Fair Competition Needed in Utility Energy Contracting
BOSTON, MA -Acadia Center joined with clean energy developers today in calling for fair consideration of alternatives to natural gas in meeting the region’s electricity needs. In a joint letter, Acadia Center and the other signatories request that utilities National Grid and Eversource redraft the solicitation to remove the current bias toward natural gas projects and ensure that a full array of cleaner, lower cost options are able to compete.
The letter is written in response to Requests for Proposals issued by the utilities on Friday October 23rd. The solicitation requires responses by November 13th – only a three week window – and seeks bids only from providers of liquefied natural gas, regional gas storage, and pipeline expansion projects. Eversource and National Grid are participants in at least one project that could qualify for contracts; the pipeline expansion and storage project Access Northeast.
The letter states: “In this RFP, the utilities limited their solicitation to a particular set of resources, gave notice to no other resources, and established a timeline so short, only their partners could submit timely responses. The RFP not only pre-judges the results by effectively barring competition, but also virtually guarantees that the Commonwealth’s ratepayers will pay more than necessary to achieve a reliable winter energy supply.”
The letter additionally notes that the proposed procurement does not appear to comply with Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities’ requirement that the proposed agreement compares favorably to “all energy resources reasonably available in the market that have the potential to address the objective of providing electricity at a reasonable cost and that compare favorably in terms of price and non-price factors.”
The procurement closes shortly before the expected release of a Regional Electrical Reliability Options Study undertaken by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, and following the announcement of electricity rates for the winter of 2015-2016 that are lower than past years. Specifically, Eversource’s winter rate of 10.39 cents/kWh is 27% lower than last year, and National Grid’s rate of 13.03 cents/kWh is almost 25% lower than last year. In Rhode Island, National Grid’s proposed rate of 8.9 cents/kWh is over 20% lower than last winter’s basic service rates.
In an appendix to the letter, Acadia Center provides supporting information on the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency as an alternative to natural gas supply. New England’s investments in energy efficiency have already proven valuable in winter: without the demand reductions achieved since 2000, ratepayers would have paid an additional $1.46B in winter 2014 alone. The appendix also describes how the region’s grid operator has consistently over-estimated future energy demand, potentially contributing to overbuilding of natural gas pipeline and other energy infrastructure. Specifically, Acadia Center demonstrates that ISO-NE has consistently overestimated energy consumption and peak demand, with actual energy demand coming in 17% lower in 2014 than the 2006 projection, and summer peak demand falling 20% in 2014 from 2006 predictions.
The letter and appendix can be found at: http://acadiacenter.org/document/joint-comments-on-massachusetts-utilities-gas-procurement/
Contact:
Peter Shattuck, Clean Energy Initiative Director
pshattuck@acadiacenter.org, (617) 742-0054 x103
Kiernan Dunlop, Communications Associate
kdunlop@acadiacenter.org, (617) 742- 0054 x107
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.
Acadia Center Applauds Rhode Island’s Nation-Leading Efforts on Energy Efficiency
Rhode Island is tied with Massachusetts for first place in the utility-sector energy efficiency programs and policy category of the 2015 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a national nonpartisan organization. In terms of the overall ranking, Rhode Island is tied with Oregon for fourth place behind Massachusetts (#1), California (#2), and Vermont (#3). This is the third year that Rhode Island has ranked in the top five states.
Least Cost Procurement, first implemented 8 years ago and extended for another 5 years this summer, is largely responsible for Rhode Island’s continued leadership on energy efficiency. “Rhode Island continues to be a leader when it comes to energy efficiency,” said Daniel Sosland, Acadia Center’s President. “Investing in low-cost energy efficiency instead of expensive electricity and natural gas helps Rhode Islanders lower their energy bills and spurs economic growth,” said Sosland.
“Lower energy bills means more money is left at the end of the month to spend on other things, and most of that spending happens locally,” said Leslie Malone, Senior Analyst with Acadia Center. Since 2008, Rhode Island has invested over $558 million in energy efficiency and consumers have realized $1.99 billion in economic benefits. In its 2016 Energy Efficiency plan – recently filed with the Public Utilities Commission – National Grid proposes investing over $83 million in cost-effective efficiency programs to deliver electric savings that are 47% less expensive than the cost of supply, and natural gas savings that are 15% less than the cost of supply. The investments in 2016 will generate more than $256.1 million in direct benefits over the life of the efficiency measures, and add over $386.9 million to Rhode Island’s Gross State Product (GSP) and generate over 4,220 job-years of employment.
