Mississippi News
Clean energy: incentives for self-generated renewables
New incentives for self-generated renewables a ‘win for clean energy'
The Mississippi Public Service Commission on Tuesday added a new rebate and low-income credits in its updated rule on compensating homeowners for generating renewable power.
With hopes of growing the number of Mississippians self-generating renewable power, the PSC announced a $3,500 rebate for home and small business owners purchasing a system such as rooftop solar panels, as well as higher payments to households earning up to 250% of the federal poverty level.
“These new rules will make Mississippi open to business to clean energy technology developers, manufacturers, and installers, and will help boost low-income opportunities allowing Mississippians to experience the cost-saving benefits of solar energy,” Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey said.
Net metering works by customers selling any extra renewable power they generate back to their utility company.
Mississippi has the second-lowest number of participants – roughly 300, as of February – among states with a net metering law. It also was one of the last states to adopt net metering, starting the program in 2015.
Clean energy advocates were critical of the original rule because, unlike in most states, net metering customers in Mississippi aren't reimbursed at the retail price for their generated power.
The PSC's regulated utility companies – Entergy Mississippi and Mississippi Power – pushed back against expanding net metering, arguing that paying too much money in incentives puts an unfair cost burden on non-participating customers.
Although the new rule announced this week didn't raise the reimbursement rate, Mississippi Sierra Club director Louie Miller called it a “win for the clean energy sector.”
“I applaud the commission on what they did, I think they really stepped up,” Miller said. “As we've seen with the price of natural gas and with how volatile fossil fuels are, this is going to give a lot of people the option to self-generate their electricity.”
Between the new $3,500 rebate and federal rebates available to self-generating customers, those homeowners are going to “see some real money,” he explained. Miller also pointed to long-term benefits of self-generation, such as during storms when customers lose connection to their utility's power grid.
Among other changes, the new rule allows the PSC to go back and make changes once the threshold for net metering customers – which increased from 3% of a utility company's peak demand to 4% – is met, giving the commission more flexibility. The changes also lock in whatever reimbursement rate a customer is receiving for the next 25 years.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
On/off weekend rain
SUMMARY: The weather in Columbus, Mississippi is expected to have scattered showers and thunderstorms over the weekend. Temperatures will be in the low to middle 60s at night and low to middle 80s during the day. There is a chance of showers during the Starkville Derby weenie dog race, with cloudy conditions and breaks of sun. Temperatures will continue to rise into the upper 80s and potentially lower 90s next week with on and off rain. Overnight lows will remain mild in the low 60s to low 70s. Stay prepared for rain with rain gear as showers and storms are expected.
The post On/off weekend rain appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Jackson pastor concerned about sinkhole near bridge
SUMMARY: The pastor of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Jackson is calling for the condemnation of a bridge on Martin Luther King Boulevard near his church due to safety concerns. The bridge has been a problem for nearly a decade, with a large sinkhole recently appearing. The pastor is advocating for the city to take action, as the bridge has already been the site of a fatal accident and lacks guardrails. While repairs are being made, the pastor believes the street should be shut down to prevent further accidents. The City of Jackson has not responded to inquiries about the issue.
The post Jackson pastor concerned about sinkhole near bridge appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Shopping trips ends with shoplifting charges for Lee County women
SUMMARY: Two Lee County women, Marie Thomas and Brandy Allred, were arrested in Tupelo for a substantial shoplifting case where they took over $1,000 worth of merchandise. Thomas was charged with felony shoplifting and her bond was set at $5,000, while Allred was also identified as a suspect in two grand larceny cases and was charged with felony shoplifting and two counts of grand larceny, with a bond set at $50,000. The incident occurred in February at a business on South Green Street in Tupelo. Follow WCBI on Facebook for continuous news updates.
The post Shopping trips ends with shoplifting charges for Lee County women appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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