Are State Renewable Feed-in Tariff Initiatives Truly Throttled by Federal Statutes after the FERC California Decision?

For the last few years, several local and state governments have adopted “feed-in tariffs” to promote development of dispersed, small-scale renewable generation through incentive pricing. Most FITs are intended to stimulate development of small solar or renewable energy facilities. In July, FERC issued a decision restating that the Federal Power Act and PURPA 210, not state (or local) legislation, govern the price that local utilities may pay under FITs.