Acadia Center is a member of the Energy Efficiency Resource Management Council (EERMC), the stakeholder council charged with assisting with the development, implementation, and review of energy efficiency programs in Rhode Island. The EERMC is critical to the success of energy efficiency in the states, and Acadia Center looks forward to working with fellow members, utilities and other stakeholders to make sure that the plans are implemented effectively to deliver cost savings through lower utility bills, emissions reductions, and clean energy job growth, in addition to broader economic benefits.
See the Scorecard at: http://www.aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard
Contact:
Leslie Malone, Senior Analyst
401-276-0600, lmalone@acadiacenter.org
Kiernan Dunlop, Communications Associate
617-742-0054 x107, kdunlop@acadiacenter.org
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.
Massachusetts Holds Off California to Receive Top Energy Efficiency Ranking for the Fifth Year in a Row
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a national nonpartisan organization, released its 2015 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard today, with Massachusetts holding the #1 rank for the fifth year in a row, having overtaken California in 2011. California is still close behind at #2, with only a half point separating the states’ rankings.
Massachusetts has proven its continued commitment to energy efficiency under its Green Communities Act of 2008 by saving a large and growing percentage of energy every year through efficiency measures, and delivering over $11.5 billion in economic benefits and energy savings for ratepayers over the last five years.
Massachusetts’ next 3-year plan (2016-2018) is currently being evaluated by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council, a stakeholder board on which Acadia Center serves. The draft plan is expected to deliver $8.13 billion in economic benefits and energy savings over the 3 year period, and sets savings goals (2.93% of sales for electric and 1.24% of sales for natural gas) that are believed to be the highest in the nation, yet again. The environmental benefits the 3-year plan will deliver are equivalent to removing an estimated 408,000 cars from the road.
“Maximizing efficiency is a major step toward securing a clean energy future. Massachusetts is showing that the principle of deploying least-cost, non-polluting measures to reduce demand really works. It’s a triple-win for the environment, the economy and the end users who enjoy lower costs and more effective energy use,” said Amy Boyd, Senior Attorney for Acadia Center, and member of the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council.
“The Northeast is on the right path, and leaps ahead of some other states, but there is still a lot to do to make the most of this low-cost, clean resource. The states can work to find better ways to treat older buildings, provide new financing tools and technologies, and accelerate strategies to reach untreated homes and businesses,” said Boyd.
As a member of efficiency stakeholder boards in multiple states, Acadia Center looks forward to working with fellow members, utilities and other stakeholders to make sure that the efficiency plans for Massachusetts and other New England states are implemented effectively to deliver cost savings through lower utility bills, emissions reductions, and clean energy job growth, in addition to broader economic benefits.
See the Scorecard at: http://www.aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard
Contact:
Amy Boyd, Senior Attorney
617-742-0054 x102, aboyd@acadiacenter.org
Kiernan Dunlop, Communications Associate
617-742-0054 x107, kdunlop@acadiacenter.org
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.
Acadia Center Commends CT on #6 Energy Efficiency Ranking; Sees Opportunities for Higher Ranking Next Year
Connecticut ranks #6 among all states for its energy efficiency efforts, according to the 2015 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released today by The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a national nonpartisan organization. Connecticut held steady at the #6 spot from last year’s ranking.
“Connecticut deserves real credit for remaining a top ten performer in the rankings,” said William E. Dornbos, Acadia Center’s Connecticut Director and Senior Attorney. “Connecticut’s strong commitment to cost-effective energy efficiency helps give the state a chance to thrive – saving consumers money on their energy bills, creating jobs in the home performance industry, and growing our economy through local investments made in nearly all of our towns and cities.”
Acadia Center reviewed the Scorecard and found that an area of particularly high scoring for Connecticut is in the “utility and public benefits programs and policies” category – the largest portion of the Scorecard’s total score. Connecticut’s utility-administered energy efficiency programs demonstrated excellent national performance, earning more points for Connecticut than forty-six other states. Only Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont scored higher in this category.
Acadia Center identified two areas in the Scorecard where Connecticut could increase its score by next year – building energy codes and combined heat and power. Specifically:
- Connecticut has not yet implemented the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Connecticut law requires the state to adopt the 2012 IECC within 18 months of its publication date of May 2011. Connecticut is now almost three years past that deadline. Most leading states have already adopted the 2012 IECC.
