Energy issues in Maine's 2019 legislative requests

With the 129th Maine Legislature convened for its first regular session, the Office of the Revisor of Statutes has released a list of the titles of proposed legislation timely submitted by legislators. While the text of most of these legislative requests has not yet been publicly released, the preliminary list of working titles of over 2,000 precloture legislator bills suggests the scope of issues that will come before the Maine State Legislature in 2019. On energy matters, themes emerging from this list include reforms to Maine's renewable portfolio standard; efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; incentives for microgrids, renewable energy and electric vehicles; and changes to energy efficiency standards for most newly constructed buildings.

Based on the working titles and legislative committee assignments, a number of bills will propose changes to Maine's renewable portfolio standard or other laws regarding renewable energy. Among others, these bills could include:

• LR 26, An Act To Update Maine's Renewable Energy Policy (Spkr. Gideon of Freeport)
• LR 82, An Act To Update the State's Renewable Energy Goals (Rep. Berry of Bowdoinham)
• LR 119, Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Develop a Stand-alone Renewable Energy Certificate Program for the Biomass Industry (Sen. Carpenter of Aroostook)
• LR 403, An Act To Diversify Maine's Energy Portfolio with Renewable Energy (Rep. Hubbell of Bar Harbor)
• LR 845, An Act To Encourage the Use of Renewable Energy (Sen. Lawrence of York)
• LR 872, An Act To Extend to December 31, 2020 the Deadline for Community-based Renewable Energy Projects To Become Operational (Rep. Higgins of Dover-Foxcroft)
• LR 1034, An Act To Establish a Green New Deal for Maine (Rep. Maxmin of Nobleboro)
• LR 1123, An Act To Repeal the 100 Megawatt Limit on Power Generation (Rep. Hanley of Pittston)
• LR 1405, An Act To Clarify the Definition of "Renewable Capacity Resource" (Rep. Babine of Scarborough)
• LR 1431, An Act To Study Transmission Solutions To Enable Renewable Energy Investment in the State (Rep. Berry of Bowdoinham)
• LR 1470, An Act To Modernize Maine's Renewable Portfolio Standard (Sen. Lawrence of York)
• LR 1558, An Act To Increase Maine-based Energy Sources (Pres. Jackson of Aroostook)
• LR 1616, An Act To Reform Maine's Renewable Portfolio Standard (Sen. Vitelli of Sagadahoc)
• LR 1803, An Act To Benefit Maine Consumers, Businesses and Communities through Expanded Renewable Energy (Sen. Dow of Lincoln)

Other bill titles suggest possible proposed changes to other aspects of Maine's renewable policy, such as Maine's version of net metering or rules governing community solar projects:

• LR 15, An Act To Eliminate Gross Metering (Rep. Berry of Bowdoinham)
• LR 299, An Act To Replace Net Energy Billing with a Market-based Mechanism (Rep. O'Connor of Berwick)
• LR 404, An Act To Protect Ratepayers from Gross-metering Costs (Rep. Hubbell of Bar Harbor)
• LR 535, An Act To Eliminate the Cap on Solar Energy Generation Farms (Sen. Miramant of Knox)
• LR 536, An Act To Require Transmission and Distribution Utilities To Purchase Electricity from Renewable Resources at Certain Prices (Sen. Miramant of Knox) 
• LR 1259, An Act To Eliminate Restrictions on Community Solar Projects (Rep. Higgins of Dover-Foxcroft)
• LR 1621, An Act To Expand Community-based Solar Energy in Maine (Sen. Sanborn of Cumberland)

Several more bill titles appear designed to expand opportunities for microgrids or other local private sales of electricity:

• LR 18, An Act To Allow Microgrids That Are in the Public Interest (Rep. Devin of Newcastle)
• LR 213, An Act To Authorize Businesses Located Adjacent to Electric Power Generators To Obtain Power Directly (Rep. Campbell of Orrington)
• LR 1464, An Act To Allow the Direct Sale of Electricity (Sen. Woodsome of York)

