) Solar Power International 2009 conference in Anaheim, California. While there I was impressed to see APS' Brandt share a stage with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and accept the "Solar CEO of the Year" award. To witness a utility CEO being singled out for his commitment to solar energy seemed to me a milestone in the clean energy movement. But beyond a mere award, it is the actions Mr. Brandt is performing at the helm of APS that are the real milestones.

Since taking over, Brandt has developed the plan for Solana, truly one of the most ambitious solar energy generation projects in the world, set to be complete in 2012. According to APS, when the 280 megawatt Solana station is operating at full capacity, it will be able to power 70,000 homes in Arizona -- an amazing (and replicable) demonstration that solar is a viable and scalable energy source.

And while Solana is a huge step for clean energy, it is just one of the game-changing strides APS is taking to shape America's clean energy future.

The company is creating the Community Power pilot program in Flagstaff, Arizona, which will offer residents a flat utility rate for 20 years in return for letting APS put solar panels on their roofs. For those familiar with industry pioneer Sun Edison, you'll recognize this as an ingenious way to build solar capacity. (The electricity generated is fed back into the grid.) The 300 homes that are a part of the program will, according to APS.com, "form, in essence, an interconnected renewable power plant."

The Flagstaff network will also be fed into the smart grid system being developed by APS, which will help revolutionize the tracking of energy use and efficiency.

At my non-profit group SmartPower, we like to say that clean energy is real. It's here. And it's working. It's people like Brandt who are utility visionaries, working to show just that.

Perhaps the most encouraging part of Brandt's solar strategy is not that it's good for the environment (which it is) or that it's simply the right thing to do - which it also is. He's using hard line business practices and strategies to do what's best for his company -- and in his calculations Solar makes business sense for APS.

So, a note to American utility companies and environmentalists -- we have a friendly partner making unprecedented investments in clean energy, and leading the way to show how such innovations are beneficial to business. "We want to make the Grand Canyon State the Solar State," says Brandt. Indeed, he's on his way. It's evident that when it comes to utilities and clean energy, that there's a new sheriff in town.

 

Comments

[mamacat]

Both nuclear energy and the massive hydroelectric system required a huge initial investment from the government, but they both ended up being crucial parts of our energy production mix. So, why should we now deny solar, wind, and geothermal the same benefits of government incentives that worked so well in the past?
The technology is right, and the environmental conditions are right, for this newer source of energy to be developed. Although the older businesses tend to see alternative energy as a threat to their economic viability, for the near future solar will be little more than a niche business. It speaks well for its long term profitability that the older sources of power are so afraid of alternative energy.

[sheila]

This is so BLATANTLY corrupt and monopolistic, I am just baffled how anyone can applaud it. Where the hell are our loans and generous feed in tariffs so WE can own rooftop panels and be paid for feeding power into the grid? I'll tell you - THE UTILITIES ARE BLOCKING THEM 100%. Ask CA's legislators who keep getting shot down whenever they try to create a very modestly democratic solution.

Robert Kennedy. Jr. is partnered with Chevron and BP, amongst others, to build one of the most ecologically damaging Industrial Solar Plants on the decks, at Ivanpah - the only award he should get is "greenwasher of the year."

There is MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOFTOP already in the built environment to power 100% of the US' electricity needs. WE need simple, cheap programs so that WE can produce that power without killing wilderness and without being completely hijacked - again - by Big Energy mercenaries.

We are at a major crossroads, not just for energy production, but for democracy. If we let Big Energy force through these incredibly harmful, wasteful expensive projects on our public land and our taxpayer and ratepayer dime, and let them colonize our roofs, we are idiots. Take a stand for loans and feed in tariffs NOW, so we can be the next big force in a renewable Energy economy!!

[sethdayal]

Solana Generating Station 665 gWh 3 sq miles, $1 billion not including a gas plant to load balance and a huge transmission line built to carry the variable power output. Parameters best described as vaporware.

Same energy output as one, power output as three hot tub size 70 Mw energy, $30 million each, factory produced Hyperion nuclear reactors available for 2013 service. - 3% of the energy cost, 10% of the electrical fits in a substation and provides steam heat and cooling.

Another really really good solar power deal for the taxpayers!!!

[mamacat]

Hyperion nuclear reactors are so far only a hypothetical source of power. When and if they are available for examination, purchase, and installation, then one can compare them to other sources of power.
They may indeed be the next big thing, but so far they are barely a blip on the screen.

[sethdayal]

Actually the Hyperion technology has been around and licensed for many years in research reactors. The repackaged commercial product with more than a hundred orders is available for 2013 service a decade at least before super priced solar boiler technology can be more than a pip on the horizon.

[Indra]

Yes, from a certain perspective the scheme is a good one for bringing solar to those who cannot afford the initial up front costs. However it creates a megaindustry which is problamatical. These types of company will own the tax credits and be able to trade carbon offsets and that is what they are hoping to make a killing on. It will become the next big Wall St. Boondoggle. This upcoming industry needs to be highly regulated and people need to be aware that saving and putting up their own system will be more to their liking if they own their own home and don't rent. If you have property that you rent out it can be a good selling green point and attract renters who want to do green things.