Posts Tagged ‘Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard’

Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) Expansion Legislation Introduced

Posted April 5th, 2021 by SRECTrade.

On Friday, March 26th, Pennsylvania State Senators Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) and Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) introduced legislation that would amend PA’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Act of 2004 and increase the state’s Tier I requirement from 8% to 18% by 2026. In addition, the legislation would increase the state’s solar carve-out from 0.5% at present to 5.5%, with 3.75% of the carve-out being sourced from in-state utility-scale solar (projects larger than 5 MW) and 1.75% from in-state distributed solar (smaller, interconnected residential and commercial projects). Notably, the legislation would also establish a limit on the cost of alternative energy credits (AECs, PA’s renewable energy credits) and facilitate long-term contracting in an effort to help minimize ratepayer impacts. Lastly, the legislation would also initiate a study on renewable energy storage in the state. The proposed legislation is expected to help address the state’s current economic crisis due to COVID-19 by inspiring renewable energy investment and creating jobs.

This legislation was introduced just days after PA Governor Tom Wolf’s announcement on March 22nd that 50% of the Pennsylvania government’s electricity will come from solar energy by 2023. The governor’s initiative, named PULSE (Project to Utilize Light and Solar Energy), represents the largest state government solar energy commitment in the nation. PULSE includes seven new solar arrays totaling 191 MW that will be built around the state.

While a number of steps in the legislative process must still be completed before the AEPS expansion would be passed into law, its introduction represents a continued step forward in PA’s renewable energy transition. SRECTrade will continue to monitor the legislation’s development and provide updates.

DOER Files Proposed Final APS Regulations

Posted December 19th, 2017 by SRECTrade.

On December 15th, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) filed its proposed final version of the 225 CMR 16.00 Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (APS) regulation with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office. The official regulation is slated for publication in the State Registrar on December 29, 2017.

The filed version matches the version filed with the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy on November 15, 2017. The final unofficial version of the regulation, as filed with the Secretary, is available here.

In addition to the regulations, the DOER provided the following final Guidelines, which will be effective on December 29, 2017:

  • Guideline on Metering and Calculations – Part 1 (Formulas for Small and Intermediate Generation Units)
  • Guideline on Metering and Calculations – Part 2 (Metering for Intermediate and Large Generation Units)
  • Guideline on Metering and Calculations for Fuel Cell Generation Units
  • Guideline on Biomass, Biogas, and Biofuels for Renewable Thermal Generation Units
  • Guideline on Multipliers for Renewable Thermal Generation Units
  • Massachusetts Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Biomass Reporting Procedures
  • Guideline on Reduction of Greenhouse Gases for Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation Units Using Eligible Woody Biomass

These guidelines are available on the DOER’s website here.

The DOER expects to release its new online APS Statement of Qualification Application for Renewable Thermal and Fuel Cell Generation Units by mid-January. SRECTrade will provide more information to interested stakeholders as it is made available by the DOER. Please visit our blog for continued updates.

The DOER’s announcement can be viewed here.