The IREC Blog

Nutting brings more than two decades of experience in clean energy policy, regulatory strategy, and market development, with deep expertise in distributed energy resources (DERs).

This article was originally published in Public Utilities Fortnightly. As data centers and other loads like building electrification drive increased demand for electricity at a rate unprecedented in recent decades, utilities and regulators face a challenge to deploy more electricity generation quickly while avoiding or limiting rate increases for customers. Distributed energy resources (DERs) are...

The energy industries have many Information Technology (IT) careers. IREC has related career resources to help you get started, including interviews with people in those roles.

IREC recently conducted a qualitative study on the safety and benefits of remote virtual inspections (RVI) for residential solar and/or battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the U.S. IREC’s published report is intended for local permitting offices and state policymakers who are considering the adoption of RVI for residential solar and/or BESS projects. RVI refers...

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) has released a request for proposals (RFP) for Regional Engagement Partners to support local governments in their region in adopting EV charging best practices and achieving Charging Smart designation.  Proposals, which must not exceed 10 pages and must comprehensively address the topics specified in the RFP, are due on...

Freeing the Grid Report Finds Most Notable Improvements in New Jersey and Oregon, Followed by Maine and Wisconsin  The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) today released its latest Freeing the Grid interconnection grades, which evaluate the quality of each U.S. state’s interconnection rules. These policies determine how efficiently and affordably distributed energy resources (DERs)—such as...

Oregon and Maryland recently took important steps to expedite the process for clean energy projects to connect to the grid, to help ensure that delays in this process do not prevent projects from qualifying for expiring federal tax credits. Oregon and Maryland became the nation’s second and third states, respectively, to implement “phased interconnection” policies....

A recent decision by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) significantly undermines the usefulness of a cost-saving, cutting-edge utility tool that could help improve the development of energy resources—such as solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure—in the state. The decision establishes standards for the information that the state’s utilities are required to include in...

We’re thrilled to introduce the new Apprenticeship Ready: Exploring Registered Apprenticeship Career Pathways course! This self-paced online program prepares students and career seekers to make informed decisions about entering clean energy occupations through Registered Apprenticeship pathways—a federally recognized, earn-while-you-learn training model that combines paid on-the-job learning with technical instruction. Here’s what those who take the...

This article was originally published in Public Utilities Fortnightly. As electrification efforts and deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) accelerate, utilities and state regulators around the country are seeking innovative approaches to serve growing electricity demand and connect DERs faster and more economically while maintaining grid safety and reliability. The challenge is that as more...

This article was originally published in Public Utilities Fortnightly. The future of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure depends not just on where drivers need power, but on what the grid can actually support — and that understanding begins with grid data. Grid data is often seen as complex and accessible only to industry experts. Yet...

March 5, 2026 (Richmond, Virginia) — Virginia regulators recently issued a major decision that makes permanent increased solar project costs that will slow down clean energy growth in the state. On February 5th, 2026, the Virginia State Corporation Commission filed a decision that allows Dominion Energy to continue requiring an unnecessary and expensive grid protection...

On February 11, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a draft resolution (Resolution E-5440) that it is likely to vote on in early March. The resolution—which concerns necessary improvements to an important grid transparency tool called an Integration Capacity Analysis, or ICA—raises serious concerns about whether the Commission is committed to ensuring that this tool,...

San Francisco, CA (February 5, 2026) — In a decision today, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) created a new pathway for electric vehicle (EV) chargers and other load projects to avoid long delays to connect to the electric grid. The “limited load profile” option created today allows projects to take advantage of existing grid...

A version of this article was originally published by Solar Power World. For years, New Hampshire solar developers and their customers have faced one regulatory roadblock after another, making it much harder to connect solar projects to the grid than in neighboring states. New Hampshire is last in the region for solar deployment, in large...

Originally published by Building Performance Association The Building Performance Association (BPA) is proud to announce the approval of its National Guideline Standards for Registered Apprenticeship Programs by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.  This milestone enables BPA to sponsor energy efficiency apprenticeship programs nationwide for the Energy Specialist and Home Performance Laborer occupations, supporting workforce development and expanding...