Beyond a direct focus on renewable energy, several bill titles address Maine's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or efforts to reduce fossil fuel use:

• LR 254, An Act To Develop a State Energy Plan To Provide a Pathway to a Fossil-free Energy Portfolio (Rep. Devin of Newcastle)
• LR 1493, An Act To Ensure the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Trust Fund Continues To Promote Energy Efficiency and Benefit Maine Ratepayers (Rep. Wadsworth of Hiram)

At least three bill titles call for increased incentives for electric vehicles:

• LR 862, An Act To Provide Purchase Rebates for Battery Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (Rep. Ingwersen of Arundel)
• LR 1380, An Act To Encourage Municipalities, State Agencies, Colleges and Universities To Adopt Electric Vehicles (Rep. Ingwersen of Arundel)
• LR 1687, An Act To Create an Electric Vehicle Tax Credit (Sen. Chenette of York) 

At least five bill titles address the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code:

• LR 561, An Act To Amend the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (Rep. Kessler of South Portland)
• LR 537, An Act To Strengthen the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (Rep. Caiazzo of Scarborough)
• LR 619, An Act Regarding the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (Rep. Ingwersen of Arundel)
• LR 866, An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (Rep. Rykerson of Kittery)
• LR 1743, An Act Regarding the Application and Administration of the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (Rep. Fecteau of Biddeford) 

Experience suggests that most of these legislative requests will result in printed bills, and will be given public hearings before legislative committees before votes by the House and Senate.

Maine microgrid legislation proposed

Could Maine unlock the potential of local energy grids through legislative action? As the 129th Maine Legislature begins its first regular session, legislators will consider at least one bill designed to encourage "microgrids." As an alternative or complement to traditional central electric utility development, microgrids are considered to be one key component of the "smart grid," capable of improving power reliability and quality, increasing system energy efficiency, and providing the possibility of grid-independence to individual end-user sites.

While the U.S. electric industry of the 20th century was characterized by consolidation of utility service into large utility service territories, microgrids represent an alternative or complementary model for connecting customers to energy resources. The U.S. Department of Energy defines a "microgrid" as "a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island-mode.’’ The Energy Department notes that microgrids can provide consumers benefits such as backup for the grid in case of emergencies, cost reduction, energy independence, reduced environmental impacts, and integration of local resources like small-scale generation or electric storage. Other states, including New York and Massachusetts are taking action to facilitate the development of microgrids, as is the federal government.

The 129th Maine Legislature will consider a bill known as LD 13, An Act To Allow Microgrids That Are in the Public Interest. Sponsored by Representative Michael Devin of Newcastle, the bill defines a “new microgrid” as “a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the electric grid and can connect and disconnect from the electric grid to enable the new microgrid to operate in both electric grid-connected mode and nongrid-connected mode, also referred to as island mode, and that is constructed after October 1, 2019.”

LD 13 would create a process through which the Maine Public Utilities Commission would approve the construction and operation of a new microgrid, if the Commission found that the operation of the new microgrid to be in the public interest and that other defined criteria were satisfied. These additional criteria include that the new microgrid will serve a total load of no more than 10 megawatts, that the small-scale electrical generation sources located close to where the generated electricity is used must meet Maine’s renewable portfolio standard, that there is a relationship between the proposed new microgrid operator and consumers within the area to be served by the proposed new microgrid, and that the reliability and security of the electric system will not be negatively affected. The criteria also require that the person proposing the new microgrid must have financial capacity and technical capability to operate the microgrid, and that the proponent can’t be an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility or its affiliate or affiliated interest.

LD 13 would also amend an existing law which currently gives transmission and distribution utilities the right to construct or maintain electric lines in, upon, along, over, across or under a road, street or other public way, but which generally makes it harder for entities other than transmission and distribution utilities to construct or maintain electric lines in roads. The amendment would extend the transmission and distribution utilities’ rights to a new category of people: those who construct, maintain or operate a new microgrid approved by the Commission.

The Legislature has referred LD 13 to its Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology. As of January 3, the Committee had not yet scheduled a public hearing on the bill.

