H909 - Sound Energy & Renewables Policy Act

• Redefines "small power producer" to align with federal standards under 16 U.S.C. § 796 and establishes separate standard contract rates for facilities up to 100 kW and negotiated rates for larger facilities based on avoided costs.

• Requires electric utilities to conduct annual competitive procurement of renewable energy resources up to 400 MW per year (2018-2022), with at least 50 MW reserved for swine waste, poultry waste, or landfill gas facilities, capped by avoided cost limits.

• Establishes the Distributed Resources Access Act allowing electric generator lessors to lease solar energy facilities to retail customers under Commission-approved certificates, with requirements for customer disclosures, rescission rights, and limitations on utility leasing programs to 1% of peak demand.

• Authorizes utilities to recover costs of renewable energy purchases and utility-owned renewable resources through annual riders and allows utilities to base returns on competitive market prices rather than cost-of-service methodology for procured renewable facilities.

• Directs UNC Policy Collaboratory to study energy storage technology feasibility and policy implications in North Carolina, with results due to Energy Policy Council and Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy by December 1, 2018.