The New York Renewable Portfolio Standard

 

Higley hydroelectric station - Photo Courtesy of Brookfield Power

A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a policy that seeks to increase the proportion of renewable electricity used by retail customers. In December 2009, the Public Service Comission (PSC) expanded the RPS goal to increase the proportion of renewable electricity consumed by New Yorkers from 25 percent to 30 percent by 2015, a goal set by Governor Paterson.

RPS energy targets for the 30% goal fall into three groups:

• Main Tier or Large Scale Generators - Large scaled generators that sell power to the wholesale grid
  • Eligibility
  • Current/Past Solicitations
    
    
• Customer-Sited Tier - Small scaled generators such as a photovoltaic (PV) system on a residence
• Voluntary Market - Individuals and businesses who choose to pay a premium on their electricity bill to support renewable energy.

Main Tier / Large Scale Generators

Maple Ridge Wind Farm - Photo Courtesy of Horizon Wind Energy/IBERDROLA RENEWABLES Inc.

As of December 31, 2009, NYSERDA has completed four competitive Main Tier solicitations which have resulted in thirty-three large-scale electricity generators participating in the RPS. Including projects from this latest solicitation, 33 renewable projects have been selected under the RPS program representing more than 1,300 MW of renewable capacity. Of the 33 projects selected to-date, 27 have successfully entered operation, one facility is under construction, and five are under development. These include 13 wind farms, 17 hydroelectric plant upgrades, two power plants displacing coal with biomass, and one power plant that will use 100 percent clean renewable biomass..

For a generating facility to be eligible for Main Tier program procurements, it must meet the generation type and fuel source eligibility requirements as defined and clarified by the PSC in its various orders. The PSC orders issued for Case 03-E-0188 are the controlling authority for all determinations of eligibility of projects participating in the NYS RPS.

Customer-Sited Tier

The RPS program supports active open-enrollment incentive programs for photovoltaics (PV), anaerobic digester gas (ADG) systems at farms and wastewater treatment facilities, fuel cells and small wind turbines.  These “behind-the-meter” renewable systems are supported through the following initiatives:

• Bergey WindPower turbine - Photo courtesy of Bergey Windpower Company and Michael and Shaun Lord

  Customers interested in installing PV or small wind can work with one of NYSERDA's eligible installers through Power...Naturally. Incentives are available through the solar and wind installers.
  
  
• Up to $1 million per anaerobic digester was available through PON 1146.
  
  
• Up to $1 million per fuel cell system was available through PON 1150.