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Listen: FutureStructure Podcast - The Regulator's Dilemma: Rooftop solar adds no economic value to the grid

The growth of rooftop solar has changed the look of many homes, and reduced the power bills for those home owners. But the math is much different for power utilities.

Solar panels
Pinal County, Ariz., Copper Crossing Solar Ranch uses 66,000 solar panels.
Salt River Project
Electric consumers expect power to be available reliably and priced inexpensively. Rooftop solar fits that bill, particularly when the installations are connected to the grid. For electric utlities, rooftop solar supplies power to the grid when it isn't needed and draws power out when it is. The costs to system operators can be economic and political. Jim Waring, Executive Chairman of CleanTech San Diego, explains in this episode of For the Record.

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Paul W. Taylor is the Senior Editor of e.Republic Editorial and of its flagship titles - Government Technology and Governing.