- Connecticut has not put in place sufficient programs and incentives to speed the deployment of combined heat and power (CHP), an efficient and clean way to generate electricity and produce heat through the use of a single fuel, usually natural gas. CHP projects are highly efficient because they generate electricity on-site – rather than at remote power plants – and they use the waste heat for heating or industrial needs. Connecticut was an early leader in deploying CHP, but has stalled on that front more recently.
“The gaps identified in the Scorecard should guide Connecticut’s energy policy actions,” said Dornbos. “We need to act with much more urgency in updating building energy codes, deploying CHP, and with other efficiency reforms because we’re missing out on the tremendous benefits they can offer our economy and quality of life. We can and should do more on efficiency, and we look forward to working with Connecticut policymakers to accelerate progress on cost-effective energy efficiency over the next year.”
Acadia Center is a member of Connecticut’s Energy Efficiency Board (EEB), which is a stakeholder body that has statutory responsibility for advising and assisting the state’s utilities in developing and implementing cost-effective energy efficiency plans for electricity and natural gas. The EEB recently approved a new three-year energy efficiency plan that is now before the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for its regulatory review and approval. The plan proposes energy savings targets that, if achieved, will provide over $2.1 billion in benefits to Connecticut’s residents and businesses over the life of the plan’s investment. The demand savings will be equivalent to a 262 MW power plant.
For more on ACEEE’s Scorecard, go to: http://aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard.
Contact:
William E Dornbos, Senior Attorney
860-246-7121 x202, wdornbos@acadiacenter.org
Kiernan Dunlop, Communications Associate
617-742-0054 x107, kdunlop@acadiacenter.org
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.
New Study Shows Value of Solar in New Hampshire
Acadia Center today released a study that quantifies the grid and societal benefits of solar photovoltaic systems (solar PV) in New Hampshire. Establishing the value of distributed resources is increasingly important as states explore ways to meet energy needs and deploy clean energy resources. Acadia Center has also released Value of Solar studies for Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont , and Maine’s Public Utilities Commission completed a similar type of analysis to inform decision making processes in that state.
Acadia Center assessed the grid and societal value of six solar PV systems to better understand the overall value that solar PV provides to the grid. By evaluating an array of configurations, this analysis determines that the value of solar to the grid – and ratepayers connected to the grid – ranges from 19-24 cents/kWh, with additional societal values of 6.7 cents/kWh
“Solar generation is a valuable local energy resource that provides significant benefits to ratepayers,” said Ellen Hawes, Senior Analyst, Energy Systems & Carbon Markets. Solar PV provides unique value to the electric grid by reducing energy demand, providing power during peak periods, and avoiding generation and related emissions charges from conventional power plants. The overall grid value of solar is the sum total of these different benefits.
In addition to the value that solar provides to the grid, Acadia Center’s study finds that solar PV provides broader societal benefits, including environmental gains from reduced or avoided greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. “Societal benefits should be included when assessing the overall costs and benefits of solar PV and determining additional incentives,” said Leslie Malone, Acadia Center Senior Analyst and an author of the report.
Currently, net metering is capped in New Hampshire, and utilities in the state are quickly reaching capped limits. A bipartisan group of legislators are looking at the possibility of temporarily raising the cap, while directing the Public Utilities Commission to revise how net-metered solar PV is credited.
“We hope that adding to the understanding of the value that solar provides to the grid and ratepayers will help inform this proceeding,” said Malone. One of the key findings of this analysis is that a “flat” system of compensation – such as net metering – can distort the market for solar PV by inadequately valuing the benefits that west-facing systems provide in mitigating costs driven by afternoon peak demand. The analysis also shows that in all cases, the value to the grid is more than the average residential retail rate of solar PV.
Acadia Center will be presenting the results of this study to the New Hampshire Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy (EESE) Board meeting on Friday, October 16th. For more information and methodology see:
http://acadiacenter.org/document/solarpv-nh
Contact:
Ellen Hawes, Senior Analyst, Energy Systems and Carbon Markets
802-649-1140, ehawes@acadiacenter.org
Leslie Malone, Senior Analyst
401-276-0600, lmalone@acadiacenter.org
Kiernan Dunlop, Communications Associate
617-742-0054 x107, kdunlop@acadiacenter.org
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.
