Energy Tips & Advice
We love to share trending news and helpful advice for the energy industry
What is a Green Bank?
By Stewart Lawrence The DC Clean Energy Omnibus bill of 2018 established the creation of a “Green Energy Finance Authority,” or more commonly referred to as a Green Bank. That sounds interesting, but begs some questions: What is a Green Bank? What is its purpose and...
New Coronavirus Disinfection Service for DMV
New disinfection service available to prevent coronavirus transmission in office buildings and multifamily buildings in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Big Federal LED Rebate for Commercial Buildings: 179D
LEDs have revolutionized lighting. They can produce a wide range of color temperatures using 50% to 90% less electricity than previous generations of lighting. Also, because they last 5-6 times longer than incandescents and fluorescents, you save a considerable amount...
Recession Tips for Property Managers
Following declaration of a global pandemic over the COVID-19 virus and subsequent crash of the stock market, many of us feel like we live in a different world than we did a week ago. In fact, we do not. It’s the same world, I swear! We still have the same...
Take Action for Solar in Virginia!
By Bobby Monnacella @ Ipsun Solar Please help us support two important solar bills currently moving through the Virginia legislature. The Solar Freedom bill and the Clean Economy Act are both important for the future of solar in Virginia, and we need to make sure our...
What to do about Stormwater Fees?
Rainstorms cause flooding and damage properties in areas with high densities of impermeable surfaces in DC. Much of our infrastructure also combines stormwater with sewage, which overflows in our rivers during storms. Stormwater fees are used to help DC avoid this. Clients ask us if Honeydew offers help in controlling DC’s increasing stormwater costs, and we do!
A Deceptively Simple Solution for Carbon Emissions – Use Nature
by Ed Dodge There is a great deal of discussion around putting a price on carbon emissions. Groups like the Citizens Climate Lobby, the Climate Leadership Council, and the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, are actively lobbying for a variety of policies including a...
Case Study: SREC Broker Comparison for Washington, DC
Honeydew Energy Advisors put together a case study for a client in Washington, DC who wanted to compare their current SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Certificate) broker, Flett Exchange, with a local competitor, Sol Systems. Here is what we found: Flett...
When Energy Suppliers Go out of Business
Before we delve into the question begged by the title of this article, let’s take a step back and consider what an “energy supplier” is. Most ratepayer’s utility bill is divided between distribution and supply costs. The utility uses distribution fees to maintain and...
What is Pepco’s Plan to Support Solar in DC?
Community solar, or Community Renewable Energy Facilities (CREF) was introduced to the District of Columbia in the Community Renewable Energy Credit Rate Clarification Amendment Act of 2016. Since this time, solar companies attempting to develop CREFs have had to...
Rise of the Climate Sloths
In the ‘90s and the early part of the 21st century, the biggest enablers of climate change were the climate deniers. They insinuated that scientists are motivated by money to lie about the science and liberal politicians used this as a cudgel to gain power. Of course...
Dorian’s Impact on Natural Gas Pricing
Energy commodity prices are notoriously difficult to predict. Unforeseen weather and political factors can dash the conclusions of the most thoughtfully orchestrated economic forecasts. We at Honeydew do not pretend to be experts at economic forecasting. Instead, we...
Honeydew Organizing Young Professionals Network with the DC Chamber of Commerce
Honeydew Energy Advisors has been active at the DC Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee for the past 5 years. Through our participation, we have had the privilege of meeting many political and business leaders in the District. We have also earned exciting...
Maryland: Lock In Electric Rates Before they Increase
On April 8, 2019, in a victory for clean energy and climate policy in Maryland, the General Assembly gave final approval to the Clean Energy Jobs Act. The legislation will transform the way electricity is used in the state, making roof-top solar power and...
What the Green New Deal Means for Washington, DC
By Alice Goldberg Local Policy Contributes to a National Vision Despite the fact that protecting the environment is central to both domestic and foreign policy agendas of young voters, national leaders have been consistently negligent in enacting thorough policies...
NEM vs CREF Solar PV Systems
Net Metered or NEM systems are the most common grid-direct (no batteries) solar PV system. These systems feed power to a single meter. Currently in DC, the total amount of energy the system produces may be no more than the meter consumes over the course of a year. If...
Why have Maryland SREC’s gone up so much recently?
Over the past 10 years, chiropractors have been raking it in from treating whiplash from those watching the Maryland SREC market. In 2009, MD SREC prices rivaled their neighbor DC at $325 per megawatt hour. This value was slashed in half over the next 5 years as the...
What is the DC ‘Solar for All’ Program?
Many critics of the American approach to renewable energy deployment correctly point to its regressive nature. Specifically, the beneficiaries of federal and local subsidies to solar energy systems tend to be wealthy. After all, until recently, you need to own the...