FERC distributed energy resource technical report

A technical report by U.S. electricity regulatory staff assesses the potential reliability issues and likely benefits to the bulk power system resulting from an increased penetration of distributed energy resources. According to the report, increasing penetration of distributed energy resources may bring several associated reliability benefits to the bulk power system -- or could cause reliability concerns, if the resources are not properly accounted for.

Distributed energy resources, or DERs, have no single definition -- but they are generally conceived of as small, geographically dispersed electric resources, installed and operated on the distribution system at voltage levels below the typical bulk power system levels of 100kV. Historically, the term focused on generation like rooftop solar panels or on-site combined heat and power plants, but its meaning has broadened to include energy efficiency, microgrids, and even new technologies like energy storage. Distributed energy resources can be cost-effective alternatives to traditional utility infrastructure and business models.

Distributed energy resources installations have increased significantly in some regions of the United States in recent years thanks to factors including technology advances and state energy policies. In 2016, when distributed energy resources of all types accounted for about two percent of the nation's installed generation capacity, distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) installations alone represented over 12 percent of new capacity additions.  At the same time, regulators and industry participants are working to integrate these resources into the grid from engineering, reliability, and system planning perspectives.

In February 2018, staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a report, "Distributed Energy Resources: Technical Considerations for the Bulk Power System." This report filed in Docket No. AD18-10-000 considers how the increasing penetration and integration of distributed energy resources in specific regions may affect bulk power system reliability. It summarizes technical assessments performed by Commission staff using industry power system models and commercially available power system simulation software "to identify the potential reliability issues and likely benefits to the bulk power system" from increasing distributed energy resource penetration. The study notes that its modeling of distributed energy resource capacity was "based on current trends for technology types, operational capabilities, and deployment distributions."

According to the report, greater penetration of distributed energy resources could have associated reliability benefits for the bulk power system. For example, by providing power close to the customer distributed resources can serve to reduce grid losses and reduce system peak load, or can serve as non-transmission alternatives that displace the need for more expensive wires upgrades.

At the same time, the report warns that "increasing DER capacity, if not properly accounted for, could cause reliability concerns for the bulk power system." It calls for improving and refining the data that is available for distributed energy resources for incorporation into planning and operating models, noting, "Collecting and using the most current and accurate data is key to getting a complete picture of how DERs affect the bulk power system."

The report identified key bulk power system reliability topics to explore in light of the growing adoption of distributed energy resources in the U.S., including:

• The impact of the current common industry modeling practice of netting DERs with load, which may mask the effects of DER operation;
• DER capabilities for voltage and frequency ride through during contingencies;
• The potential for improved voltages due to the unloading of the bulk power system associated with the location of DERs at or near customer loads;
• Potential effects upon system -wide transmission line flows and generation dispatch due to changing load patterns;
• The sensitivity of voltage or power needs to different types of DER applications (i.e., providing energy, capacity, or ancillary services);
• The need to develop planning processes that capture more detailed models of DERs and allow for modeling of the interface between the transmission and distribution systems to enable information exchange and more accurate calculations of the DER impact on the bulk power system; and
• The advantages and disadvantages of allowing DERs to participate directly in the organized wholesale electric markets.

The report also calls for continued examination of other issues, such as "sensitivities with higher DER penetration levels, changes in siting patterns, and potential impacts to the system’s response to events, disruptions and outages, including frequency events." It concludes, "Efforts such as these could help track and assess the impact of changing conditions on the bulk power system to identify emerging trends and address potential future reliability challenges."

FERC Order 841 and electric storage markets

U.S. energy regulators have issued a final rule designed to help electric storage resources participate in the capacity, energy and ancillary services markets operated by regional grid operators. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said its Order No. 841 would remove barriers to the participation of electric storage resources in wholesale markets operated by regional transmission organization and independent system operators.