RGGI Can Meet Long-Term State and Federal Targets with Program Modifications
Boston – A new report from Acadia Center explains how reforms to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) could strengthen the program to ensure that member states meet their state and federal emissions reduction targets. RGGI’s experience to-date has demonstrated that market-based solutions can achieve significant emissions reductions while creating economic benefits, and makes the participating Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states well positioned to comply with EPA’s Clean Power Plan. However, as national leaders on climate action, eight of the nine RGGI states have established economy-wide GHG reduction goals for 2050, and meeting these goals will require the states to go above and beyond the Clean Power Plan targets. Acadia Center’s report, What’s Next for RGGI?, details how the RGGI model aligns with the framework of the final Clean Power Plan, and describes the changes that can be made in the upcoming 2016 Program Review to put the RGGI states on a path to meet their long-term targets.
Key takeaways from the report:
- EPA’s Final CPP targets have been modified to level the playing field between leading and opportunity states;
- Final CPP targets will require reforms to strengthen RGGI;
- Necessary reforms will allow states to achieve 27% of their 2050 economy-wide GHG reduction requirements through RGGI;
- Without strengthening reforms RGGI will deliver only 1% of state GHG reduction requirements;
- Reducing electric sector emissions through RGGI is the most effective means of achieving economy-wide GHG reduction requirements.
“The RGGI states have designed a model that is demonstrating how emissions reductions can be achieved at low costs to ratepayers and economic benefits,” said Daniel L. Sosland, Acadia Center President.
“RGGI states are well positioned to meet the requirements of the Clean Power Plan,” said Jordan Stutt, Policy Analyst at Acadia Center. “The upcoming 2016 Program Review offers the opportunity to strengthen the program and ensure long-term emissions reductions from the power sector.”
By undertaking the following program reforms, RGGI states will ensure continuation of the program’s environmental, consumer, and economic benefits:
- Aligning the RGGI cap trajectory with long-term state GHG reduction requirements, which can be achieved through a fixed annual decline that achieves a cumulative 90% reduction in power sector emissions by 2050; and
- Restructuring or removing the cost containment reserve (CCR) mechanism to avoid the release of additional allowances that undermine RGGI’s environmental performance.
“As creators of the nation’s first market-based program for reducing CO2 emissions from the power sector, RGGI states have a strong record of leadership,” said Peter Shattuck, Director of Acadia Center’s Clean Energy Initiative. “RGGI’s next phase can keep states on track for demonstrating the viability and benefits of sound climate policy.”
For more information on RGGI and the program’s performance to-date, see: http://acadiacenter.org/document/rggi-a-model-program-for-the-power-sector-2015-update
Contact:
Peter Shattuck, Director, Clean Energy Initiative
pshattuck@acadiacenter.org, (617) 742-0054 x103,
Jordan Stutt, Policy Analyst
jstutt@acadiacenter.org, (617) 742-0054 x105
Kiernan Dunlop, Communications Associate
kdunlop@acadiacenter.org, (617) 742- 0054 x107
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.
Environmental & Clean Energy Stakeholders to Propose Comprehensive Energy Policy
Boston- Tomorrow, the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities, and Energy will hear from the public on legislation that could change over one-third of the electric supply in Massachusetts. It is critical that an energy bill of this magnitude be tailored to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the clean energy economy of the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, none of the legislation currently on the table would accomplish this vital goal. For this reason, the Global Warming Solutions Project (GWSP) will present its plan at the hearing for a comprehensive energy policy that will create a more diverse and stable electricity supply, maximize potential clean energy benefits, and minimize risks to ratepayers and our environment.
The testimony will be available here after the hearing.
The GWSP’s legislative efforts are led by Acadia Center, Appalachian Mountain Club, Conservation Law Foundation, Clean Water Action, Environmental League of Massachusetts, and Mass Energy Consumers Alliance. The group works in collaboration with Mass Power Forward, a new grassroots network of over 100 clean energy businesses, economic justice organizations, faith communities and other allies from the Berkshires to Cape Cod. Together, this coalition is committed to ensuring the Massachusetts legislature advances a strong clean energy bill.
The GWSP Energy Resources Plan calls on the legislature to do the following:
- Immediately lift the cap on solar net metering and revise solar programs to value the full benefits that local, customer-owned projects provide to the energy grid.
- Ensure any large-scale procurement of hydropower electricity includes at least 30% Class I Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)-eligible resources of its electricity.
