Emerging Technologies. The Small Projects IPP Procurement Programme aims to procure 400MW of electricity from small renewable energy power producers. The Programme is aimed at emerging, smaller power developers (less than 5 MW) with an emphasis on. The idea of a microgrid—interconnected loads and distributed energy resources that can be controlled as a single entity—is appealing to increasing numbers of customers and communities, but figuring out how to. The overall objective of STOWASUS-2100 is to study severe storms, surges and waves in the present climate and in a scenario with increased CO2-concentration. More specifically the project is a joint atmospheric. Inside New York's aggressive new community shared renewables program 'This is the one we have been waiting for,' says the leading national shared solar developer.
Inside New York's aggressive new community shared renewables program. Earlier this month, New York regulators unveiled their new plan to expand consumer access to clean energy through a shared renewables program. Solar and wind advocates cheered the proposal, saying it is one of the most aggressive in the nation, but utilities see it presenting new challenges at a time of dramatic change in their regulation and business models. Like other policy innovations emerging from the landmark New York Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) process being overseen by the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC), the shared renewables program is impressively designed, renewables advocates say. Utilities worry it goes too far, too fast and could cost ratepayers.“We support policies that encourage the development of solar energy and that make it easier for our customers to choose renewable resources,” Con Edison Spokesperson Allan Drury told Utility Dive. NY SUN is one of the programs in Governor Cuomo’s REV initiative aimed at transforming New York's utility business models and modernizing the transmission and distribution grid. Cuomo and other state leaders determined, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, to impose regulatory changes on utilities that would lead to more efficient energy use, more renewables, and more distributed energy resources (DERs) like micro- grids, roof- top solar, and energy storage. The ultimate goal is to alter the business models of the state's utilities to stimulate the growth and proliferation of DERs, ultimately leaving customers with more independence and choice in their electricity use, as well as lower prices. Rabago’s center played a key role in the program’s design, which was applauded by Clean Energy Collective (CEC), the leading U. S. Now not only do rooftop arrays qualify for retail rate reimbursment, but shared solar arrays as well. The program also establishes full rules for shared ownership. Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing of Renewables and Efficiency: Fact Sheet Series on Financing Renewable Energy Projects, Energy Analysis (Brochure).The generation will have a project sponsor that can be an energy services company, a municipal entity, or any type of business, non- profit, or civic association. The sponsor will be responsible for building, interconnecting, owning, and operating the behind- the- meter generation. Ownership shares will be sold to utility customer members. In return, each member’s account will be credited with the output of the generation at full retail rate credit through remote metering. Members may be residential or commercial accounts and are eligible for special NY- Sun program provisions. The generation must be in the same utility territory as the customers it serves, and the generation projects must have at least ten members. Ownership portions of over 2. W can be no more than 4. Members can own no more of the output than their own yearly use. Sponsors are also responsible for providing the utility with all necessary details about the members including how the credits are to be distributed among them. Members can alter, transfer, or give up ownership with a month’s notice. The sponsor must distribute all credits at least annually. Utilities are required to track and distribute credits according to the sponsor’s guidance. They must also format, bill, and protect the members’ information. The program will roll out in two phases. Phase 1 will be from October 1. April 3. 0, 2. 01. Sponsors can only build during this period if the project is in a utility- designated Community DG Opportunity Zone or at least 2. LMI) customers. Phase 2 begins May 1, 2. Each utility is expected to designate the Opportunity Zones. They must make up at least 4. The are expected areas in which the locational benefits of the DG are maximized. LMI customers are those enrolled in officially designated state assistance programs. A unique provision of the program is the Low- Income Customer Collaborative NYSERDA is required to form and lead by January 2. The collaborative is tasked to find ways to remove barriers to LMI customer participation. It is a “really good program that is well thought through. This is the one we have been waiting for.”The Joint Utilities. The Joint Utilities (JU) group, composed of Consolidated Edison, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Central Hudson Gas and Electric, Niagara Mohawk Power (d/b/a National Grid), New York State Electric & Gas, and Rochester Gas and Electric, “provided comments with a lot of detail on their perspective,” Joel said. In their comments, the JU urge the PSC to restrain extension of NEM because customers who have it “reduce or eliminate their contribution to the upkeep of the electric grid” even as they use it and that “shifts grid costs to those customers who do not participate.” The shift, the filing explains, puts “upward pressure on rates for those who are unable to afford or cannot install renewable distributed generation.”The JU say they support efforts to expand DER, but want to slow the transition and institute the community shared solar program when more of the REV initiatives, such as new tariffs, are put in place. If the PSC, in order to implement a program sooner, chooses to “extend the cross- subsidization inherent in the net metering construct by implementing community net metering,” the group recommends, it should be limited . They threw the book at it in obstacles, delays, and cuts.”“CEC has partnered with 2. We know this can work for them,” Masterjohn said. I understand the resistance expressed in their public comments.”In its order, the PSC responded to the JU directly and unequivocally.“Coordinating Community DG with the coming decisions in REV would further the public interest,” it writes, but there is “strong support for moving forward with Community DG as quickly as is feasible. In particular, the seven year time limit would impose program- disrupting uncertainties, regulators wrote, and it is the responsibility of utilities to handle the billing and properly credit member accounts. The PSC did, however, side against solar advocates in affirming the JU proposal to require all members in a project to be in the same service territory and load zone as the project.“The NY PSC knows their responsibility is to look out for the best interests of NY ratepayers and they do it well,” Masterjohn said.“It was suggested utilities should be allowed to own DG since there is a priority to build it and utilities have the capability to do that,” Garren added. First, the “deep and diverse coalition advocating for this legislation included low income advocates, communities of color, and environmental justice advocates. That provides a welcome counter to arguments we hear about solar hurting poor people.”Second, because the PSC is forward thinking, the program “is fully subject to change within the context of the broader REV docket. As the net metering successor tariff comes out and as the cost- benefit analyses come out, this program will evolve.”There is no research that conclusively proves NEM causes the cost shift the JU described, Garren said. New York City is the posterchild. It represents something like 3. Our back of the envelope estimate is that no more than 2% or 3% of the utility customers in New York City can put solar on their roof.”There are 7,3. New York City, NYSERDA’s Joel pointed out. Some 5. 3. 3% (3,8. The other 4. 6. 7% (3,4. New York City is a shining example of people who would want to go solar but can’t put it on their roof,” Garren said.“New York City is a challenging marketplace, one that a lot of solar developers have been trying to crack for years,” Masterjohn said. And the order requires that projects and customers be within the same load zone. It will be interesting to watch how that works out.”.
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