Vermont adopts Renewable Energy Standard

This summer Vermont energy regulators issued an order implementing a Renewable Energy Standard.  This standard, or RES, requires Vermont electric utilities to procure an increasing share of electricity from renewable sources. 

Under a 2015 law called Act 56 (formerly called bill H.40), the Vermont Legislature directed the Public Service Board to issue an order implementing the RES to take effect on January 1, 2017.  Act 56 set certain rules for the RES, but left other issues to the Board.  Following working group meetings, workshops, and opportunities for written comment, the Board adopted the RES by order dated June 28, 2016.

The RES sets targets for utility procurement of renewable energy, starting at 55% of the electricity sold to customers from renewable sources in 2017, increasing gradually to 75% in 2032.   Of these amounts, at least 1% must come from new, distributed renewable generators, such as net-metering systems, rising to l0% by 2032.

The RES also establishes a category of "energy transformation projects," to encourage utility investment in projects that directly reduce customers' fossil-fuel consumption.  Energy transformation projects might include measures like weatherization, biomass heating, cold-climate heat pumps, demand management, or clean vehicle technologies.  To satisfy this requirement, utilities must demonstrate fossil-fuel savings equivalent to 2% of their annual retail sales (increasing to 12% by 2032) or procure an equal amount of additional renewable generation.  The Board has described the energy transformation project program as the first of its kind in the U.S.

Most states have adopted binding renewable portfolio standards for electricity supply.  Before the enactment of Act 56 and the Board's adoption of the RES, Vermont had renewable goals under its Sustainably Priced Energy Enterprise Development or SPEED program, but no mandatory renewable portfolio standard.

Under the act, the Vermont Public Service Board order adopting the RES will take effect on January 1, 2017.

USDA awards $68 million for energy projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced $68 million in grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.  The latest round of awards under the agency's Rural Development arm's Rural Energy for America Program will support 540 projects at farm and rural business sites across the country.

Since its creation in the 2008 Farm Bill, REAP has supported more than 8,800 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide with over $276 million in grants and $268 million in loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business owners.  Eligible agricultural producers and rural small businesses may use REAP funds to make energy efficiency improvements or install renewable energy systems including solar, wind, biomass and anaerobic digesters, small hydroelectric, ocean energy, hydrogen, and geothermal projects.  (For looks at previous REAP winners, check out these posts from 2011 and 2013.)

In this year's REAP funding round, USDA awarded about $68 million in investment support.  Of this, $12,376,548 will come in the form of grants, while $56,449,244 will come as loan guarantees.  While most grants are under $100,000 per project (with some below $10,000), there were some larger grant awards: for example, a biomass anaerobic digester in California won $290,000, an off-grid solar project in Hawaii won $123,338, and a direct use geothermal heat pump in Oklahoma won $133,250. Of the loan guarantees, $55.3 million will go to support 22 solar photovoltaic projects in North Carolina, mostly ranging between 2 megawatts and 5 megawatts per project. 

In each case, funding is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement. USDA's hope is that these grants and loan guarantees will enable American agricultural producers and rural small business owners to reduce their energy costs.

REAP was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, so expect USDA Rural Development to solicit more REAP projects later this year.  While not all sites may qualify, USDA's definition of eligibility is more broad than many assume.  The Preti Flaherty team helps our clients understand how to benefit from REAP funding and other incentive programs for renewable energy and energy efficiency.  Contact Todd Griset to learn more.