Solar power in Alabama

Offering net metering is required by federal law, but Alabama is one of only four states to not have adopted a statewide policy on net metering, which means it needs to be negotiated with the utility.^[3] IREC best practices, based on experience, recommends no limits to net metering, individual or aggregate, and perpetual roll over of kWh credits.^[4]

Alabama Power has installed four types of solar panels in Birmingham that can be monitored on the Internet.^[5] The company will pay up to 4.81¢/kWh during the summer and 3.93¢/kWh in the winter for excess generation from up to 100 kW systems.^[6] Peak power rates are weekdays, 1 to 7 pm in summer and 5 to 9 am in winter.^[7] Customers choosing the Time Advantage Energy rate pay 7¢/kWh during winter peak periods and 25¢/kWh during summer peak periods. Off peak is charged 5¢/kWh. Using time advantage requires a time of use meter, and the base charge is increased by $10.50 each month.^[8]

In 2010, one of Alabama's largest solar arrays was the 25 kW system installed at the Coastal Response Center, in Coden, Alabama.^[9][10] A $250,000 economic stimulus grant was used to install 156 solar panels on Anniston's Museum of Natural History, which was completed on August 24, 2011.^[11] The output of this 25.2 kW system can also be monitored online.^[12]

River Bend Solar, completed in 2016, contributes 75 MW capacity to the TVA power grid, and reduces carbon emissions by 100,000 tons annually.^[2][13]

LaFayette Solar Farm in LaFayette, completed in 2019, supplies 79.2 MW to Walmart.^[14][15][16]

In 2021, Covington Electric Cooperative, which is constructing a 100 kW solar array, is the only rural electric cooperative in Alabama with a community solar program.^[17]

In 2019, LG Electronics opened a solar panel manufacturing plant in Huntsville.^[18][19]