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Explore the regulatory and political landscape of renewable energy projects, including the Wholesale Electricity Market Restructuring and the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Learn about the incentives, goals, and progress towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
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Regulatory and Political Framework of Today’s Renewable Energy Projects Geraldine Gauthier, Associate Counsel February 8, 2013
Created by Public Service Law § 5 in 1910 • 5 bipartisan Commissioners appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve 6-year terms. • Jurisdiction over electricity, gas, steam, telecommunications & water utilities • Staff arm is the Department of Public Service
Funded by assessment on the utilities it regulates. • Adjudicatory body; rate cases • Charged with encouraging public benefit, preservation of the environment and conservation of natural resources
1998 Wholesale Electricity Market Restructuring • Competitive Market Structure • Lowers prices • Expands consumer choice • Increases rate of technological advancement
1998 Wholesale Electricity Market Restructuring • Break up monopoly utilities • Divested utilities of generation capacity • Retained ownership of transmission and distribution • Became “T&D Utilities”
System Benefit Charge (SBC) • Public benefit programs previously provided by monopoly utilities • Billed monthly to NY customers based on use • PSC “Typical Bill” for 500 kWh $0.80 - $1.68/mo.
System Benefit Charge (SBC) • 1998 – 2005: $150 million/yr • 2006 – 2011: $180 million/ yr • 2012 – 2016: $ 99 million/ yr
System Benefit Charge (SBC) Total collected through 2016: $2.7 Billion
Created in 1975 • Former NY Atomic & Space Development Authority
Established by Gov. Pataki Exec. Order 2 • Reports in 2002, 2009 and 2013
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) • 2003 PSC Proceedings • 19.3% of NY retail electricity consumption from renewables
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) 25% by 2013
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) • Per kwh assessment on delivery charges
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) 25% by 2013 • Voluntary Market: 1% • Main Tier 23% • Customer Sited Tier 1% • 25%
200 Acres • 32 Megawatts
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) • Estimated 12 million megawatt hours of renewable generation added by 2013 • Cost: $582 to $762 million or • $179 to $323 million
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)2010 Adjustment • PSC extended program through 2015 • Increased renewables goal to 30% by 2015 • Reduced 12 Million megawatts to 10.4 million megawatts
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)2010 Adjustment • Reason: Energy Efficiency Program Standard (EEPS) • When EEPS programs decreased NY overall consumption, the RPS goal expressed as a percentage of energy consumed became a correspondingly smaller number
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) 2011 Status $2.998 billion • $582 to $762 million or $179 to $323 million
Incentives in downstate zones • Larger on-site wind and PV systems • Monthly incentives budget increased from$2 million to $3.5 million • Net-metered projects permitted
Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) • 2008 PSC Proceedings • Consumption reduction target: • 15% by 2015
Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) • Administered by utilities and funded by an additional SBC assessment • July 2011 PSC reported consumption reduction of 1 million megawatt hours -- or
Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) • 49% of goal
Recent Legislation • Federal: Extension of Wind Power Subsidies in “Fiscal Cliff” deal • New York Power Act of 2011 • NY Tax Credit legislation
$107 Million (total) for PV projects > 50 kWh • Available through 2013 • Not a new program; CST of RPS
“We want to extend the New York’s sun solar jobs program at $150 million annually for 10 years to increase solar panel installations for home and business. It’s good for the environment and it’s good for the economy. ”
p PART 2 – SUNY
Online: April 17, 2012 • Capacity: 750 kW (747.3)
100 100 kW Solar carport with charging stations
New York Energy Law § 9-101(4) • “Energy Performance Contract” • “Agreement for provision of energyservices. . . in which a person agrees to install, maintain or manage energy systems or equipment to . . . produce energy [for] a building or facility in exchange for a portion of the energy savings or revenues.”
New York Energy Law § 9-103(6) • Procurement • “In lieu of any other competitiveprocurement that may apply. . . an agency may procure an energy performance contractor by issuing and advertising a written RFP in accordance with [agency’s guidelines].
7550 Acquisition and Disposal of Real Property Interests • 7554 Construction Contracting • 7561 Contract Award Protest Procedure • 7557 MWBE • 7553 Purchasing and Contracting • Energy Law • State Finance Law • Executive Law • Education Law
Oswego: 12 kW wind turbine; 36 & 43 kW PV • Cobleskill: 75 kW PV • Buff State: 50 kW PV • Delhi: 5 kW wind turbine; 22 kW PV • UAlbany: 49 kW PV • UB: 750 kW PV • Canton: 1.8 mW wind turbine
Significantly contribute to State Goal of 10.4 Megawatts of Renewable Energy Generation by 2015
From the “Report Card” SUNY Renewable Energy Production/Utilization (kWh) Change from 2008-09