Vermont utility regulators have recommended steps Vermont could take to accelerate the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the state, including creating state incentives for EV purchases as well as encouraging electric utilities to adopt new rate structures.
Like most other states, Vermont's transportation sector contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of the state's economy. Due in large part to emissions from cars and trucks powered by fossil fuels, the transportation sector is responsible for about 47% of Vermont's total greenhouse gas emissions; by contrast, Vermont's electricity generating sector is relatively small but nearly entirely renewable, and has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of any state according to federal data. Other New England states are similar -- for example, Maine's transportation sector contributed 53% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2017, while electric power generation in Maine accounted for just 9 percent of the state’s total carbon emissions.
Indeed, the New England electricity grid has experienced significant decarbonized in recent decades, and renewable energy can now be consumed in the transportation sector through the use of EVs. In 2016, Vermont adopted a Comprehensive Energy Plan aiming to power 10% of transportation with renewable energy by 2025, and 80% by 2050, while reducing the sector's emissions by 30% by 2025. Vermont estimates that reaching these goals would require adding about 50,000 to 60,000 EVs to replace vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2025, for a compound annual growth rate of about 54%.
On June 27, 2019, the Vermont Public Utilities Commission released its report to various state legislative committees, "Promoting the Ownership and Use of Electric Vehicles in the State of Vermont." The report recommends that Vermont create incentives for EV purchases or leases, whether in the form of time-of-sale rebates or tax credits. It also recommends that Vermont buy EVs for the state vehicle fleet, and encourage the development of EV charging infrastructure through zoning or building code modifications.
The report also suggests that the Commission encourage electric utilities to take additional actions to promote EV adoption, such as funding EV purchase incentives through Vermont's Renewable Energy Standard program, or developing time-of-use retail rates to encourage car charging at off-peak times. It also noted that utility rate structures which impose demand charges on most commercial accounts but not on residential accounts make public direct-current fast-charging more expensive than at-home charging.
The report also notes that increased education and outreach efforts -- by utilities as well as by car dealers and other third parties -- could encourage consumer adoption of EVs.
Energy powers society; society's choices shape energy policy. A blog about our energy resources and the choices they present for society.
Showing posts with label rebate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rebate. Show all posts
NH revises, reopens C&I solar rebate program
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
New Hampshire utility regulators have reopened a program offering a rebate to commercial and industrial electric customers who undertake qualifying solar energy projects, while reducing the size of the incentive and changing other program terms.
To encourage commercial and industrial (C&I) customers to participate in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy projects, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission first approved a solar rebate program in 2010. That program disburses funds from the state's Renewable Energy Fund to customers in exchange for customers' development of qualifying solar projects.
Terms and conditions for New Hampshire's C&I solar rebate program have varied since 2010, and the amounts of rebates available under the program have generally decreased over time. In 2015, the Commission created two separate categories of eligible projects with different rebate rates: Category 1, consisting of solar electric and thermal systems rated less than or equal to 100 kilowatts (AC) or thermal equivalent, and Category 2 consisting of solar electric systems greater than 100 kilowatts (AC) but less than or equal to 500 kilowatts (AC).
A 2016 Commission order set program rebate levels at $0.65 per watt (AC) for Category 1 new electric projects, and $0.55 per watt (AC), but not in excess of $175,000, for Category 2 new electric projects, in each case subject to a limit of 25 percent of the total project cost if less than the incentive payment otherwise calculated.
But the program closed to new applications as of July 14, 2017, due to "record demand" and a lack of funds. Even the allocation of additional funds only reopened the program for waitlisted applications, while keeping it closed to new applicants.
On February 13, 2018, Commission staff recommended reopening the program, while modifying it to further reduce the applicable incentive levels and to consolidate Category 1 and 2 projects into a single program that would allow applications for projects with capacities up to and including 500 kW AC.
On March 8, 2018, the Commission issued its Order No. 26,111, modifying the solar rebate program's terms and reopening the program. The changes include reduction in the amount of the rebate to $0.40 per watt up to a maximum of $50,000, or 25 percent of total project cost, whichever is less; and consolidation of Category 1 and 2 photovoltaic projects into a single program that would allow applications for projects with capacities up to and including 500 kilowatts AC. No change was made to the program terms and conditions applicable to solar thermal projects.
Under the order, the modified program terms and conditions became effective on March 19, 2018, and the program was reopened as of that date. The Commission noted that in anticipation of "robust demand for and potential oversubscription of the reopened program," it will conduct a public lottery in April to allocate initial queue positions for applications.
To encourage commercial and industrial (C&I) customers to participate in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy projects, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission first approved a solar rebate program in 2010. That program disburses funds from the state's Renewable Energy Fund to customers in exchange for customers' development of qualifying solar projects.
Terms and conditions for New Hampshire's C&I solar rebate program have varied since 2010, and the amounts of rebates available under the program have generally decreased over time. In 2015, the Commission created two separate categories of eligible projects with different rebate rates: Category 1, consisting of solar electric and thermal systems rated less than or equal to 100 kilowatts (AC) or thermal equivalent, and Category 2 consisting of solar electric systems greater than 100 kilowatts (AC) but less than or equal to 500 kilowatts (AC).
