Community-Scale Interconnection Solutions: A Tale of Three Midwestern States

Community-scale distributed energy resources (DERs) play an important role in the Midwest’s resource mix. Growth in this sector is not without its challenges. As an example, when Community Solar programs first open a flood of applicants can cause interconnection bottlenecks and lengthy queues. As such programs mature, utilities may grapple with grid constraints and high interconnection costs that limit development and leave developers, utilities, and customers frustrated.

This panel will explore community-scale DERs opportunities and challenges from the perspective of three states with varying levels of market maturity to leave the audience with actionable solutions to common hurdles. Experts with experience in Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota will cover topics like managing interconnection queues, proactive grid buildouts, flexible interconnections, strategic project siting, and allocating interconnection costs. Panelists will highlight successes, lessons learned, and perspectives on navigating the complexities of the community-scale DERs landscape.