NH energy efficiency resource standard workshops

Following the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission's adoption last summer of an energy efficiency resource standard, a regulatory board has scheduled a series of workshops to allow public input on how utilities serving the state plan to met the standard over the next three years.

On August 2, 2016, the Commission issued its Order No. 25,932, approving a settlement agreement establishing an energy efficiency resource standard or EERS.  The Commission described the EERS as "a framework within which the Commission’s energy efficiency programs shall be implemented," effective January 1, 2018.  Compared to previous energy efficiency structures, the EERS represents a a long term, binding energy savings target consistent with a policy directive to capture all cost-effective energy efficiency.  According to a public notice issued by the Commission, "Implementation of an EERS is expected to increase investment in cost-effective energy efficiency resources, reduce energy costs for NH ratepayers, and create new jobs."

As implementation of the standard nears, the Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) Committee of the state's Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Board has scheduled a series of stakeholder workshops to allow stakeholders and the general public "the opportunity to influence, early in the planning process, how utilities serving the state are intending to achieve the EERS over the next three years." Workshop topics announced so far include residential, municipal, and commercial and industrial programs; how to evaluate program cost-effectiveness; project finance and program marketing; and evaluation, measurement and verification.

Workshops have been scheduled through March 3, 2017.  Utilities are expected to file a proposed EERS plan with the EESE Board by April 1, 2017, with a final plan to be filed with the Commission by September 30 for approval by December 31.

E2Tech solar forum 2016

Today the Environmental and Energy Technology Council of Maine, better known as E2Tech, held its E2Tech forum on solar energy.

A panel of solar policy experts shared their perspectives on the issues facing Maine.  The panel included:

• Timothy Schneider, Maine Public Advocate
• Fortunat Mueller, ReVision Energy's co-founder
• Brian Conroy, Avangrid's Director of Network Projects & Initiatives
• Rep. Sara Gideon, Assistant Majority Leader in the Maine House of Representatives
• Chris Rauscher, Sunrun's Director of Public Policy

Panelists and audience members discussed some of the recent and ongoing solar energy policy discussions and outcomes in Maine, including a stakeholder process before the Maine Public Utilities Commission to explore an alternative policy complementary to net metering.  That process is expected to wrap up this winter with a report to the legislative committee with jurisdiction over energy matters.

The event also featured Preti Flaherty's launch of its First Light initiative.  Grounded in the Preti team’s experience helping consumers benefit from distributed or “behind the meter” generation, the firm has created a special focus on the commercialization of solar power by and for all consumers.  This strategic initiative will help qualified new entrants, as well as larger, existing companies, navigate legal and business challenges to harness the power of the sun. It will also help site owners participate in solar energy as project hosts, through site leasing and power purchase agreements or other arrangements.  Contact Todd Griset for more information about qualifying for the Preti First Light program.

Maine utility requests net metering review

Maine transmission and distribution company Central Maine Power Company has asked the Maine Public Utilities Commission to review whether the state's net metering program should continue or be modified.

Maine allows customers with qualifying distributed electric generation to net the power they produce against their consumption of power from the grid.  The Maine Public Utilities Commission adopted rules governing this "net energy billing" or net metering arrangement.  Most customer-scale solar photovoltaic projects in Maine rely on net energy billing, including those located in the service territory of utility Central Maine Power or CMP.

One provision of those rules, found in Section 3(J) of Chapter 313, provides for regulatory review of net metering once a utility reaches a threshold of installed net metering capacity:

A transmission and distribution utility shall notify the Commission if the cumulative capacity of generating facilities subject to the provisions of this Chapter reaches 1.0 percent of its peak demand. Upon notification, the Commission will review this Chapter to determine whether net energy billing pursuant to this Chapter should continue or be modified.

On January 14, 2016, CMP filed a letter with the Maine Commission requesting that the Commission undertake the review of net energy billing described in Section 3(J) of Chapter 313.  In support of that request, CMP notes:

As of the end of calendar year 2015, the cumulative capacity of the generating facilities for which CMP has net energy billing agreements under Chapter 313 is approximately 1.04% of CMP’s annual peak demand. The 1.04% is based upon the ratio of 16.261/1,565.300, where the numerator is the megawatts of nameplate capacity of contracted net energy billing facilities and the denominator represents the Company’s 2015 annual hourly peak demand.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission has docketed CMP's request as 2015-00008.  At the same time, the Commission is concluding a months-long legislatively mandated stakeholder process to consider alternatives to net energy billing, after which the Commission is scheduled to present a report to the state's legislative energy committee.