A 2016 Commission order set program rebate levels at $0.65 per watt (AC) for Category 1 new electric projects, and $0.55 per watt (AC), but not in excess of $175,000, for Category 2 new electric projects, in each case subject to a limit of 25 percent of the total project cost if less than the incentive payment otherwise calculated.
But the program closed to new applications as of July 14, 2017, due to "record demand" and a lack of funds. Even the allocation of additional funds only reopened the program for waitlisted applications, while keeping it closed to new applicants.
On February 13, 2018, Commission staff recommended reopening the program, while modifying it to further reduce the applicable incentive levels and to consolidate Category 1 and 2 projects into a single program that would allow applications for projects with capacities up to and including 500 kW AC.
On March 8, 2018, the Commission issued its Order No. 26,111, modifying the solar rebate program's terms and reopening the program. The changes include reduction in the amount of the rebate to $0.40 per watt up to a maximum of $50,000, or 25 percent of total project cost, whichever is less; and consolidation of Category 1 and 2 photovoltaic projects into a single program that would allow applications for projects with capacities up to and including 500 kilowatts AC. No change was made to the program terms and conditions applicable to solar thermal projects.
Under the order, the modified program terms and conditions became effective on March 19, 2018, and the program was reopened as of that date. The Commission noted that in anticipation of "robust demand for and potential oversubscription of the reopened program," it will conduct a public lottery in April to allocate initial queue positions for applications.
NJ declares NRG Bluewater abandoned offshore wind project
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Finding that the developer has abandoned the project, New Jersey regulators have withdrawn $3 million in financial support for an offshore wind project proposed by NRG Bluewater Wind.
Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy LLC proposed a 350 megawatt wind project off the New Jersey coast. In 2008, the company won a $4 million grant from the state to install an offshore meteorological tower as part of a state-sponsored offshore wind grant solicitation. The grant agreement required Bluewater to install the tower by 2010, and took the form of a rebate: if Bluewater installed the tower by the deadline, it would receive $4 million back from the state.
NRG Energy - a Fortune 250 wholesale power generation company controlling nearly 26 gigawatts of capacity - acquired Bluewater in 2009. Also in 2009, Bluewater asked for and received a one-year extension of the met tower deadline.
In October 2010, Bluewater requested another extension, this time for two years. Bluewater pointed to difficulties in obtaining federal permits for the project. The NJ BPU granted the extension on April 27, 2011, requiring regular progress reporting and installation of the met towers by January 9, 2013. The BPU also lowered the rebate amount to $3 million.
According to the BPU's October 4, 2012 order cancelling the rebate, Bluewater filed progress reports with the BPU in 2011 and January 2012, but ultimately stopped reporting. But in December 2011, NRG announced that it was putting active development of offshore wind projects on hold. By September 2012, BPU staff put NRG on notice that they planned to recommend that the Board cancel its rebate commitment "due to project abandonment and lack of reporting". According to the BPU's order, "the company did not object or otherwise respond when advised of staff's recommendation to withdraw the rebate commitment".
As a result, last week the BPU found that the company had not complied with the order requiring status updates, and thus "that NRG Energy and Bluewater have abandoned the project and will not meet the rebate commitment requirements." The Board cancelled the met tower rebate, and directed BPU staff to reallocate the funding to other New Jersey Clean Energy Programs.
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| The U.S. and New Jersey flags, flying in the sea breeze at Cape May, NJ. |
Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy LLC proposed a 350 megawatt wind project off the New Jersey coast. In 2008, the company won a $4 million grant from the state to install an offshore meteorological tower as part of a state-sponsored offshore wind grant solicitation. The grant agreement required Bluewater to install the tower by 2010, and took the form of a rebate: if Bluewater installed the tower by the deadline, it would receive $4 million back from the state.
NRG Energy - a Fortune 250 wholesale power generation company controlling nearly 26 gigawatts of capacity - acquired Bluewater in 2009. Also in 2009, Bluewater asked for and received a one-year extension of the met tower deadline.
In October 2010, Bluewater requested another extension, this time for two years. Bluewater pointed to difficulties in obtaining federal permits for the project. The NJ BPU granted the extension on April 27, 2011, requiring regular progress reporting and installation of the met towers by January 9, 2013. The BPU also lowered the rebate amount to $3 million.
According to the BPU's October 4, 2012 order cancelling the rebate, Bluewater filed progress reports with the BPU in 2011 and January 2012, but ultimately stopped reporting. But in December 2011, NRG announced that it was putting active development of offshore wind projects on hold. By September 2012, BPU staff put NRG on notice that they planned to recommend that the Board cancel its rebate commitment "due to project abandonment and lack of reporting". According to the BPU's order, "the company did not object or otherwise respond when advised of staff's recommendation to withdraw the rebate commitment".
As a result, last week the BPU found that the company had not complied with the order requiring status updates, and thus "that NRG Energy and Bluewater have abandoned the project and will not meet the rebate commitment requirements." The Board cancelled the met tower rebate, and directed BPU staff to reallocate the funding to other New Jersey Clean Energy Programs.
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