Solar Energy in Utility Integrated Resource Plans: Factors That Can Impact Customer Clean Energy Goals

This working paper examines how Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) used by electric utilities influence the integration of solar energy and the ability of large-scale customers, such as corporations and local governments, to meet their clean energy targets.

• Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) are used by electric utilities to establish long-term visions for resource development, which significantly affects solar energy development and the achievement of customer clean energy goals.
• The amount of solar energy included in IRPs can be restricted by several barriers, specifically outdated or unfounded assumptions regarding solar technology and modeling practices that prevent solar from competing fairly with other resources.
• Barriers within the IRP process can lead to a reduction of solar energy in the grid mix or in utility programs, which in turn hinders the ability of customers to reach their clean energy targets.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Solar Energy in Utility Integrated Resource Plans: Factors That Can Impact Customer Clean Energy Goals. https://www.wri.org/research/solar-energy-utility-integrated-resource-plans

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Solar Energy in Utility Integrated Resource Plans: Factors That Can Impact Customer Clean Energy Goals. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/solar-energy-utility-integrated-resource-plans.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Solar Energy in Utility Integrated Resource Plans: Factors That Can Impact Customer Clean Energy Goals |url=https://www.wri.org/research/solar-energy-utility-integrated-resource-plans |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendsolar, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Solar Energy in Utility Integrated Resource Plans: Factors That Can Impact Customer Clean Energy Goals}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/solar-energy-utility-integrated-resource-plans}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }