Archive for the ‘State RPS’ Category

Maryland Renewable Portfolio Standard Updated Without Governor’s Signature

Posted June 4th, 2021 by SRECTrade.

On Tuesday, June 1st, Maryland’s updated Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) took effect after Governor Larry Hogan allowed Senate Bill 65 (SB 65) to pass into law without signature. The new law still mandates that Maryland source 50% of its electricity sales from Tier I renewable energy sources by 2030, with a 14.5% solar carve-out. Notably, the law decreases Maryland’s solar carve-out from 2022-2029 and increases its solar alternative compliance payment (SACP) rate from 2023-2029. The bill originally cleared the Maryland legislature on April 12th by significant majorities.

The new law also removes black liquor, a paper mill byproduct, from the list of eligible Tier I REC resources.

SRECTrade plans to publish an analysis on the impacts that this law could have on Maryland’s SREC market in the coming weeks.

Tags: Maryland, MD, renewable portfolio standard, RPS
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Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) Expansion Legislation Introduced

Posted April 5th, 2021 by SRECTrade.

On Friday, March 26th, Pennsylvania State Senators Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) and Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) introduced legislation that would amend PA’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Act of 2004 and increase the state’s Tier I requirement from 8% to 18% by 2026. In addition, the legislation would increase the state’s solar carve-out from 0.5% at present to 5.5%, with 3.75% of the carve-out being sourced from in-state utility-scale solar (projects larger than 5 MW) and 1.75% from in-state distributed solar (smaller, interconnected residential and commercial projects). Notably, the legislation would also establish a limit on the cost of alternative energy credits (AECs, PA’s renewable energy credits) and facilitate long-term contracting in an effort to help minimize ratepayer impacts. Lastly, the legislation would also initiate a study on renewable energy storage in the state. The proposed legislation is expected to help address the state’s current economic crisis due to COVID-19 by inspiring renewable energy investment and creating jobs.

This legislation was introduced just days after PA Governor Tom Wolf’s announcement on March 22nd that 50% of the Pennsylvania government’s electricity will come from solar energy by 2023. The governor’s initiative, named PULSE (Project to Utilize Light and Solar Energy), represents the largest state government solar energy commitment in the nation. PULSE includes seven new solar arrays totaling 191 MW that will be built around the state.

While a number of steps in the legislative process must still be completed before the AEPS expansion would be passed into law, its introduction represents a continued step forward in PA’s renewable energy transition. SRECTrade will continue to monitor the legislation’s development and provide updates.

Tags: AEC, AEPS, Alternative Energy Credit, Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, PA, Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania SREC Market Update: What Will the Market Look Like If SB600 Passes?

Posted February 5th, 2020 by SRECTrade.

In November of 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) released the Pennsylvania Solar Future Plan. The 152-page document outlines strategies to help the state meet a goal of 10 percent in-state solar electricity generation by 2030. As part of this plan, the DEP recommends that the state consider revising their Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Program (“AEPS”) and increase the target to help bolster SREC prices and solar build rates. In response, on April 10, 2019, Senate Bill 600 was introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Most notably, the Bill:

Expands AEPS Tier I requirement from 8% by 2021 to 30% by 2030
Expands AEPS solar carve-out from 0.5% by 2021 to 10% by 2030, including 7.5% for grid-supply solar and 2.5% for distributed generation (DG) solar
Introduces fixed alternative compliance payment (ACP) schedules and a 15-year SREC eligibility term for solar facilities (beginning on June 1, 2021)

While the future of this Bill is still uncertain, SRECTrade has prepared an analysis that illustrates the projected market dynamic if SB600 were to pass as well as baseline scenario cases assuming the current AEPS policy stays in place.

In reaction to these bullish signals from policymakers and the closure of PA borders to out-of-state systems, SREC prices have seen an appreciation in value over the past 12 to 18 months to values around $35-45. SRECTrade will continue to monitor progressions with this Bill and update our clients, partners, and stakeholders accordingly.

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Proposed Bill Introduces a National Renewable Energy Standard (RES)

Posted June 28th, 2019 by SRECTrade.

On Wednesday, June 26, 2019, a bill was proposed that would require all 50 states to adopt an aggressive Renewable Energy Standard (RES). Introduced by Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico, the RES would mandate that 50% of all states’ energy be provided from renewable sources by 2035. Detailed within this article, the national RES would be the first of its kind in the U.S.

This target would require a sharply increasing RES schedule, as 2018 saw the nation’s renewable energy supply reach only 17.6%. Of the 36 states with existing Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), 11 already have schedules that meet the 50% by 2035 goal. Naturally, those 11 states would not be affected by the bill. Biomass, geothermal, hydrokinetic, hydropower, landfill gas, ocean, solar, tidal, and wind energies are all classified as renewable sources under the bill.

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Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf Announces Support For AEPS Expansion

Posted May 3rd, 2019 by SRECTrade.