These two proceedings have different direct origins, but their effects could be similar.  CMP's letter under Chapter 313 says it was triggered by growth of enrolled net metering capacity, while the stakeholder process resulted from a direct legislative requirement.  Nevertheless both proceedings may affect the future of net metering in Maine.

Auction set for NJ offshore wind sites

The U.S. government has scheduled an auction for the rights to lease two areas of federal ocean space off New Jersey for offshore wind energy development.  The auction, to be held November 9, 2015, will be the fifth competitive lease sale for renewable energy on the outer continental shelf.

Under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for managing use and development of the federally controlled outer continental shelf and the waters above it.  The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management exercises key functions in support of this role, managing resource evaluation, planning, and site leasing for energy activities ranging from oil and natural gas exploration and production to hydrokinetic, offshore wind, and other renewable ocean energy projects.

Since early in the Obama administration, BOEM has worked to offer leases to federal ocean sites for offshore wind development or related activities.  To date, BOEM has awarded seven offshore wind site leases through competitive lease sales, plus two more commercial wind leases offshore New Jersey awarded through earlier interim policies.  BOEM's competitive processes have generated over $14.5 million in high bids for over 700,000 acres in federal waters off states including Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, and Rhode Island.

Since at least 2009, BOEM has been involved in efforts to lease sites off New Jersey for offshore wind development, including multiple task force meetings, a 2011 Call for Information and Nominations – Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New Jersey, and a 2014 Proposed Sale Notice.  That notice described a 343,833-acre Wind Energy Area split in two parts, known for leasing as OCS-A 0498 and OCS-A 0499:

BOEM has now announced that it will publish a Final Sale Notice setting a commercial lease sale for November 9, 2015, for the Wind Energy Area offshore New Jersey.  Similar in format to other recent BOEM offshore wind site auctions, the New Jersey sale will include consideration of both monetary factors (the bid) and nonmonetary factors (i.e., whether a bidder has obtained a Power Purchase Agreement or New Jersey Offshore Renewable Energy Certificate award).

No offshore wind projects are in commercial operation in the U.S., although Deepwater Wind is currently constructing its Block Island Wind Farm in state waters offshore Rhode Island.

NH explores electric grid modernization

New Hampshire regulators are considering whether and how to modernize the state’s electric grid. In a recently opened investigation, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission seeks to educate stakeholders about grid modernization and to explore to what extent that grid modernization is workable in New Hampshire.

Last year, the New Hampshire Office of Energy & Planning issued its 10-Year State Energy Strategy.  In that document, the administration called for "a more flexible and resilient electric grid to support new technologies, increase consumer participation in energy management, and fortify our resiliency in the face of price and supply volatility and extreme weather events."  The first step identified in the Energy Strategy was to open a PUC docket on grid modernization:

The electric grid is aging, and changing consumer use patterns, a new generation mix, and increased threats from severe weather events require a more modern system. The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission should open a docket to determine how to advance grid modernization in the state. In light of the potential breadth of the topic, which could include dynamic pricing, better consumer access to technology, and even rethinking the role of utilities, an investigation or information ‐ gathering proceeding may be an appropriate first step. This less formal proceeding would give all stakeholders a chance to learn about grid modernization and could inform the specific areas that should be pursued within future dockets. This would allow the PUC and stakeholders to determine which approaches will benefit New Hampshire consumers, and when and how they should be implemented.

Earlier this summer, the New Hampshire legislature enacted House Bill 614, implementing the recommendations in the Energy Strategy.  As Governor Hassan noted in her signing statement, the bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to "begin a process focused on modernizing our electric grid to ensure that we are prepared for an innovative energy future and to set an electricity peak time reduction goal, which can help lower the high costs of producing electricity when demand is greatest."

That process is now underway.  The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission opened its investigation by order dated July 30, 2015.  The Commission gave interested parties until September 17, 2015 to provide comment on the definition, or elements, of grid modernization that should be included in its investigation.  The Commission directed its staff to schedule a technical session following a review of comments submitted, and to develop a procedural schedule for the rest of the case.