- Strengthen our energy efficiency programs and promote innovations in energy storage and energy resource planning.
- Maximize new renewable energy resources by bringing online 2,000 MW of offshore wind by 2025 and increasing our Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) target from 1 percent to 2 percent growth each year.
- Include safeguards to protect economic and environmental interests of the Commonwealth and ratepayers.
- Prevent subsidies for natural gas pipeline expansion.
The legislature has an opportunity to steer the Commonwealth toward significant improvements to our energy portfolio that will benefit Massachusetts customers and our environment, but this cannot happen without significant improvements to the currently proposed bills. The GWSP looks forward to working with legislators to craft the comprehensive energy package that the Commonwealth needs.
Sincerely,
Amy Boyd & Peter Shattuck, Acadia Center
Heather Clish, Appalachian Mountain Club
Caitlin Peale Sloan & David Ismay, Conservation Law Foundation
Joel Wool, Clean Water Action
Josh Craft, Environmental League of Massachusetts
Bill Ravanesi, Health Care Without Harm
Eugenia Gibbons, Mass Energy Consumers Alliance
Contact:
Kiernan Dunlop, Communications Associate
kdunlop@acadiacenter.org, (617) 742- 0054 x107
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.
Northeast Carbon Trading Program Raises $152 Million on the Way to Clean Power Plan Compliance
Member states of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) today announced the results of the 29th quarterly auction of carbon dioxide (CO2) allowances. 25,374,294 CO2 allowances were sold at a clearing price of $6.02, which includes all 10,000,000 available allowances from the Cost Containment Reserve. This clearing price is 9% higher than the previous auction, and 23% higher than the clearing price from one year ago. The RGGI states have now raised $2.26 billion for reinvestment, the majority of which is used to fund energy efficiency and other consumer benefit programs. RGGI has been a successful model for reducing power sector emissions, and with reforms to ensure future environmental performance, it will be an effective means of complying with EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
The results of this latest auction show that the RGGI market continues to thrive, with clearing prices increasing in seven of the last eight quarterly auctions. These rising prices are indicative of confidence in the program’s future. RGGI’s first-in-nation model for reducing CO2 from the power sector has outperformed expectations, both in terms of environmental and economic results. As states explore their options for compliance with EPA’s Clean Power Plan, RGGI’s flexible, market-based approach to regulating power plants has gained increasing attention.
“The RGGI states’ success in reducing climate pollution from the power sector has paved the way for other states to adopt effective market-based climate programs,” said Acadia Center President, Daniel Sosland. “RGGI states have created the blueprint for an effective and economically beneficial pathway to a clean energy future.”
In crafting the final version of the Clean Power Plan, EPA took measures to support the use of programs like RGGI. EPA provided final targets in mass-based terms, facilitated the use of multi-state trading programs, and allowed states to treat emissions from new and existing units equally. In sum, these steps from EPA will let the RGGI states comply by using their existing model, with a few minor changes.
One of these changes will be a revision to the Cost Containment Reserve.
“The purchase of ten million Cost Containment Reserve allowances in Auction 29 demonstrates the need for reform of this price control mechanism” said Jordan Stutt, Policy Analyst with Acadia Center. As currently structured, additional allowances from the Cost Containment Reserve become available for purchase when price thresholds are met. “These additional allowances have now been made available in both years of the Cost Containment Reserve’s existence. Allowances purchased from the Cost Containment Reserve inflate the RGGI cap, undermining the program’s environmental performance and complicating the process of demonstrating compliance with the Clean Power Plan and state GHG reduction requirements.”
Since RGGI’s launch, emissions have declined significantly as electric generation from natural gas and renewables has displaced carbon-intensive generation from coal and oil, and as investments in energy efficiency have reduced demand for power. Declining emissions have been accompanied by a drop in electricity prices, which are down 2% on average across the region since RGGI took effect in 2009.
“RGGI has demonstrated that smart policy can drive emissions reductions in the power sector while generating consumer benefits,” said Peter Shattuck, Director of Acadia Center’s Clean Energy Initiative. “The continued increase in RGGI allowance prices will help to accelerate the transition to a cleaner power sector.”
Additional information on RGGI’s performance to date, and role in EPA’s regulatory process are described in Acadia Center’s July, 2015 report: RGGI: A Model Program for the Power Sector
RGGI Overview:
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the first mandatory, market-based effort in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nine Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states reduce CO2 emissions by setting an overall limit on emissions “allowances” which permit power plants to dispose of CO2 in the atmosphere. States sell allowances through auctions and invest proceeds in consumer benefit programs: energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other programs.
