Solar power project raises question addressed by courts more than 100 years ago: Just what is a public utility?


Solar power project raises question addressed by courts more than 100 years ago: Just what is a public utility?


Wisconsin courts are likely to face a question addressed more than 100 years ago: Just what is a public utility?

That question is at the heart of a dispute between Eagle Point Solar and We Energies involving a project to install solar panels on six buildings for the City of Milwaukee. And the answer eventually could determine whether government and nonprofit entities have an additional way to pay for solar power projects.

Eagle Point, a company based in Dubuque, Iowa, saw its solar project for the city scuttled last year when We Energies would not allow the project to connect to the utility’s system....

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Ken Notes: The issue is like the public road vs. private rail issue. We have millions of semi trucks shipping goods across the country when it would be far more economical to use trains yet it will never happen because the rail industry is not a public utility.

As long as the power grid is in private hands we will have to address these issues on their terms. We do have the PSC but today the vote is still 2 to 1. If I were We Energies I might find a compromise (and assume a leadership role) here because the vote will also be 2-1 for a few years in another direction. Of course the court is also politically tilted on this issue. Wouldn`t it be nice if the people of Wisconsin and Milwaukee had something to say???

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- - Volume: 7 - WEEK: 12 Date: 3/18/2019 8:41:49 AM -