The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) recently released a podcast that examines interconnection policies, thought of as the “rules of the road” for the electric grid.

Interconnection policies govern how systems that produce electricity are permitted to connect to the grid. Such policies—although relatively behind the scenes when it comes to public awareness—are a critical factor in how efficiently and affordably clean energy can be developed.

The episode features IREC’s regulatory vice president Vaughan Woodruff, who leads the organization’s state and national efforts to streamline the interconnection of distributed energy resources. He explores what happens in the interconnection process, some of the common pitfalls, and what defines effective interconnection policies.

Access IREC’s recent episode of The Energy Optimist via IREC’s blog page.