Electricity storage technologies have been around for some time, and some technologies like pumped hydropower storage have been deployed on a significant scale -- but new electric technologies are developing on top of these traditional technologies. New England's regional grid operator recently cited fast-responding energy storage devices as among the new technologies entering its markets. Many states have recognized the opportunities created by storage, and are enacting incentives to support its development and integration into microgrids. At the same time, regulators are grappling with how to fit energy storage resources into existing markets and incentive programs, like retail net metering.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has considered electric storage for some time, including stakeholder workshops, data requests, and technical conferences. The Commission expressed concerns that barriers to electric storage resources participation in organized wholesale markets could lead to unjust and unreasonable wholesale electricity rates. In November 2016, the Commission proposed a rule to facilitate electric storage resources' participation in organized wholesale markets. In January 2017, the Commission issued a policy statement addressing how electric storage resources may provide services at a mix of cost-based and market-based rates.

In issuing Order No. 841 on February 15, 2018, the Commission adopted a final rule requiring each RTO and ISO to revise its tariff to establish a "participation model" for electric storage resources. As envisioned by the Commission, these participation models will consist of market rules that facilitate electric storage resources' participation in organized wholesale markets, while recognizing storage resources' physical and operational characteristics.

The new rule provides that each RTO and ISO must adopt its own participation model for electric storage resources, within certain guidelines. First, the participation model must ensure that storage resources using it are eligible to provide all capacity, energy, and ancillary services they are technically capable of providing. Second, the participation model must ensure that participating storage resources can be dispatched and can set the wholesale market clearing price as both a wholesale seller and wholesale buyer, consistent with rules that govern the conditions under which a resource can set the wholesale price. Third, the participation model must account for the physical and operational characteristics of electric storage resources through bidding parameters or other means Fourth, it must a minimum size requirement for participation in the RTO and ISO markets that does not exceed 100 kW.

The rule also requires that the sale of electric energy from the RTO or ISO market to an electric storage resource that the resource then resells back to those markets must be at the wholesale locational marginal price.

In an accompanying statement, Commissioner LaFleur described electric storage as "like a 'Swiss army knife' that can serve customers in multiple ways," including including providing energy, particularly in conjunction with variable renewable generation (example: Deepwater Wind has proposed offshore wind plus storage in response to the pending Massachusetts offshore wind solicitation) as well as providing frequency regulation and other ancillary services, and helping defer distribution and transmission needs. Commissioner Powelson noted its consistency with the Commission's "longstanding commitment to fostering innovation and competition by reducing and eliminating barriers to entry." Commissioner Glick said Order No. 841 "will facilitate the development of a class of technologies—ranging from batteries to pumped hydro—that has the potential to play a leading role in the transition to the electricity system of the future, but that has heretofore been hindered by market rules that were designed primarily to accommodate more conventional means of electric generation."

Once it takes effect, the final rule gives RTOs and ISOs 270 days to develop and file their proposed rule changes, and a year for their implementation.

NYPA announces Albany microgrid plans

The New York Power Authority has announced plans to develop a microgrid to supply steam and electricity to the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in Albany.

NYPA, officially known as the Power Authority of the State of New York, is a state-level public power organization, operating power plants and transmission lines.

On May 22, 2017, NYPA announced its plans to convert a former waste-recovery steam plant located in Albany into a site for two new 8-megawatt natural gas-fired turbine generators with dual fuel capability.  The generators will be able to supply local needs, or sell power into the wholesale market, with the microgrid capable of operating in sync with the main grid or as an independent "island."  According to NYPA, the "resilient power generation facility will enable government services to continue in an emergency while the Plaza can be used as an emergency shelter for Albany residents."  The project is expected to supply 90 percent of the power for the state office complex, to save more than $2.7 million in annual energy costs, and to avoid the annual emission of 25,600 tons of greenhouse gases. 

The New York State Office of General Services will finance the project, supported by $2.5 million from NYSERDA.  NYPA has issued a request for proposals by developers; proposals are due to NYPA on July 13, with awards expected this fall.

Massachusetts community microgrid projects solicited

A Massachusetts economic development agency focused on clean energy has launched a program seeking to catalyze the development of community microgrids throughout Massachusetts.