The official RGGI web site is: www.rggi.org
Contact:
Jordan Stutt, Policy Analyst jstutt@acadiacenter.org, (617) 742-0054 x105
Kiernan Dunlop, Communications Associate kdunlop@acadiacenter.org, (617) 742- 0054 x107
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.
Acadia Center Welcomes Tyler Soleau as Energy and Climate Outreach Director
Boston, MA —Acadia Center is pleased to announce that Tyler Soleau has joined the organization as Energy and Climate Outreach Director. His focus is on raising awareness, network building and advancing Acadia Center’s clean energy program goals in Massachusetts and the Northeast.
“We’re very excited to have Tyler on our team. His extensive experience in state government and energy and climate policy will contribute greatly to our work to advance a consumer-friendly, more local and clean energy system that will strengthen our communities and help bring together stakeholders and networks for broad-based support,” said Daniel L. Sosland, Acadia Center President. “Tyler brings a strong background and enthusiasm for community outreach and clean energy advocacy.”
Tyler comes to Acadia Center from the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served most immediately as Staff Director and Counsel for the House Committee on Climate Change. In that position he had primary responsibility for the Committee’s operations, policy development, coalition building and communications. Previously, Tyler was Legislative Director and Counsel for the Committee. He created the Green Economy Caucus and was active on the Electric Vehicle Task Force, the Ocean Advisory Commission and the GWSA Advisory Committee.
Tyler holds a JD magna cum laude from Vermont Law School and BA in Government and Environmental Studies from Hamilton College.
Contact:
Emily Avery-Miller, Dir. External Relations
(617) 742-0054 x100, eavery-miller@acadiacenter.org
Tyler Soleau, Energy and Climate Outreach Director
(617) 742-0054 x108, tsoleau@acadiacenter.org
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.
New Study Shows Value of Solar in Vermont
Acadia Center today released a study that quantifies the grid and societal benefits of solar photovoltaic systems (solar PV) in Vermont. Establishing the value of distributed resources is increasingly important as states explore ways to meet energy needs and deploy clean energy resources. Acadia Center has also released Value of Solar studies for Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island and Maine‘s Public Utilities Commission recently completed a similar type of analysis to inform decision making processes in that state.
Acadia Center assessed the grid and societal value of six solar PV systems to better understand the overall value that solar PV provides to the grid. By evaluating an array of configurations, this analysis determines that the value of solar to the grid – and ratepayers connected to the grid – ranges from 19-23 cents/kWh, with additional societal values of 7 cents/kWh.
“Solar generation is a valuable local energy resource that provides significant benefits to ratepayers,” said Ellen Hawes, Senior Analyst, Energy Systems & Carbon Markets. Solar PV provides unique value to the electric grid by reducing energy demand, providing power during peak periods, and avoiding generation and related emissions charges from conventional power plants. The overall grid value of solar is the sum total of these different benefits.
In addition to the value that solar provides to the grid, Acadia Center’s study finds that solar PV provides broader societal benefits, including environmental gains from reduced or avoided greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. “Societal benefits should be included when assessing the overall costs and benefits of solar PV and determining additional incentives,” said Leslie Malone, Acadia Center Senior Analyst and an author of the report.
The recently passed renewable energy standard in Vermont carves out an increasing requirement for distributed generation, opening up a larger role for solar PV in the state. In addition, the Public Service Board is in the process of drafting a revised net metering program, potentially changing rate structure. “We hope that adding to the understanding of the value that solar provides to the grid and ratepayers will help inform this proceeding,” said Malone.
For more information and methodology see: http://acadiacenter.org/document/value-of-solar-vermont/
Contact:
Ellen Hawes, Senior Analyst, Energy Systems and Carbon Markets, Acadia Center, 802-649-1140, ehawes@acadiacenter.org
Leslie Malone, Senior Analyst, Acadia Center, 401-276-0600, lmalone@acadiacenter.org
Emily Avery-Miller, Director External Relations, Acadia Center, 617-742-0054 x001, eavery-miller@acadiacenter.org
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Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low-carbon and consumer-friendly economies. Acadia Center provides accurate and reliable information, and offers a real-world and comprehensive approach to problem solving through innovation and collaboration.