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The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is now collecting responses to the 2010 Utility Solar Integration Rankings Survey.  This annual survey collects utility data on solar electricity installations in the United States, both photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP), on the customer and utility side of the meter.  The resulting rankings have appeared in such media outlets as the Wall Street Journal, Renewable Energy World, Transmission & Distribution World and Reuters. The information also helps utilities (regardless of rank) to compare their solar capacity with their peer utilities. 

All electric utilities are eligible to take the survey.  You can access the online survey until Feb. 14, 2011.  SEPA will release the 2010 Utility Solar Rankings Report in May 2011, and awards will be presented during SEPA’s Utility Solar Conference from July 26 to 27, 2011, in San Diego, Calif.  Please contact Becky Campbell with any questions.

Don’t let a tight travel budget keep you from attending the Distributed Wind/Solar Interconnection Workshop Jan. 19 to 21, 2011. A limited number of $500.00 travel scholarships are available to utility representatives who want to learn how to analyze the impacts of these variable resources on utility distribution networks.

The Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG) is presenting this workshop at Western’s Electric Power Training Center in Golden, Colo.  The agenda is highlighting UWIG’s online DG Evaluation Toolbox, which enables engineers to analyze the impacts of these types of variable generation on utility distribution networks.  Participants will also be able to tour the Electric Power Training Center and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s National Wind Technology Center.

Registration for the workshop is limited to 30, and scholarships are offered on a first come, first served basis.  To secure a scholarship, contact Randy Manion, Western Area Power Administration, at 720-962-7423. Learn more about the agenda, accommodations and registration.

UWIG is sponsoring this workshop in partnership with Western, American Public Power Association, Wind Powering America, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, U.S. Department of Energy Wind Technologies Program, American Wind Energy Association and Solar Electric Power Association.