Generally speaking, a microgrid is a localized power grid that can disconnect from the traditional grid to operate autonomously.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a microgrid's ability to operate while the main grid is down means microgrids can strengthen grid resilience and mitigate disturbances, while enabling faster system response and recovery once reconnected to the main grid. Microgrids can also support flexibility and efficiency, by enabling the integration of growing deployments of renewable and distributed energy resources like solar, and by reducing energy losses in transmission and distribution.
 
A "community microgrid" could be defined in several ways, but a typical definition focuses on a multi-user microgrid providing electrical and/or thermal energy to multiple consumers, integrated with and supported by the local community, relevant utilities, and building or site owners.  As with other microgrids, a community microgrid implementation could reduce energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while providing increased energy resilience.

While federal support for microgrids has existed for years, states are now becoming active in exploring how microgrids can help meet society's energy needs and policy goals. Massachusetts is one hotbed of interest in microgrids, and a recently announced program could help stimulate the microgrid industry. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Community Microgrids Program anticipates providing about $75,000 in funding to support each of 3 to 5 prospective community microgrid projects with the following characteristics:

• Are community, multi-user microgrids (as opposed to single owner or campus-style microgrids) located in Massachusetts -- but MassCEC will consider proposals from Applicants with an existing campus wishing to extend the microgrid to additional parties outside of its borders;
• Demonstrate significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the integration of energy efficiency, Combined Heat and Power (“CHP”), renewable energy systems, electric and/or thermal storage technologies, demand management, energy efficiency, and other relevant technologies;
• Have the active and engaged support of the local utility (either investor-owned or municipal light plants) and other relevant stakeholders;
• Encompass a public or private critical facility, including but not limited to schools, hospitals, shelters, libraries, grocery stores, service (gas) stations, fire/police stations or waste water treatment plants;
• Support the distribution system by addressing capacity concerns, providing black start capability, facilitating renewables integration, or providing other services that are meaningful to the local utility;
• Attract third party investment; and 
• Highlight Massachusetts-based clean energy/microgrid technology.

MassCEC is presently soliciting Expressions of Interest from groups interested in participating in feasibility assessments for community microgrid projects meeting its defined criteria.  According to MassCEC, respondents may include municipalities and their public works departments, electric distribution companies, municipal light plants, emergency services departments, owners of critical infrastructure such as hospitals and financial institutions, self-organized groups of commercial building owners, developers or any other actor that either owns property within a potential microgrid or can demonstrate that they represent stakeholders with the capability of developing a community microgrid.  Support from the local government and the relevant electric or gas distribution company is also required.

MassCEC says it intends its funding to support feasibility assessments to advance the selected microgrid projects through the early project origination stages, enabling them to attract third-party investment. Projects that produce a favorable feasibility assessment may then be eligible for additional technical assistance or grants for later stages of project development

Completed expressions of interest, including all required documentation, must be received by MassCEC by Friday, June 23, 2017 by 4:00pm. MassCEC anticipates awarding the first round of feasibility assessments in Q3 2017.

Distributed generation is growing

Customer-sited generation is growing in the U.S.  A look at some of the distributed generation projects that came online in September 2014 shows that universities and institutions are developing projects powered by natural gas, solar photovoltaics, and oil, thanks to policies such as remote net metering and support for microgrid development.

At the University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Cogeneration Associates has brought online a new 4.4 megawatt natural gas-fired cogeneration plant. The power generated is used on-site at the UC Santa Cruz campus.   Meanwhile the new unit will generate more than twice as much useful heat as the existing cogeneration unit, with a capacity of 1,391 tons (16,693 kBtu/h) of heating.

At the University of California at Riverside, Solar Star California XXIX LLC’s 3 megawatt UC Riverside Solar project is now online.  All of the power generated is used on-site at the UC Riverside campus, with the project's peak load representing about 30% of the campus's base load.  The University partnered with SunPower Corporation to install the 10.92-acre solar farm on campus open space.