On Monday, April 29th, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf declared his support for Senate Bill 600 (SB 600). In conjunction, Gov. Wolf released the fourth iteration of the state’s Climate Action Plan, providing recommendations for how the state can mitigate climate change, and also announced that Pennsylvania joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 24 states committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Initially introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly on April 10th, SB 600 was referred to the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee on April 29th. The bill updates the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) for the first time since the AEPS was established in 2004, calling for four primary changes:

Expand the AEPS Tier I requirement from 8% by 2021 to 30% by 2030
Expand the AEPS solar carve-out from 0.5% by 2021 to 10% by 2030, including 7.5% for grid-supply solar and 2.5% for distributed generation (DG) solar
Minimize rate increases for electricity customers by introducing fixed alternative compliance payment (ACP) schedules and a 15-year SREC eligibility term for solar facilities (beginning on June 1, 2021)
Direct the PA Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to explore a program for renewable energy storage

SB 600’s introduction of solar carve-out compliance categories between “customer-generators” and “non-customer-generators” marks a first for the state. Tables 2 and 3 above display the proposed solar carve-out requirements and solar alternative compliance payment (SACP) schedules between the two respective categories. The bill defines customer-generators as solar facilities that were certified on or before May 31, 2021 and also appears to define them as “behind-the-meter” facilities. Conversely, it appears that non-customer-generators are defined as grid-supply facilities, although the exact definitions of both categories may be subject to change.

Tags: PA, Pennsylvania, renewable portfolio standard, RPS
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District of Columbia Passes Landmark 100% Renewable Energy Bill

Posted December 19th, 2018 by SRECTrade.

On December 18th, the District of Columbia City Council unanimously approved the CleanEnergy Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, which among a number of other environmental initiatives, mandates the District be powered by 100% renewable energy resources by 2032. While a number of other states, including California and New York, have approved similar 100% clean energy mandates, the Act requires the District to meet its 100% target nearly a decade earlier than any other state. This puts the District at the forefront of a growing wave of local and state initiatives, nationwide, working to implement robust and resolute clean energy programs.

In addition to doubling the RPS mandate, the Act pulls forward the solar RPS schedule by two years and extends the solar requirement to 10% of electricity sales by 2041. Notably, the Act extends the useful lifetime of an SREC from three to five years, providing more price stability within the SREC market and stimulating investor confidence. The Act also includes provisions to provide further transparency with respect to load exemptions, requiring EDCs and LSEs to publish their electricity sales exempt from compliance obligations in their annual RPS compliance reports.

Mayor Muriel Bowser has 10 business days to sign the Act, veto it, or let it pass without her signature. While the Mayor is expected to sign the measure, a unanimous vote from the Council would override any veto from the Mayor.

Once the Act goes into law, SRECTrade will release a full analysis outlining the effects this change will have on the District’s SREC market.

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Building on Momentum in Maryland

Posted December 19th, 2018 by SRECTrade.

With the 2019 Maryland legislative session fast approaching, solar advocates have begun to rally support for the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act (“MCEJA”) behind a heavily Democratic Maryland General Assembly. According to State Senator Brian Feldman and House of Delegates Representative Cheryl Glenn, a veto-proof majority of 30 Senators as well as 82 House of Delegates Representatives have already pledged support for the MCEJA, renewing a sense of optimism within the state following the rejection of a similar proposal in the 2018 legislative session.

Among other renewable energy goals and initiatives, the MCEJA calls for a doubling of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) to 50% by 2030, which would put Maryland amongst a growing list of states, including California, Washington D.C., New Jersey, and New York, adopting aggressive and robust clean energy mandates. Proponents of the MCEJA assert that the Act would create over 5,000 new jobs, doubling the previous amount, and stimulate investor confidence within the industry.

Uncertainty still surrounds Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s position on the MCEJA. While Hogan previously vetoed a more modest proposal in 2016, his co-authorship of a piece in the Washington Post, calling upon states to “put aside partisan interest and get to work [on climate change]”, has instilled confidence in environmental advocates of his potential support. Hogan would be able to veto, sign, or let the Act pass without his signature. SRECTrade will continue to monitor developments in Maryland and update our partners and clients accordingly.

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Washington D.C. City Council Advances CleanEnergy Omnibus Bill to Second Reading

Posted November 29th, 2018 by SRECTrade.

On Tuesday November 27th, the District of Columbia City Council voted unanimously to advance the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 to a second reading. Most notably, this bill increases the District’s renewable energy mandate to 100% by 2032 and solar energy mandate to 10% by 2041.

In summary the bill addresses the following:

Increases the lifetime eligibility of SRECs from three to five years
Requires electricity suppliers to submit annual compliance reports which include the number of exempt load contracts from the Renewable Energy Portfolio Expansion Amendment Act of 2016 and the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, respectively, in calendar years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
Draws forward the solar carve out requirement schedule by two years and extends the Alternative Compliance Penalty (ACP) schedule as follows:

The bill also addresses emissions reductions in the transportation sector, requiring that all public transportation and fleet vehicles become electric by 2045.

