How We Got Here: A (Riveting!) History of DER Interconnection in the U.S.

You are correct: the title of this course sounds eerily like the type of obscure, short print reference book that a guy like Vaughan Woodruff wishes he could feature prominently in the background of the makeshift sets he's carved out of the corner of his garage and the parlor of his house and some other random places in rural Maine he can't disclose.

The reality is this course is the resource that Vaughan thinks every clean energy champion needs once they finally realize how instrumental interconnection policy is to advancing customer-owned renewable energy and climate goals across the United States.

This short, free course is the only publicly-accessible collection of over two decades of interconnection resources. Through an in-depth look at the evolution of model interconnection procedures for distributed energy resources (DERs), historic assessments of interconnection procedures for each state in the country that illustrate how states have changed (or not changed) with the times, a tool that includes access to the interconnection procedures in each state, sample legislation that has been used to advance interconnection regulation, and an overview of where national leaders see interconnection needing to evolve.

As customers seek to add more and more solar and energy storage to a grid with a finite capacity to host those resources,  professionals with a comprehensive understanding of how we got today's patchwork regulatory frameworks will be best positioned to navigate interconnection challenges and exert influence in the future.

You'll learn about the current state of interconnection regulations across all 50 states, explore regulatory processes that influence utility approval of solar and energy storage projects, and discover the resources available to improve regulatory frameworks. This course represents a unique opportunity for solar industry professionals, utility regulators, policymakers, public interest organizations, and utility staff to build a strong foundation for advancing the clean energy transition.

Your instructor, Vaughan Woodruff, founded a Best for the World solar company, represented Maine's solar industry at the state house and public utilities commission, led interconnection strategy for a multi-state clean energy company, led the nation's leading interconnection reform team, and now serves as principal for EquinoxDG, a consulting firm that specializes in national interconnection strategy. He brings these rich experiences and stories from these various roles to bring to life a topic that is often seen as dry and technical. Buckle up!