Farther east, Cornell University’s 2 MW Snyder Road Solar Farm project came online. The power generated is used on-site at the Cornell University campus.  Cornell’s first solar photovoltaic project includes a 2MW tilt rack-mounted array on eleven acres of Cornell property in the Town of Lansing.  The Snyder Road Solar Farm is expected to produce 2.5 million kilowatt-hours annually, covering about 1 percent of Cornell’s total electricity use, and is expected to reduce the university’s annual greenhouse emissions by 625 metric tons per year.

Santa Fe Community College’s 1.5 MW Santa Fe Community College Solar project in Santa Fe County, New Mexico is online. The project is sited on 5.4 acres on campus, and consists of 4,620 SunPower 327-Watt photovoltaic modules mounted on fixed racking.  The power generated is used on-site at the Santa Fe Community College campus, generating approximately 43% of the college’s electricity demands, and saving the college more than $200,000 annually.  

Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative’s 10 MW oil-fired Matlack Road Microgrid project in New London County, CT is online.  CMEEC supplies power and related electric services to municipal utilities and other wholesale customers that, in turn, provide electricity to roughly 70,000 residential, commercial/industrial and small business customers across the state.  The $9 million Matlack Road Microgrid project serves as emergency backup power for the Backus Hospital campus and adjacent critical facilities including schools, emergency shelters, fire station, supermarket / pharmacy, public water supply, gas station and a shopping center in the event of a sustained power outage.

Businesses and institutions choose distributed generation for a variety of reasons, but most hope for reduced costs and improved reliability compared to traditional utility service.  Will distributed generation continue to grow in the U.S.?  How will utilities -- and policymakers -- adapt as customers continue to adopt consumer-sited generation?

Federal grants support microgrids

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded over $8 million in funding for 7 microgrid projects.  Will microgrids play an increasing role in the U.S. electricity industry?

Solar photovoltaic panels can serve as distributed generation for microgrids.

Microgrids -- localized grids capable of operating as energy islands using distributed generation, energy storage, and distribution wires, as well as able to connect to the broader utility grid -- can offer participants and society at large significant value.  These benefits can include increased reliability against storm damage and infrastructure damage, reduced emissions of carbon and other pollutants, and reduced costs.

The Energy Department runs a portfolio of microgrid activities ranging from direct research and development to building community support.  Most recently, the Department announced over $8 million in grant funding to support 7 microgrid projects.  The Department selected these projects based on their ability to develop advanced microgrid controllers and system designs for microgrids less than 10 megawatts:

• ALSTOM Grid, Inc.: about $1.2 million to research and design community microgrid systems for the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation and the Philadelphia Water Department, using portions of the former Philadelphia Navy Yard. 
• Burr Energy, LLC: about $1.2 million to design and build a resilient microgrid to allow the Olney, Maryland Town Center to operate for weeks in the event of a regional outage, and a second microgrid for multi-use commercial development in Maryland. 
• Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd): about $1.2 million to develop and test a commercial-grade microgrid controller capable of controlling a system of two or more interconnected microgrids, serving civic infrastructure including police and fire department headquarters, transportation and healthcare facilities, and private residences. 
• Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): about $1.2 million to develop a commercially-viable standardized microgrid controller that can allow a community to provide continuous power for critical loads. 
• General Electric Company (GE): about $1.2 million to develop an enhanced microgrid control system in Potsdam, New York, by adding new capabilities, such as frequency regulation. 
• TDX Power, Inc.: about $1.2 million to engineer, design, simulate, and build a microgrid control system on remote Saint Paul Island, an island located in the Bering Sea off mainland Alaska. 
• The University of California, Irvine (UCI): about $1.2 million for the Advanced Power and Energy Program at UCI to develop and test a generic microgrid controller intended to be readily adapted to manage a range of microgrid systems, and supporting the development of open source industry standards.

Each project also includes an awardee cost share ranging from 20 percent to about 50 percent.  Will the DOE funds lead to better and more widely adopted microgrids?