The second reading is scheduled for December 18th. If the Council votes on confirming the bill, it will be sent to the Mayor’s desk, who will have 10 business days to sign, disapprove, or let the bill pass without her signature. Further amendments could be made to the bill over the next three weeks. SRECTrade will continue to update participants on any updates made to the bill and progress on any significant legislative proceedings.

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Connecticut DEER Proposes Doubling of State’s RPS

Posted February 16th, 2018 by SRECTrade.

On February 8^th, 2018, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) released the 2018 Connecticut Comprehensive Energy Strategy, which calls for a doubling of the state’s Class I Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) target from 20% by 2020 (and stable thereafter) to 40% by 2030. The change would effectively increase the pace of renewable growth to 2% per year. The proposal acknowledges the likelihood of increased REC pricing due to an RPS increase and, as a counteracting measure, recommends that the state lowers the alternative compliance payment (ACP), which caps the market.

The proposal stresses the need to bolster incentives for zero-emitting technologies such as wind and solar, while phasing out carbon-emitting technologies such as biomass and landfill gas. As a solution, the document briefly proposes a separate carve-out or tier within the RPS to help prop up zero-emitting renewable technologies. This could create a separate REC market with pricing that would likely be more favorable for renewable energy technologies eligible for the carve out. SRECTrade will continue to monitor Connecticut’s renewable policy structure and evaluate its relevance to our clients and partners.

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Market Implications of Recent D.C. RPS Bill

Posted June 9th, 2017 by SRECTrade.

SREC market structure is primarily determined by two major policy levers: Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and the Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP). RPS schedules determine the amount of energy coming from various renewable generation sources, solar included. ACP schedules set the maximum possible price that credits such as SRECs can reach in the market. When a state adjusts the RPS or ACP, market participants on both the demand and supply sides of the SREC market need to adapt to the new environment defined by these two factors. This transition often takes time to complete and can create market instability and uncertainty in the interim.

The Washington, DC market is currently in the midst of such a transition. The Renewable Portfolio Standard Expansion Act of 2016 (B21-0650), signed last July and put into effect on Oct 8th, 2016, has already made waves in the Washington D.C. SREC market. As stipulated in the legislation, state renewable generation and solar carve-out targets have increased to 50% and 5% respectively by 2032. The bill complements this RPS expansion with an increase in the ACP or the financial penalty for non-compliance by electricity suppliers. The side-by-side comparison of the ACP schedule before and after the recent policy shift is as follows:

dc-acp-schedules

While in theory this ACP increase bodes well for owners of photovoltaic systems selling SRECs into the market, we have seen a slower demand adjustment from the utilities and power providers, the DC market’s natural compliance buyers. As a result, sellers have experienced a lack of liquidity for their SRECs during a time of seemingly favorable market conditions. The lack of demand for SRECs at the current spot market price can be partially attributed to a clause in B21-0650 which states that the new ACP schedule does not apply to any utility load contract entered into before October 8th, 2016. This grandfathering of competitive electricity supply contracts means utilities and load serving entities (LSEs) have two different RPS programs they are simultaneously subject to, as some of their contracts are subject to the old $350 ACP and some subject to the new $500 ACP. In effect, SREC demand is split between the old and new program.

Reflective of the $150 difference between the previous program’s and current program’s ACP for calendar year 2017, the price of DC17 SRECs increased from $320 to $480 from October 2016 to February of 2017. However, due to compliance buyers balancing their purchases between the $350 and $500 obligation levels, the market has settled to levels that reflect a balance between the two separate ACP levels for calendar year 2017.

While prices may continue to decrease slightly as compliance buyers better understand their future SREC needs, we expect that over the coming months the market will begin to stabilize and recover. Buyers will inevitably adapt to the policy changes and assess their positions with regards to the two RPS obligations. The brokerage desk at SRECTrade has been working closely with buyers to better understand their obligations and ensure that the market remains liquid and accessible to all sellers.

As always, please feel free to reach out to the SRECTrade client services team, or your brokerage desk contact, to further discuss the current status of the market and our outlook on SREC pricing.

Disclaimer. This document, data, and/or any of its components (collectively, the “Materials”) are for informational purposes only. The Materials are not intended as investment, tax, legal, or financial advice, or as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument. SRECTrade, Inc. does not warranty or guarantee the market data or other information included herein, as to its completeness, accuracy, or fitness for a particular purpose, express or implied, and such market data and information are subject to change without notice. Past performance should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of future performance, and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding future performance. Any comments or statements made herein do not necessarily reflect those of SRECTrade, Inc. SRECTrade, Inc. may have issued, and may in the future issue, other communications, data, or reports that are inconsistent with, and reach different conclusions from, the information presented herein.

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Tags: DC SREC, DC SRECs, legislation, RPS
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