It’s hard to gather a cheering squad for a concept when few people know what it is. That’s the problem with distributed energy.
It’s made worse by the fact that it’s an industry of industries — smart thermostats, solar, batteries, electric vehicles, microgrids, virtual power plants, generators, fuel cells, combined heat and power, etc., each with its own market identity.
What brings them together is their common place on the grid, close to the customer, a position that allows them to provide a range of benefits often elusive to centralized generation.
But explaining this requires a long conversation with consumers, businesses, and government decision-makers. And someone to tell the story.
That’s where a new organization, Common Charge, comes into play.
Formed in September, the non-profit organization last week brought on board Mary Rafferty as its executive director. She brings her experience working for nearly a decade in Virginia, the heart of the nation’s data center buildup and energy supply and cost controversies, where she served as executive director of the Virginia Conservation Network.
Rafferty kindly agreed to an interview with Energy Changemakers only five days into her new job at Common Charge.
“Day one is telling a unified story about how distributed energy assets are working at scale right now,” she said. “That story needs to be screamed from the solar-covered rooftops. “
The distributed energy industry is an underdog striving in a market dominated by utility monopolies for over a century. Common Charge is trying to level the playing field by bringing the diverse DER industries together to speak in a unified voice, using language understandable to the masses.
“If we’re all sharing the same message at the same time about the benefits of distributed energy assets, then it is more likely that the consumer will hear our message,” she said. “If we’re all saying slightly different things in slightly different ways in many different markets, then it is less likely that consumers will hear and understand our message.”
Common Charge seeks a membership balance between non-profit organizations and businesses. Utilities are not members of Common Charge, although the organization hopes they will follow its work. Membership is restricted to those who share its core principles, which focus on such issues as open markets, equitable access, cost transparency, and ratepayer autonomy and choice.
Founding members are: Advanced Energy United, Charge Ahead Partnership, Coalition for Community Solar Access, Eco Capital, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Pivot Energy, Solar United Neighbors, Sunrun and Vote Solar. Those who have joined more recently include: Mission:data, the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Think Microgrid and Voltus.
“We’re looking for solutions that empower consumers and that then ultimately help move our antiquated energy system to one that is more affordable and reliable,” she said.
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